Starting July 1, new laws will take effect in California.
The new laws include the recognition of Juneteenth as an official state holiday, the Firearms Industry Accountability Act, the simplification of the construction of affordable housing, and changes in the handling of criminal records, among others.
juneteenth
Juneteenth will now be recognized as official state holiday, which will result in the closure of community colleges and public schools. Additionally, state employees will receive paid time off on June 19.
Criminal record
The SB 731 It was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom, marking California as the first state to allow the permanent stamping of nearly all prior convictions on a person’s criminal record.
Under this legislation, the conviction and arrest records of most ex-offenders will be automatically sealed if they have not been convicted of another felony within four years of the completion of their sentences, or probation. In addition, arrest records with no resulting convictions will also be sealed.
This bill covers crimes such as domestic violence, but excludes people convicted of serious and violent crimes, as well as those who require sex offender registration.
Civil lawsuits for firearms
The approval of this AB 1594 establishes a standard of conduct within the firearms industry, requiring members of the firearms industry to implement and enforce reasonable controls. Members of this industry must take the necessary precautions to avoid the sale, distribution or supply of firearms related products to intermediate distributors. In addition, they are prohibited from manufacturing, trading, importing, or providing wholesale sales of products deemed “abnormally dangerous.”
affordable housing
FY 2011 and SB6 expedite the construction of affordable multi-family housing on land zoned for commercial, retail or parking purposes. These bills also strengthen wage laws and health benefit regulations for construction contractors.
Bounty Hunter Licenses
This law requires licensing, education, and registration of bounty hunters. It was inspired by a Palm Springs family whose son was tragically murdered by an illegal bounty hunter in Palm Springs in 2021.
Bounty hunters are people who pursue criminal fugitives for whom there is a reward to find them.
Teachers
According to AB 1667, teachers cannot be required to repay overpayments identified in audit reports from CalSTRS, the state’s teacher pension system. Previously, retired teachers were required to repay miscalculated payments when audits revealed errors.
workers compensation
As a result of the bill SB-216, contractors who do not carry workers’ compensation insurance could be at risk of losing their license. Although labor compensation was already mandatory, this new sanction will come into effect as of July 1.
This law requires applies to:
- C-8 licensed concrete contractors,
- C-20 Licensed Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Contractors,
- C-22 Licensed Asbestos Removal Contractors
- D-49 licensed tree service contractors.
The new law requires “to also obtain and maintain workers’ compensation insurance even if that contractor has no employees. After July 1, 2023, and if the registrar discovers that the licensee has employees and lacks valid certification appropriately, the bill would require the suspension of any license that is active and has a C-8, C-20, C-22 or D-49.”
Read this article in English here.
