CALIFORNIA LAWS 1997

The 1996 Legislature was split, with Republicans controlling the Assembly and Democrats holding the Senate. Still, California’s legislators made dramatic changes in state law.

In all, Gov. Pete Wilson signed 1,174 bills into law, an increase of 192 from the year before. Most of them take effect Wednesday.

Some of the most important bills cut class sizes in lower grades, reduced business taxes to levels not seen since the 1970s, brought competition to the electrical utility industry and created an earthquake insurance authority.

All of this happened as Wilson and the Legislature continued to approve bills that get tougher on criminals, sex offenders and drug users. They also approved bills to make health insurance plans more humane, and took steps to roll back some environmental protections.

To obtain more detailed information about a law, write to the author at: State Capitol, Sacramento, CA 95814.

Legislative information also is available on the Internet through Gopher and the World Wide Web, https://www.sen.ca.gov, or through e-mail, ftpmail@leg info.public.ca.gov.

Here’s a look at some of the major laws that will be in place in 1997, the bill numbers and the authors. (Some authors are no longer in office.)

PUBLIC EDUCATION

Class size reduction-- A total of $971 million was provided for public school districts to cut class size to 20 pupils per classroom in kindergarten through third grade. (SB 1777 by Sen. Jack O’Connell, D-Santa Barbara, and SB 1789 by Sen. Leroy Greene, D-Carmichael.)

Reading-- New programs, including teacher training and special textbooks, were adopted to improve reading in kindergarten through third grade, with an emphasis on phonics, at a cost of $152 million. (AB 3482 by Assemblywoman Susan A. Davis, D-San Diego.)

Remedial reading-- Schools can draw on a new state fund to add remedial reading instruction in grades one through three if more than 10% of the students in the district are a year behind in reading skills. (AB 2265 by Assemblyman Antonio Villaraigosa, D-Los Angeles.)

Driver’s education-- Driver’s education must include at least six hours of behind-the-wheel instruction. (AB 1088 by Assemblyman Bill Morrow, R-Oceanside.)

Teacher pay-- School districts and unions negotiating increases in teachers’ salaries may use merit as one criterion, along with years of training and experience. (SB 98 by Sen. Byron Sher, D-Stanford, and Assemblyman Curt Pringle, R-Garden Grove.)

Teacher skills-- Candidates for teaching credentials in the primary grades must demonstrate a knowledge of effective reading instruction techniques. (AB 1178 by Assemblyman Jim Cunneen, R-San Jose.)

Teacher credentials-- An alternative teacher credentialing program will be expanded to allow more applicants from other professions to become public school teachers. (AB 1432 by Assemblyman Bernie Richter, R-Chico.)

Teacher assault-- Fines will increase to $1,000 from $200 against supervisors who fail to report to police assaults on teachers or other school employees. The threat of such assaults also must be reported. (SB 691 by Sen. Tom Hayden, D-Los Angeles.)

Sexual assault-- Students can be suspended immediately if they engage in or attempt to engage in sexual acts ranging from unwanted touching to assault. (AB 692 by Assemblywoman Sheila Kuehl, D-Santa Monica.)

School safety-- To counteract truancy, the state allocated an additional $10 million to school districts, and added $7.2 million to reduce campus violence. (AB 3492 by Assemblyman Peter Frusetta, R-Tres Pinos.)

Student loans-- Borrowers who default on student loans will be pursued by the state Franchise Tax Board in an effort to step up collection of a ballooning backlog of unpaid student loans. (AB 255 by former Assemblywoman Jackie Speier, D-Burlingame.)

School buses-- A fund of $50 million has been established to help buy school buses in low-income areas or where students live far from campus. (AB 2972 by Assemblyman Keith Olberg, R-Victorville.)

School bonds-- School districts statewide can issue revenue bonds--which do not require voter approval--of up to $400 million a year for construction. More districts also will qualify to issue the bonds. (SB 1185 by then-senator, now Assemblyman Bill Leonard, R-San Bernardino, and SB 1544 by Sen. Steve Peace, D-El Cajon.)

Sports agents-- Sports agents, including lawyers who act as agents, who give anything of value to student athletes face a misdemeanor charge. Schools can sue to enforce the law. (SB 1401 by Sen. Ruben Ayala, D-Chino.)

