California Laws 2000

With state government controlled by a single party, the Democrats, for the first time in 16 years, the Legislature passed 1,277 bills in 1999 and Gov. Gray Davis signed 1,025 of them into law.

The result: Some taxes will fall, schools will get tougher academically, consumers will gain some new protections and HMO patients will have more rights. Gun restrictions will be tighter; environmental protections will expand.

Here’s a look at some of the more important new laws--most of which will take effect on Jan. 1--and some of the more unusual ones.

More information can be obtained by writing the bills’ authors at State Capitol, Sacramento, CA 95814, or by viewing the state Senate’s Web page at https://www.sen.ca.gov.

TAXES

Car registration--As part of the year’s budget agreement, motorists will see another 10% reduction in the annual vehicle registration fee. In 2000, the car tax will be 35% lower than two years ago (AB 1121 by Assemblyman George Nakano, D-Torrance).

Cheats--The state Franchise Tax Board will publicly disclose the 12 largest state income or business tax delinquents (AB 790 by Assemblyman Mike Honda, D-San Jose).

Refunds--Taxpayers who are owed refunds by the Franchise Tax Board have an extra six months to seek the money (AB 414 by Assemblywoman Sally Havice, D-Cerritos).

Income tax--Individuals with adjusted gross incomes of $8,498 or less and married couples with taxable incomes of $16,996 or less no longer have to file state income tax returns (AB 1140 by Assembly Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa, D-Los Angeles).

EDUCATION

Tuition cut--Tuition for the California State University and University of California systems will be cut by 10%. Community college fees drop to $11 per unit from $12 (AB 1118 by Assemblywoman Sarah Reyes, D-Fresno).

Gay students--Students cannot be discriminated against or harassed based on sexual orientation (AB 537 by Assemblywoman Sheila Kuehl, D-Santa Monica).

School ranking--An index was established to rank schools by student performance and an intervention program was created for some lower-performing schools (SB 1X by Sen. Dede Alpert, D-Coronado, approved during a special session called by Davis in January).

Advertising--There will be no more Trix with your trigonometry or Hamburger Helper with your history. Textbooks and other teaching materials no longer can include “unnecessary exposure” to commercial brand names, products or corporate logos (AB 116 by Assemblywoman Kerry Mazzoni, D-San Rafael).

Chicken pox--Starting in 2001, children must be immunized against chicken pox before entering elementary school (SB 741 by Sen. Dede Alpert, D-Coronado).

Kindergarten--Beginning in September 2002, kindergartners must have turned five by Sept. 1. The current cutoff date for many schools is Dec. 1 (AB 25 by Assemblywoman Kerry Mazzoni, D-San Rafael).

Son of Belmont--Districts must determine whether a school site poses a health threat to children before buying it. This law grew out of disclosures that the Los Angeles Unified School District knew the Belmont Learning Complex site was contaminated with methane gas (AB 387 by Assemblyman Scott Wildman, D-Los Angeles).

Teacher pay--Entry-level teachers in many districts will receive pay increases to $32,000. Districts that pay veteran teachers less than $32,000 may apply for state grants to raise salaries (AB 1117 by Assemblyman Thomas Calderon, D-Montebello).

ENVIRONMENT

Recycling--Many more containers--including plastic, glass and aluminum water bottles, and juice, ice tea and coffee containers--will now be included in the state’s beverage container recycling program. Prices will go up by 2.5 cents per container, but people can turn them in at recycling centers and get their deposits back (SB 332 by Sen. Byron Sher, D-Palo Alto.)

Bugs’ life--The Department of Food and Agriculture was allocated money to battle the infestation of red fire ants in California (SB 204 by Sen. John Lewis, R-Orange).

Marine life--A team of scientists will help the Department of Fish and Game devise a management plan for the state’s protected marine areas, possibly leading to limits on fishing (AB 993 by Assemblyman Kevin Shelley, D-San Francisco).

San Gabriel River--The newly created San Gabriel River and Lower Los Angeles Mountains Conservancy will acquire and manage land near the river and its tributaries, and in the San Gabriel Mountains (SB 216 by Sen. Hilda Solis, D-El Monte).

Wild rivers--A portion of the Yuba River’s south fork will be added to California’s Wild and Scenic River System, preventing construction of new dams on that stretch (SB 496 by Sen. Byron Sher, D-Palo Alto).

Dead animals--Manufacturers that render animal carcasses into various products are protected as agricultural operations and, like other farming activities, generally are not subject to laws against public nuisances (SB 1274 by Sen. Jim Costa, D-Fresno).

HEALTH CARE

HMO regulation--A Department of Managed Care has been created, including a new Office of the Patient Advocate. The Department of Corporations will gradually transfer its health care-related duties to the new department (AB 78 by Assemblyman Martin Gallegos, D-Baldwin Park).

Right to sue--Patients may sue their health plans for harm caused by failure to provide ordinary care. The law is intended as a remedy for repeated delays, denials and modifications that some HMOs have used to cut costs (AB 21 by Sen. Liz Figueroa, D-Fremont).

