California's new laws for 2015: How are you affected?

[petronius]

California adds hundreds of laws on sick pay, guns, mothers, plastic bags, schools, gardens and other topics

http://www.latimes.com/local/politics/la-me-pol-new-state-laws-20150101-story.html#page=1

...
Most of those take effect Jan. 1. Others don't kick in until July, including a ban on single-use plastic grocery bags. Opponents have submitted petitions for a referendum on the law; if the referendum qualifies for the November 2016 ballot, the ban will be delayed until that vote.
...
Consent: Colleges and universities must adopt a standard of clear consent for students engaging in sexual activity. "Affirmative consent" is required by both participants.
...
Fracking: Oil and gas companies must report the amount of water used in drilling operations that involve hydraulic fracturing, or fracking — a procedure in which water mixed with sand and chemicals is injected into rock.
...
Courts: Courts must report to the state Department of Justice within one business day when a person becomes barred from having a firearm.
...

Long long list, not sure how the four paragraph rule applies, so I just picked out a few...

[arcane1]

1. "A new state law bars sports team owners from writing off league penalties on their taxes"

HOW was that ever allowed in the first place???

[petronius]

6. I guess they just called it a business expense, and until now the fines were small

enough that no one noticed. It seems that we all chipped in a bit for Sterling's fine because of this, though -- that sucks...

[arcane1]

9. I do like not worrying about catching hell for growing food on the balcony.

I'm fairly certain this building allowed that anyway, but now it's definite. And I had no idea that law was in the works!

[NV Whino]

2. California now has a state frog!

•Frogs: The California red-legged frog (Rana draytonii), recognized by the federal government as a "threatened" species, becomes the official state amphibian. Mark Twain featured the creature in his story "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County."

[NYC_SKP]

5. Our frog is better than your frog.

Nanner Nanner!

[dhill926]

15. really.....

Mark Twain write a story about your frog? Hah! Didn't think so...

[petronius]

7. We're joining the big leagues now! Another embarrassing gap in our roster

of 'official state things' has been filled.

Found a link to the law making the declaration, and this surprised me:

(c) The California red-legged frog's unique place in California's history extends as far back as the 19th century Gold Rush. Miners, known as forty-niners, consumed nearly 80,000 frogs per year, nearly eating the species into extinction.

For some reason I never pictured gold miners as voracious frog aficionados (although of course it makes sense that every local resource would be utilized)...

[NV Whino]

14. Well, that's something that never comes up in the history books.

[NV Whino]

3. Good news here

SEX AND GENDER


•Births: Same-sex couples are allowed to identify themselves on state birth certificates as "father," "mother" or the new gender-neutral option of "parent."

•Death certificates: Transgender Californians will be able to have the gender they identify with listed on their death certificates.

[Starry Messenger]

4. These two will affect my workplace.

•Allergies: Public schools must stock epinephrine injectors so medicine can be administered quickly to students who suffer serious allergic reactions.

•Bad behavior: Schools can no longer expel students who "willfully defy" teachers or administrators at any grade level and cannot suspend students for that misbehavior through third grade.

I have mixed feelings about both. The first one is very popular with parents on my FB list, so it makes me feel like a grump to have misgivings about it.

I think the second one is good, because these suspensions and expulsions hit children of color the worst. On the other hand, schools don't seem to be replacing these penalties with anything meaningful. (My school has been making efforts to get its rates down, which is laudable. On the other hand, these last two years have been the worst for facing some of the worst defiance in my classes, and a kid who just has to talk about his/her feelings and is allowed to return with a big smirk for me doesn't really get the message across either.)

[petronius]

8. My knee-jerk response was to be happy about those two, although I have no

experience in the elementary-high school world (other than being a student a few decades ago). What is it about the first that raises concerns?

[Starry Messenger]

10. Mostly that it rose as a response to the cutting of school nurses all over the state.

Instead of pressing to reinstate funding to get robust school services again, we're going with a half-measure with untrained teachers as ad hoc health service providers.

I feel like this is a lawsuit waiting to happen, and it will not really make kids safer. Like I said though, many passionate parents pushed for it. I just wonder what will be next...?

I am happy with all of the other laws coming on line though, and feel optimistic about future progressive reforms in CA, just weighing in on the ones that I will come in contact with!

[petronius]

13. Thank you for the perspective (on both of the above). It's funny, I was

picturing that that epi-pen would be something kept and administered by the school nurse (that semi-kindly figure I remember from my childhood, who was quick to help when I was really sick, but equally quick to see through any attempt at deception). Piling another responsibility onto teachers in lieu of that specialized coverage does seem less than ideal...

[pinto]

11. On the advice of my MD I keep one at home (epi pen).

Had a sudden, severe reaction to a new med which resulted in a 911 call and transport to the ER. They hit me with epinephrine in the ER, 30 minutes later I was home.

It's a simple, safe intervention for allergic reactions.

[Starry Messenger]

12. I know what they are, pinto. :)

When my hands are in clay and a kid accidentally eats something with a peanut in it when I'm not looking is what I'm worried about. That's all.