Multitude of new California laws take effect in 2015
With hundreds of new laws in effect for 2015 in California, just about every resident of the state is affected in some way. Whether you’re a gun owner, environmentalist, student, veteran, consumer, prison inmate or elected official, you may notice the changes.
Gov. Jerry Brown kept his pen busy last year, vetoing 143 bills. But he also signed 930 into law. Many went into effect Jan. 1, while others become effective in July.
In a recent review of some of the new laws, The Los Angeles Times notes that several were drafted in response to prominent news events, including the fatal shootings last spring in Isla Vista. The incident led to a new law allowing either family members or police to seek temporary restraining orders barring gun possession by a person determined to be dangerous.
Additional new laws include:
- A potential ban on plastic grocery bags intended for single use. The measure may be delayed until a referendum vote in November.
- Extension of the statute of limitations to prosecute bribery charges among public officials. The new law comes in the wake of two state senators coming under federal charges for bribery.
- Inability of public officials to use campaign funds for paying fines for improperly using political funds.
- Authorization to start work on a new veterans’ cemetery at the Irvine site that formerly housed the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station.
- A ban on cooperation by state agencies with federal officials collecting large numbers of computer and phone records. An exception exists when a warrant is issued.
- The ability to prosecute photographers using aerial drones to record or photograph an individual in a private location. Cases may be pursued by criminal law Los Angeles prosecutors and those elsewhere in the state.
- Adjustment of sentencing for crack cocaine sale to two to four years, the same as for powder cocaine. The sentence for selling crack cocaine previously was three to five years.
- A mandatory sentence of 180 days for paroled sex offenders who do not show up to be fitted with a GPS monitoring device or who tamper with the device so that it does not work.
As Congress remains gridlocked, California’s Legislature has no problem taking action. These are just a few of the laws becoming effective in 2015. To search the database of California’s laws, visit the state Legislature’s website.
