A wide-ranging collection of new state laws will take effect in California on Monday, including a ban on hidden hotel and concert fees, a shift in how school students are disciplined and a requirement making it easier for people to repair their electronic devices.
Gov. Gavin Newsom approved 890 new laws last year. Most of them went into effect at the beginning of the calendar year, but a few have July 1 start dates. Here are four of the most important ones.
Responding to workplace violence
To make workplaces safer, Senate Bill 553 will require all employers in the state to create and implement workplace violence prevention plans. Every violent incident at work will have to be logged, and employees will have to be trained in how to respond to violence.
The law was inspired by the 2021 mass shooting at the Valley Transit Authority rail yard in San Jose, in which a worker killed nine co-workers before turning the gun on himself.
“On that horrible day, we quickly realized how safety protocols can and must be enhanced,” State Sen. Dave Cortese, the San Jose Democrat who wrote the bill, said in a statement after the governor signed the bill. “This groundbreaking law will help workers and employers establish a plan for the types of workplace violence that are on the rise.”
Bars must stock drug testing kits
Assembly Bill 1013 requires that bars and nightclubs offer their patrons the means to test their drinks for the presence of common date-rape drugs, known as “roofies.”
The 2,400 establishments affected by the new law must either provide test kits to customers at no charge or sell them at a low price. And they must display a sign in a prominent location reading: “Don’t get roofied! Drink spiking drug test kits available here. Ask a staff member for details.”
Higher gun taxes
Anyone who buys firearms or ammunition in California will now pay an 11 percent tax, with the proceeds to be used for school safety and violence prevention programs. The tax, created by A.B. 28, is expected to generate $160 million annually.
Capping security deposits
Until now, landlords have been allowed to require a security deposit equal to as much as three months’ rent. Under A.B. 12, most landlords will be limited to requiring no more than the equivalent of one month’s rent for a security deposit, a change intended to make housing more accessible and affordable for people without much savings.
Small landlords will be exempt from the limit if they own no more than two properties that collectively have no more than four units for rent.
Soumya Karlamangla is a reporter with California Today, published by The New York Times. Copyright 2024, The New York Times.
Housing should require only 1 months rent!
Evictions should only require one month too!
It’s funny they can tax you for exercising a constitutional right ….
How about california’s 24billion dollar Government funding to Tackle homelessness and provide affordable housing for Californians Living on the streets that Gavin Newson misplaced (as if you can Actually misplace $24 billion.) being recovered and Used for its intended purpose, and if not investigation being done on its mysterious Disappearance with reprimand and possibly charges filed on Gavin Newson and his administration for being so careless and incompetent. $24 billion is a lot of money and can do a whole lot of good and put to use in many ways for the American people. With today’s inflation and prices and with our government deficit $24 billion is a lot to just do nothing. Wouldn’t anybody agree?
Those deficits have already been paid out. It’s all made to keep the middle and lower classes under control