New Year, New State Laws
As the glittery ball fell in Times Square, California, and most states, heralded in new laws, some relevant, some fairly obscure, leaving readers wondering why they had to be made at all. Reading between the lines of the path the legislation took offers a window into the complexities of being an elected legislator.
Sick days: With the passage of Senate Bill 616, workers will be getting two extra paid sick days a year, from three to five. In addition, workers in a union will gain protection against retaliation. Advocacy groups tried for seven sick days but settled for five.
Minimum Wage: California’s minimum wage went up to $16 an hour on January 1. Fast-food workers will see a jump to $20 an hour.
Housing: Senate Bill 4 provides an interesting solution to California’s housing issue. Called the Yes in God’s Backyard Bill, SB4 allows churches and non-profit colleges to build housing on their own property, even in areas where multi-family housing is currently prohibited by local zoning statutes. In essence, SB4 rezones those parcels and allows the institutions to bypass permitting and environmental review standards. The land would be deed restricted and the builder would still have to meet requirements on density and building height.
Reproductive Loss Leave: SB848 follows the same path already taken by Utah and Illinois, allowing five days of time off for reproductive loss leave. The term is applied to miscarriage, unsuccessful assisted reproduction, failed adoption and surrogacy as well as diagnoses negatively impacting fertility and pregnancy and applies to both members of the couple.
Traffic Stops: For anyone who has answered the question “do you know why I stopped you” posed by law enforcement, AB2773 will no longer require a driver to self-incriminate. Going forward, law enforcement will be required to tell the driver why he or she was pulled over.
Willfully Defiant Students: Public school students, 6-12th graders, can no longer be expelled or suspended for “willful defiance.” SB274 defines willful defiance as “the disruption of school activities or defiance of authority such as supervisors, teachers or administrators.
Safe and Supportive Schools: This Act requires on-line LGBTQ+ cultural competency training for teachers to be in place by the 2025-26 school year. The program applies to grade 7-12 teachers.
Emission Rules: The California Air Resources Board’s requirement for lawn mowers, leaf blowers, etc. to meet zero-emissions. The rule was approved in 2021 with a January 1, 2024 enforcement date.
Discover more from Sierra Wave: Eastern Sierra News - The Community's News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
I assume that snow blowers are also required to meet zero emission standards. That’s just about impossible. What are the consequences for violating this edict?
ERIK SIMPSON
Just more silly laws that won’t and can’t be enforced….
The day will never come to where you’ll be led away in hand-cuffs for mowing your lawn or weed-wacking your garden.
Nothing more than a political talking-point..
Your assumption is wrong. All you had to do is google–it’s public info.
“Engines used exclusively to power products which are used exclusively in wintertime, such as snowthrowers and ice augers, at the option of the engine manufacturer, need not certify to nor comply with certain emission standards for SORE.”
End users don’t face any consequences, the regs ban the sale of some categories of new gas-powered tools.
“The new emission standards apply to new engines. The SORE regulations do not prohibit possession, use, or repair of existing CARB-compliant SORE equipment. California residents and businesses may continue using their CARB-compliant SORE equipment, and repair it, until the end of its life. Stores may continue to sell any engines and equipment that were manufactured under valid CARB certifications.”
Thanks for the enlightenment. I did already check to make sure that the new regs applies more to future purchases than use of the machines you already have.
Glad they won’t try to pry my old trusty Honda snowblower from my cold frozen hands.
Hans
Don’t think it’s so much Erik “assuming” what he says is wrong..
It’s more so a political talking point he probably chooses to belive and what he hears and listens to with a certain news agency and politician telling him and lying to him about.
For some, it sounds good and scary to think the Government is “coming to take everyone’s guns away”,and while they’re at it,taking our lawn mowers,weed wackers, stoves,gasoline vehicles and variuos other items from us..
Scare tactics ,lies and fear mongering that it seems a LOT of people choose to believe and get angry about,when we ALL know none of the above mentioned is ever going to happen.
Just a way of riling up the base,hoping they’ll send them more money and vote for them come November 2024…