NEW YEAR, NEW LAWS -- 910 OF THEM.Byline: HARRISON SHEPPARD Sacramento Bureau SACRAMENTO -- Following one of the most collaborative legislative sessions in years, California residents will face more than 900 new laws New Laws: see Las Casas, Bartolomé de. beginning Monday, ranging from an increase in the minimum wage to a ban on riding in the trunk of a car. With an unusually high number of legislators being termed out in 2006, lawmakers sought to leave a legacy and passed 1,172 bills. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger (German pronunciation (IPA): [ˈaɐ̯nɔlt ˈaloɪ̯s ˈʃvaɐ̯ʦənˌʔɛɡɐ] signed 910 of them into law. ``The end of session was a perfect storm in some ways,'' said Barbara O'Connor Barbara O'Connor is an author and Senior Lecturer in the School of Communications at Dublin City University: Her field is media studies and cultural studies, specializing on the represemtation of women in television, and of the development of tourism in Ireland. , director of the Institute for the Study of Politics and the Media at California State University, Sacramento California State University, Sacramento, more commonly referred to as Sacramento State or Sac State, is a public university located in the city of Sacramento, California, USA. It is part of the California State University system. . ``You got some collaborative efforts on bigger issues. It's a little different than prior years.'' Among the most notable new laws are a 75-cent boost in the minimum wage, a state plan to fight global warming global warming, the gradual increase of the temperature of the earth's lower atmosphere as a result of the increase in greenhouse gases since the Industrial Revolution. , a measure to create competition in the cable television market and Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's partial takeover of the Los Angeles Unified School District The Los Angeles Unified School District (the "LAUSD") is the largest (in terms of number of students) public school system in California and the second-largest in the United States. Only the New York City Department of Education has a larger student population. . Most of the new laws take effect with the new year, although the LAUSD LAUSD Los Angeles Unified School District (Los Angeles, CA) law is on hold after a Los Angeles judge ruled it unconstitutional. One of the most sweeping new measures is Assembly Bill1835 by Assemblywoman Sally Lieber, D-Mountain View, which raises California's minimum wage to $7.50 an hour Monday, and to $8 an hour Jan.1, 2008. ``In terms of impact on the average Californian, what you're going to see is when you go to your favorite restaurant, the prices on most items will increase by 5to 10cents,'' said Jack Kyser, chief economist The Chief Economist is a single position job class having primary responsibility for the development, coordination, and production of economic and financial analysis. It is distinguished from the other economist positions by the broader scope of responsibility encompassing the at the Los Angeles Economic Development Corp. Voters approved Jessica's Law Jessica's Law is the informal name given to a 2005 Florida law, as well as laws in several other states, designed to punish sex offenders and reduce their ability to re-offend. , a crackdown on sexual predators, in a November ballot measure that took effect after the vote was certified. State officials are working to implement the law, including seeking contracts for global positioning systems to monitor sex offenders. Sen. George Runner George C. Runner, Jr. (born March 25 1952 in Scotia, New York) is a Republican California State Senator, who represents the 17th Senate District, which includes portions of Los Angeles County, San Bernardino County and Ventura County. , the Antelope Valley Republican who co-wrote the law, said some sex offenders who could soon be paroled might be committed to a state hospital instead. ``There are going to be some individuals who are going to be released into our communities on parole who I think will be moved over to civil commitment because they're going to be identified as sexually violent predators,'' he said. But one high-profile measure that will have widespread impact doesn't take effect until July1, 2008. That's when motorists will face penalties for driving while using handheld mobile phones. Modeled after a New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. law, Senate Bill1613 imposes a $20 fine for the first offense and $50 for subsequent offenses. It does not apply to drivers using hands-free models and exempts motorists using handheld mobile phones in emergencies. Among other laws that will take effect Monday: Animals: SB 1578, by Sen. Alan Lowenthal, D-Long Beach, prohibits a person from chaining a dog to a dog house, tree, fence or other stationary object. SB 1806, by Sen. Liz Figueroa, D-Fremont, prohibits leaving an animal inside a closed vehicle during hot weather. SB 1349, by Sen. Nell Soto, D-Ontario, increases penalties for encouraging animals to fight for sport. AB 2485, by Assemblyman Dave Jones, D-Sacramento, creates a state program to protect sea otters, including a check-off box on state tax returns to help fund the program. Pretexting: SB 202, by Sen. Joe Simitian, D-Palo Alto, prohibits the sale of telephone records without the subscriber's permission. Street racing: AB 2190, by Assemblyman John Benoit, R-Riverside, increases penalties for illegal street racing, particularly when it results in injury. AB 1850, by Assemblyman Dennis Mountjoy, R-Monrovia, prohibits riding in the trunk of a car or allowing someone to ride in the trunk. Fire-safe cigarettes: AB 178, by Assemblyman Paul Koretz, D-West Hollywood, requires tobacco companies to sell only fire-safe cigarettes. The bill was passed in 2005, but it takes effect Jan.1. Casino nights: AB 839, by Assemblyman Alberto Torrico, D-Fremont, allows nonprofit organizations to host gambling events for fundraisers. harrison.sheppard(at)dailynews.com (916) 446-6723 LEGISLATIVE HIGHLIGHTS For highlights of major legislation passed in 2006, go to the Senate Office of Research Web site at www.sen.ca.gov/sor/WHATS_NEW/whatsnew.htp and select 2006 Legislative Highlights, or visit DailyNews.com. To research California bills and laws, go to www.leginfo.ca.gov. CAPTION(S): box Box: LEGISLATIVE HIGHLIGHTS (see text) |
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