Second opinions--HMO patients can seek an independent medical review when services are denied, modified or significantly delayed (AB 55 by Assemblywoman Carole Migden, D-San Francisco, and SB 189 by Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Burbank).

Mental health--Health care plans must provide coverage for diagnosis and treatment of severe mental illness and for serious emotional disturbances in children (AB 88 by Assemblywoman Helen Thomson, D-Davis, and Sen. Don Perata, D-Alameda).

Contraceptives--Health care plans that cover prescription drugs must include prescription contraceptives and devices, such as diaphragms and IUDs (AB 39 by Assemblyman Robert Hertzberg, D-Sherman Oaks).

Breast cancer--Health care plans must cover breast cancer screening, diagnosis and treatment and cannot refuse enrollment to patients with a family history of the disease (SB 5 by Sen. Richard Rainey, R-Walnut Creek).

Bloodletting--Phlebotomists, who believe bloodletting cures diseases, must gain state certification and pass more hours of training (AB 1557 by Assemblywoman Carole Migden, D-San Francisco).

CRIME AND PUNISHMENT

Dog bites--Owners of trained attack dogs could face felony charges if an animal bites victims on two separate occasions or causes substantial injury on one occasion (SB 103 by Sen. Maurice Johannessen, R-Redding).

Kids and alcohol--Minors who use alcohol face stiffer penalties: up to 32 hours of community service for trying to buy alcohol, a $1,000 fine for using false identification to buy it, and 32 hours of community service and a $250 fine for possessing alcohol (AB 749 by Assemblyman Herb Wesson, D-Culver City).

Abandoned animals--It is a misdemeanor for owners to willfully abandon any animal. Previously, the law applied only to abandonment of dogs and cats (AB 1540 by Assemblyman Edward Vincent, D-Inglewood).

Illegal photography--Violators could face misdemeanor $1,000 fines and a year in jail if they surreptitiously photograph or videotape the undergarments or private parts of a person in circumstances in which the victim has a reasonable expectation of privacy (AB 182 by Assemblyman Dick Ackerman, R-Fullerton).

Inmate sex--State prison and Youth Authority employees could face felony charges if they have sex with an inmate. Previously, the crime was a misdemeanor (SB 377 by Sen. Richard Polanco, D-Los Angeles).

GUNS AND OTHER WEAPONS

Assault weapons--The manufacture, sale, loan or gift of ammunition magazines capable of accepting more than 10 rounds has been outlawed. Existing magazines can be made legal by altering them to hold no more than 10 cartridges. Military-style semiautomatic firearms also are outlawed based on generic features, including a protruding pistol grip (SB 23 by Sen. Don Perata, D-Alameda).

Gun a month--People can buy no more than one pistol, revolver, derringer or other concealable firearm in a 30-day period (AB 202 by Assemblyman Wally Knox, D-Los Angeles).

Cheap handguns--Starting in 2001, guns that fail basic safety tests cannot be sold in California (SB 15 by Sen. Richard Polanco, D-Los Angeles).

Domestic violence--People restrained by domestic violence protective orders must relinquish ownership and possession of all firearms for the duration of the order (SB 218 by Sen. Hilda Solis, D-La Puente).

Laser pointers--It is now a crime to sell laser pointers to a minor who is not accompanied by an adult. First-time violators face a $50 fine or four hours of community service (AB 293 by Assemblyman Herb Wesson, D-Culver City).

Mass destruction--Cracking down on “weapons of mass destruction,” the Legislature banned the development, possession, use or threatened use of biological and chemical weapons, nuclear devices and other substances or devices that may cause widespread illness, injury or harm to humans, agriculture or natural resources. Penalties range up to life in prison (AB 140 by Assemblyman Bob Hertzberg, D-Sherman Oaks.)

CONSUMER ISSUES

Insurance lawsuits--An accident victim can sue another person’s insurance company if the company fails to act in good faith and deal fairly with the injured person. Several major insurance companies have placed a referendum on the March ballot to repeal the bill, dubbed the “Fair Insurance Responsibility Act of 2000” (SB 1237 by Sen. Martha Escutia, D-Whittier).

Internet disclosure--Secretary of State Bill Jones must expand information about campaign donations, political committees and lobbyists on the Internet (SB 50, SB 1024 and SB 1025 by Sen. Ross Johnson, R-Irvine, and SB 658 by Sen. Betty Karnette, D-Long Beach).

Slave labor--The statute of limitations allowing suits by victims of forced labor during World War II has been extended to Dec. 31, 2010 (SB 1245 by Sen. Tom Hayden, D-Los Angeles).

Domestic partners--People who live together have gained new rights. They can register with the state as domestic partners, and health insurers must offer employers the option of purchasing coverage for them (AB 26 by Assemblywoman Carole Migden, D-San Francisco).