INSURANCE

Earthquake insurance-- The California Earthquake Authority, a publicly run, privately financed agency, went into operation Dec. 1, offering homeowner coverage for earthquake damage. It is backed by the pooled financial resources of private companies and policyholders. (AB 2086 and AB 3232 by former Assemblyman David Knowles, R-Placerville, and SB 1993 by Sen. Charles M. Calderon, D-Whittier.)

Auto insurance-- Californians must now provide proof of automobile insurance when renewing their driver’s license. Also, police may check for proof of insurance when stopping a motorist for any infraction, and cars may be impounded for noncompliance. (AB 650 by former Assemblywoman Jackie Speier, D-Burlingame.)

Worker fraud-- Insurance companies paying claims for injuries on the job are permitted to warn recipients that they could be charged with criminal fraud if they go to work elsewhere and perform duties that they claim led to their earlier injuries. (AB 1650 by Assemblyman Jim Morrissey, R-Anaheim.)

Insurance alliances-- Individuals, businesses or trusts are permitted to form alliances to bargain as a unit for health insurance to cover employers and employees. (SB 1559 by Sen. Steve Peace, D-El Cajon.)

CRIME AND PUNISHMENT

Death penalty-- Hoping to shorten the time between conviction and state Supreme Court decisions on death penalty cases, the state has required that transcripts of trial court proceedings be produced more quickly. (AB 195 by Assemblyman Bill Morrow, R-Oceanside.)

Prison terms-- Convicted murderers can no longer reduce their prison terms by remaining discipline-free or working at prison jobs. (SB 1231 by Sen. John R. Lewis, R-Orange.)

Ex-cons-- State prison officials are required to tell police in communities where convicts are about to be released on parole. (AB 2294 by Assemblyman Michael Sweeney, D-Hayward.)

Hate crimes-- The governor can offer a $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of any person who commits arson at a place of worship. (AB 2057 by Assemblyman Kevin Murray, D-Los Angeles.)

Genital mutilation-- Special child-abuse penalties apply to perpetrators of genital mutilation of girls, a practice in some immigrant communities. (AB 2125 by Assembly members Jim Cunneen, R-San Jose, and Liz Figueroa, D-Fremont.)

Graffiti-- Juveniles caught spreading graffiti can be ordered to clean up graffiti throughout the community, and so can their parents, who also can be charged for the costs of enforcement. (AB 2295 by Assemblyman Michael Sweeney, D-Hayward.)

Gangs-- Prosecutors can seek longer prison terms for gang-related crimes, bring charges for trying to recruit gang members, seek additional penalties for gang crimes committed at or near a school and prosecute juveniles under anti-gang statutes. (AB 2035 by Assemblyman Peter Frusetta, R-Tres Pinos.)

Knives-- A knife is exempted from the ban on switchblade knives if its blade is opened by thumb pressure on the blade or by a thumb stud attached to the blade. (Assemblyman Steve Baldwin, R-El Cajon.)

Pirated TV-- Penalties increase for pirating television signals or trying to profit from the equipment used to receive such signals--from a misdemeanor to a possible felony, including fines of up to $100,000. (SB 623 by Sen. Steve Peace, D-El Cajon.)

Juvenile crime-- The state earmarked $100 million to help local police pay for juvenile crime prevention programs. (AB 3229 by former Assemblyman, now Sen. Jim Brulte, R-Rancho Cucamonga.)

Mentally ill offenders-- People accused of felonies but deemed mentally incompetent to stand trial must be confined in treatment centers such as state hospitals. If they escape and have a history of harming children, nearby schools must be notified. (AB 2104 by Assemblyman Michael Machado, D-Linden.)

SEX CRIMES

Chemical castration-- California became the first state in the country to require that repeat convicted child molesters be chemically castrated to suppress their sex drive. Twice-convicted child molesters will be forced to get weeklong series of injections of a synthetic female hormone. Judges have discretion whether to order such punishment for first-time offenders. (AB 3339 by former Assemblyman Bill Hoge, R-Pasadena.)

Megan’s Law-- To protect the public, police can notify schools, day-care centers, parents, previous victims and others of the arrival of a registered sex offender in a neighborhood. This law was based on the federal “Megan’s Law,” named for a 7-year-old New Jersey girl who was murdered by a twice-convicted sex offender who lived in her neighborhood. (AB 1562 by Assemblywoman Barbara Alby, R-Fair Oaks.)

DNA testing-- Sex offenders and violent felons must provide blood and saliva specimens for DNA testing upon release from prison. (AB 2127 by Assemblywoman Barbara Alby, R-Fair Oaks.)

Statutory rape-- Prosecutors can seek civil penalties of up to $25,000 against adults convicted of having sex with minors in statutory rape cases. (AB 1490 by Assemblyman Louis Caldera, D-Los Angeles.)

Cyberporn-- A ban on showing obscene acts is expanded to include dissemination by computers and such attachments as CD-ROMS. (AB 295 by Assemblyman Steve Baldwin, R-El Cajon.)

Registration-- On release from custody, felons convicted of sex crimes have five days, rather than the previous 14, to register as sex offenders with local police. (SB 1378 by Sen. Steve Peace, D-El Cajon.)

Clergy and child abuse-- Members of the clergy who know or suspect incidents of child abuse committed by colleagues are required to report the information to police--except when they learn of such behavior in the confessional. (AB 3354 by Assemblywoman Valerie Brown, D-Kenwood.)

No peeking-- Misdemeanor disorderly conduct penalties now apply against people who use periscopes, telescopes, video cameras or other devices to peek at people in fitting rooms, tanning booths or other areas where a person has an expectation of privacy. (AB 2051 by former Assemblywoman, now Sen. Dede Alpert, D-Coronado.)

DRUGS AND ALCOHOL

Date rape drug-- Possession of the sedative Rohypnol, the so-called date rape drug, is now a felony. The drug had not been illegal previously. (SB 2164 by Sen. Tom Hayden, D-Los Angeles.)

Beer labeling-- Any malt beverage can be called “beer,” regardless of alcohol content. Alcoholic strength of more than 5.7% must be listed on the label. (SB 1923 by Sen. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena.)

Smoking permitted-- Special exemptions allowing people to smoke in bars and gambling rooms have been extended for another year, to Jan. 1, 1998. (AB 3037 by former Assemblyman Sal Cannella, D-Ceres.)

Drug lawsuits-- In a bill inspired by actor Carroll O’Connor’s suit against a man who dealt drugs to O’Connor’s late son, dealers of illegal drugs can be sued for harm their products cause to family, employers, medical treatment providers, insurance companies or ex-users themselves. (SB 1754 by Sen. Charles M. Calderon, D-Whittier.)

Drugs and driving-- In addition to other penalties, people convicted of using illegal drugs, regardless of whether they were driving at the time of their arrest, face suspension of their driving privileges for six months. The so-called “smoke a joint, lose your license” law makes California eligible for $100 million in federal highway money. (AB 95 by Assemblyman Larry Bowler, R-Elk Grove.)

Drunk driving-- Named for a girl who was killed by a repeat drunk driver, “Courtney’s Law” imposes prison terms of 15 years to life--more than double current penalties--for repeat drunk drivers who are involved in fatal accidents. (AB 1985 by former Assemblywoman Jackie Speier, D-Burlingame.)

Juvenile drinkers-- Drivers under age 21 who knowingly carry opened or unopened containers of alcohol in their cars face a misdemeanor count. (AB 2000 by Assemblyman Jan Goldsmith, R-Poway.)

Drunk boating-- The allowable blood-alcohol level for people under 21 operating a boat is now reduced from 0.05% to 0.01%, the same as for people under 21 driving a car. (AB 749 by Assemblyman Steven T. Kuykendall, R-Rancho Palos Verdes.)

CARS AND DRIVERS

Driver’s licenses-- Drivers with good records will be able to renew their licenses every five years instead of every four years. The renewal fee will rise from $12 to $15. (AB 2352 by former Assemblywoman Jackie Speier, D-Burlingame.)

Disabled parking-- Applicants for disabled-person parking placards must submit detailed information from their physicians on their condition. (SB 1498 by Sen. Quentin Kopp, I-San Francisco.)

Tickets-- Local authorities can lower the amount due on outstanding traffic fines as part of an amnesty program to persuade drivers to pay back fines. Drivers will be allowed to pay 70% oftheir fine as long as the offense did not involve driving while intoxicated. (AB 3095 by Assemblyman Antonio Villaraigosa, D-Los Angeles.)

Wide loads-- Manufactured homes up to 16 feet wide, roughly one and one-third lanes, are now permitted on highways, provided certain safety conditions are met. (AB 420 by former Assemblyman Ted Weggeland, R-Riverside.)