Insurance fees--A 50-cent fee has been added to auto insurance policies to pay for anti-fraud efforts, along with a 30-cent fee to pay for consumer protection work (SB 940 by Sen. Jackie Speier, D-Daly City).

Kitty confidential--Veterinarians must keep information about any Tom or Fido under their care, or about their owners, private. They also cannot sell names or phone numbers of dog owners who have had their pups vaccinated against rabies (SB 490 by Sen. David Kelley, R-Idyllwild).

Shopper privacy--Supermarkets no longer can request driver license or Social Security numbers from applicants for their club cards, and cannot share a cardholder’s personal information (SB 926 by Sen. Jackie Speier, D-Daly City).

Lemons--New car owners have extra time to replace that lemon. They can make claims and possibly get replacement cars or refunds if the same problem occurs four times or the vehicle is out of service more than 30 days in the first 18 months or 18,000 miles. Previously, the limit was a year and 12,000 miles (AB 1290 by Assemblywoman Susan Davis, D-San Diego).

WELFARE AND SOCIAL SAFETY NET

Disability pay--State Disability Insurance benefits for people hurt off the job, or who become ill or pregnant, will increase to $490 per week from $336. To help pay for the benefit, higher-paid workers will face a tax increase of as much as $74 per year (SB 656 by Sen. Hilda Solis, D-La Puente).

Disabled workers--Disabled people who find jobs can continue to receive health coverage through the state Medi-Cal program. Previously, disabled people faced the prospect of losing health benefits if they returned to work (AB 155 by Assemblywoman Carole Migden, D-San Francisco).

Dying patients--The state must allow patients diagnosed as terminally ill to remain in adult residential care facilities during their final days, rather than be moved to hospitals or other facilities (AB 1108 by the Assembly Human Services Committee).

Children’s health--Children whose parents earn up to 250% of the federal poverty limit are now eligible for health care under California’s Healthy Families program. Children who legally immigrated here after 1996 also are eligible (SB 160 by Sen. Steve Peace, D-El Cajon).

Child support--The state will begin taking over from counties the responsibility for ensuring that child support payments are made, and the Franchise Tax Board will expand its role in collecting delinquent payments (SB 542 by Sen. John Burton, D-San Francisco).

WORKPLACE

Eight-hour day--Hourly workers are assured of receiving overtime pay if they put in more than eight hours in a day. The law reverses a change made during Gov. Pete Wilson’s tenure giving workers overtime only if they logged more than 40 hours in a week (AB 60 by Assemblyman Wally Knox, D-Los Angeles).

Age discrimination--Employers cannot fire middle-aged workers simply to replace them with lower-paid younger workers. The legislation overturns a state Supreme Court decision (SB 26 by Sen. Martha Escutia, D-Whittier).

Sick leave--Employers who provide sick leave must permit employees to use half of their sick time to care for an ill child, spouse or parent (AB 109 by Assemblyman Wally Knox, D-Los Angeles).

Future illness--Employers cannot discriminate in hiring or employment simply because someone has a genetic characteristic suggesting a propensity for developing a particular disease or medical condition (SB 1185 by Sen. Patrick Johnston, D-Stockton).

Domestic violence--Employers cannot fire or otherwise discipline a worker who takes time off from work for court appearances related to domestic violence as long as the worker provides the employer with reasonable notice (SB 56 by Sen. Hilda Solis, D-La Puente).

Child stars--At least 15% of earnings by minors for artistic services must be set aside in a trust for the child (SB 1162 by Sen. John Burton, D-San Francisco).

CARS AND DRIVERS

Hand signals--It’s now legal for drivers not to use hand signals for turns or stops as long as their blinkers are working. Previously this was a violation of law (SB 533, a Senate Transportation Committee bill).

Accidents--A driver may pull to a safe spot on the side of the highway rather than stopping on the road after an accident involving property damage, provided the maneuver does not cause a safety hazard (SB 681 by Sen. Jackie Speier, D-Daly City).

Air bags--It is illegal for mechanics to install, reinstall, distribute or sell previously deployed auto air bags (AB 1471 by Assemblywoman Sally Havice, D-Cerritos).

Free air and water--Gas stations must provide air and water free of charge to customers who buy fuel. A toll-free number will be set up to report complaints. (AB 531 by Assemblywoman Nell Soto, D-Pomona)

Buses--Motorists in Orange County and several Northern California counties must yield the right of way to transit buses that merge into traffic from special bus turnouts. Violators face $35 fines (AB 1218 by Assemblyman Fred Keeley, D-Boulder Creek).

Reagan plates--Special license plates recognizing former President Ronald Reagan will become available, with proceeds going to the Reagan presidential library (AB 1041 by Assemblyman Tony Strickland, R-Thousand Oaks).

Scooters--Operators of motorized skateboards must be at least 16, wear crash helmets and be sober (SB 441 by Sen. Wesley Chesbro, D-Arcata).

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Compiled by Times staff writer Dan Morain with Times Sacramento Bureau reports.