Abandoned vehicles-- The last registered owner of an abandoned vehicle is responsible for paying the costs of towing and storage, and faces a $100 fine for failing to pay the costs before the vehicle is junked. (SB 1111 by Sen. Ruben S. Ayala, D-Chino.)

Prostitution-- In legislation aimed at men who pick up streetwalkers, judges can suspend the driver’s license of people convicted of engaging in acts of prostitution within 1,000 feet of a private home when the act occurs in a motor vehicle. (AB 2949 by former Assemblyman Trice Harvey, R-Bakersfield.)

Reckless-- The fine for driving recklessly while evading a police officer is raised to $10,000. (AB 1999 by former Assemblyman, now Sen. William J. Knight, R-Palmdale.)

Racing-- Police can arrest motorists engaged in a drag race and impound their vehicles as a way of thwarting such illegal contests on neighborhood streets. Previously, authorities needed to obtain a conviction before they could seize the car. (AB 2288 by Assemblyman Fred Aguiar, R-Chino.)

Yield-- Motorists must yield to the right when overtaken by another vehicle whose headlights are flashing. (SB 1588 by Sen. Quentin Kopp, I-San Francisco.)

Illegal immigrants-- The Department of Motor Vehicles can cancel and refuse to renew or replace driver’s licenses of anyone identified by immigration authorities as a deported immigrant. (AB 33 by former Assemblywoman, now Sen. Dede Alpert, D-Coronado.)

Child restraints-- Car rental companies must issue public notices that read: “California law requires all children under the age of 4, regardless of weight, or weighing less than 40 pounds, regardless of age, to be transported in a child restraint system.” (AB 3020 by Assemblyman Larry Bowler, R-Elk Grove.)

HEALTH CARE

Fertility clinics-- As a result of the UC Irvine fertility clinic scandal, the state has outlawed the intentional transfer of eggs, sperm or embryos without written consent from donors and recipients. Convicted violators face up to five years in state prison and fines of up to $50,000. (SB 1555 by Sen. Tom Hayden, D-Los Angeles, and AB 2513 by former Assemblywoman Jackie Speier, D-Burlingame.)

Gag clauses-- Health care plans are prohibited from telling doctors to conceal from patients various treatment options, including care they could obtain outside the health plan. (AB 3013 by Assemblywoman Barbara Alby, R-Fair Oaks.)

Second opinions-- Health maintenance organizations must have a clear policy on file with the Department of Corporations stating their guidelines outlining when patients may seek second opinions. (AB 3251 by Assemblyman Martin Gallegos, D-Baldwin Park.)

Family history-- Health plans are prohibited from refusing coverage or charging extra to an applicant for coverage solely because he or she has a family history of an illness. (SB 1740 by Sen. Patrick Johnston, D-Stockton.)

Experimental treatment-- Terminally ill patients have the right to an independent medical review outside their health plans when their plan refuses to cover the costs of experimental treatments. (AB 1663 by former Assemblywoman Barbara Friedman, D-North Hollywood, and former Assemblyman David Knowles, R-Placerville.)

Immunization-- Health maintenance organization must provide immunization consistent with the federal Recommended Childhood Immunization Schedule. (SB 686 by Sen. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena.)

Medical savings accounts-- Californians can get state tax deductions for establishing medical savings accounts as part of a pilot project. (AB 1758 by former Assemblyman David Knowles, R-Placerville, and SB 38 by Sen. Bill Lockyer, D-Hayward.)

Tele-medicine-- To promote the practice of doctors giving advice over the telephone, insurers can no longer require a face-to-face meeting between patients and their doctors for some conditions. (SB 1665 by Sen. Mike Thompson, D--St. Helena.)

Midwives-- Certified nurse-midwives may perform episiotomies during childbirth if standard procedures are followed. (SB 1738 by Sen. Cathie Wright, R-Simi Valley.)

FAMILIES AND CHILDREN

Adoption-- A new law seeks to expedite recognition of permanent placement for infants and toddlers who are being adopted. (AB 1524 by Assemblyman Brett Granlund, R-Yucaipa.)

Adoption facilitators-- State law provides a definition for “adoption facilitators,” who search for children to be adopted, and adds restrictions to the currently unlicensed job. (SB 2035 by former Sen. Lucy Killea, I-San Diego.)

Foster parents-- To be licensed, foster parents must take 12 hours of training, and to stay licensed they must take eight more hours of training annually. (AB 3062 by former Assemblywoman Barbara Friedman, D-North Hollywood.)

Teenage pregnancy-- The state is allocating $10 million to start various programs to fight teenage pregnancy. (SB 1170 by Sen. Bill Lockyer, D-Hayward.)

Bad parents-- Parents with records of domestic violence or drug abuse will be required in child abuse cases to prove their fitness to raise their children. In the past, judges often were obliged to reunite children with such parents. (AB 2679 by Assemblyman Louis Caldera, D-Los Angeles.)

Child abuse-- In court proceedings, attorneys representing abused children must advocate protection and safety of the child instead of reunification of the family. (SB 1516 by Sen. Hilda Solis, D-El Monte.)

Child support-- The position “family law facilitator” is added to court staffs to help parents without lawyers understand child support issues. (AB 1058 by former Assemblywoman Jackie Speier, D-Burlingame.)

Day care-- Day care facilities are required to allow the public to examine reports of inspections and reports of substantiated complaints prepared by state inspectors. (AB 1980 by Assemblywoman Liz Figueroa, D-Fremont.)

Parenting classes-- Courts can order that adults and teenagers convicted of drug offenses take parenting classes. (SB 1443 by Sen. Bill Lockyer, D-Hayward.)

Domestic violence-- All judges who handle domestic violence cases must receive training on domestic violence. (AB 2819 by Assemblyman Louis Caldera, D-Los Angeles.)

Widows and orphans-- In order to continue receiving government-paid health benefits, spouses of police officers or firefighters killed in the line of duty no longer must state that they donot intend to remarry. (AB 3478 by Assemblyman Fred Aguiar, R-Chino.)

CONSUMER LAWS

Electricity-- California became the first major state to deregulate the electrical utility industry, setting up competition to start after the turn of the century, and providing residential consumers with a 10% rate reduction starting in 1998 if they are customers of private utilities such as Southern California Edison. (AB 1890 by former Assemblyman, now Sen. Jim Brulte, R-Rancho Cucamonga, and Sen. Steve Peace, D-El Cajon.)

Burials-- Although it’s already illegal to bury two bodies in the same grave, the statute of limitations now will begin to run when the reused grave site is discovered, making it easier for authorities to prosecute cemetery operators who bury more than one body in the same grave. (AB 2237 by former Assemblyman Willard Murray, D-Paramount.)

Public phones-- The Public Utilities Commission must establish a program to provide public telephones for the deaf and hard of hearing. (AB 3152 by Assemblywoman Diane Martinez, D-Monterey Park.)

Affordable phones-- The Public Utilities Commission must develop a program to ensure that telephone service remains affordable. (SB 207 by Sen. Richard Polanco, D-Los Angeles.)

Telemarketers-- Telemarketers are prohibited from withholding the display of their telephone numbers for caller identification purposes. (SB 1035 by Sen. Steve Peace, D-El Cajon.)

Used car dealers-- To obtain a license to sell used cars, a dealer must take instruction on state laws governing used vehicle sales, then pass a written exam administered by the Department of Motor Vehicles. (AB 2367 by Assemblyman Bill Morrow, R-Oceanside.)

Burglar bars-- Local governments are authorized to require all homeowners and landlords to comply with fire safety regulations for “burglar bars,” even if the bars were installed before the rules were adopted. (AB 3026 by former Assemblyman Tom Bates, D-Berkeley.)

Gift certificates-- It is now illegal to sell a gift certificate that has an expiration date. (AB 2466 by Assemblyman Jan Goldsmith, R-Poway.)

Check charges-- Recipients of bad checks are permitted to impose a $25 fee for the first returned check and $35 for two or more that are returned--and can assess triple charges plus costs for persistent failure to make a check good. (AB 2643 by Assemblyman Tom J. Bordonaro Jr., R-Paso Robles.)

Swimming pools-- All public pools built after Jan. 1, 1998, must have a fence, cover, alarm or other safety device. (AB 3305 by former Assemblyman Brian Setencich, R-Fresno.)

ENVIRONMENT

Smog-- Smog-reducing measures are being relaxed for many businesses, including elimination of the requirement for companies with 250 or fewer employees to pay for ride-sharing arrangements. (SB 836 by Sen. John Lewis, R-Orange.)

Spills-- It will be harder for prosecutors to bring criminal charges against commercial operations that allow oil and other chemicals to spill into state waters. (SB 649 by Sen. Jim Costa, D-Fresno.)

More spills-- A requirement is relaxed for oil companies in the San Joaquin Valley to report small spills of crude oil, if advance investigations had indicated that such accidents would pose no threat to water quality or wildlife. (AB 1376 by Assemblyman Cruz Bustamante, D-Fresno.)

Endangered species-- The state Department of Fish and Game must create a pilot program to rebuild the populations of selected species listed as threatened or endangered. (AB 350, Assemblyman Cruz Bustamante, D-Fresno.)

Methyl bromide-- A statewide ban on this toxic pesticide, used on many fruit, nut and vegetable crops, was delayed until 2001. (SBX3 1 by former Sen. Henry Mello, D-Watsonville.)

Recycling-- Plastic food and cosmetic containers are exempt from a law requiring that a portion of containers include recycled material. (SB 1155 by Sen. Ken Maddy, R-Fresno.)

Coastal preserve-- The state granted $282,000 to help Santa Barbara County buy the 65-acre Wilcox property, the last potential coastal preserve in the city of Santa Barbara. (SB 893 by Sen. Jack O’Connell, D-Santa Barbara.)

Coachella Mountains-- The state established a Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy as a state agency to preserve the mountain range in the Palm Springs area. (SB 1567 by Sen. David G. Kelley, R-Idyllwild.)

TAXES

Business taxes-- To stimulate the economy, the state has reduced from 9.3% to 8.84% the state taxes paid by California banks and corporations, the lowest level since Ronald Reagan was governor. (AB 3499 by Assemblyman Curt Pringle, R-Garden Grove).

Special tax cuts-- Several specific industries will receive tax cuts, ranging from a 3% increase in research and development tax credits to greater deductions for small businesses and an exemption from state sales taxes for aircraft parts. (SB 38 by Sen. Bill Lockyer, D-Hayward).

Reparations exemption-- Californians who receive payments from Germany as reparations stemming from the Holocaust are exempt from having to pay state income taxes on the money. (SB 714 by Sen. Bill Lockyer, D-Hayward).

AIDS exemption-- Thrift shops operated by nonprofit groups that help chronically ill people, such as the AIDS Health Care Foundation in Los Angeles, are exempt from paying sales and use taxes on retail items. (AB 3187 by Assemblywoman Diane Martinez, D-Monterey Park).

Liquor taxes-- The state can suspend a company’s alcoholic beverage license if the operator has failed to pay state sales taxes. (SB 1901 by Sen. Ken Maddy R-Fresno.)

Hospital tax-- The city of Avalon can impose a 0.5% transaction and use tax to help finance the Avalon Municipal Hospital, provided the City Council and two-thirds of the voters agree. (SB 1366 by former Sen. Robert Beverly, R-Long Beach).

BUSINESS

Slave labor ban-- California becomes the first state to outlaw the import of goods made by slave labor in China or other countries. (AB 2457 by Assemblywoman Liz Figueroa, D-Fremont).

Pawned goods-- A charge of theft can be brought against someone who misrepresents the ownership of an item used in a transaction with a pawnbroker. (AB 2759 by former Assemblyman, now Sen. John Burton, D-San Francisco).

Flower peddlers-- Sidewalk flower vendors who operate without a state sales tax permit face a $500 fine. (AB 2551 by former Assemblyman Sal Cannella, D-Ceres).

Rental cars-- Operators of car rental agencies can charge customers extra to recoup the cost of annual vehicle registration and are required to explain the charge in price quotations. (SB 1070 by Sen. Charles Calderon, D-Whittier).

Boxing-- Proof of a negative HIV test and negative hepatitis B test is required of anyone applying for a license as a professional boxer or martial arts fighter. (AB 2472 by former Assemblyman Bill Hoge, R-Pasadena).

Landlords-- Landlords may charge prospective tenants a screening fee of up to $30 to check credit references. Tenants must be given a receipt and a refund of any unused portion of the fee. (AB 2263 by Assemblyman Kevin Murray, D-Los Angeles).

Internet-- Vendors on the Internet are governed by the same regulations covering mail order firms, including a requirement that they spell out their refund policy. Penalties of up to $2,500 per violation apply. (AB 3320 by former Assemblywoman Jackie Speier, D-Burlingame).