2020 New Year, New Laws in California
Happy New Year! 2020 marks the new year of a new decade. And some interesting new laws. Here are some interesting ones for you.
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AB 577: Maternal mental health coverage
Ensures that mothers diagnosed with a maternal mental health disorder whose providers leave their insurance network can still see that provider and be fully covered for up to 12 months. A separate change in the budget extends Medi-Cal coverage to moms with mental health disorders to one year, up from the current 60 days. So proud of California for passing this law and recognizing that maternal mental health issues affect nearly one in five moms, according to the California Task Force on the Status of Maternal Mental Health Care. It’s more than “baby blues”, post-partum depression is incredibly real. I recall attending a simple hearing dissolving status on a divorce. It was perhaps my 650th divorce. The Judge pronounced them single, and I burst out crying. It wasn’t normal and it wasn’t me. I had postpartum depression for over a year.
Starting in January, mothers on Medi-Cal will be covered for maternal mental health treatment for a full year instead of the current 60 days. More than $8 million is allocated in the state budget for this expansion. Another law taking effect in January requires commercial and Medi-Cal plans to cover continuous mental health treatment for new moms who want to keep seeing the same provider, even if that provider leaves the insurance plan’s network. The patient can have that treatment covered for up to 12 months, so long as the provider agrees to continue seeing the patient. This is huge and so heartwarming.
SB 30: Domestic partners
What’s good for same-sex couples is good for heterosexual couples. This law allows heterosexual couples to register as domestic partners instead of getting married. Currently, only heterosexual couples age 62 or older were allowed to register as domestic partners because of social security benefits. The new law could help couples with combined higher incomes avoid the federal marriage tax penalty.
What is the difference between marriage and domestic partnership? Well, they share most of the same rights: ability to own community property; protection of the surviving spouse at death; health insurance. However, domestic parnterships are NOT federally recognized, so while you can file a joint return in California, you have to file separate returns at the Federal level. Also, a domestic partner cannot sponsor a non-citizen partner for citizenship. And some states don’t recognize domestic partnerships so if you are traveling there when something occurs, you may not have the same protection as a married couple.
So why would one select domestic partnership over marriage? Taxes. With 2 high-earning-income partners, marriage would cause them to file ONE return, pushing them into the highest tax bracket, known as the “marriage penalty”. Consult a tax lawyer. If you wanna file for domestic partnership in California, here are the forms online.
AB 1482: Rent control
Communities without their own rent control laws will now be covered by statewide rent control protections. The law limits rent increases to 5 percent each year plus inflation, but never above 10 percent total. The law does not apply to housing built in the 15 years prior. The limit is a rolling number so the date housing is excluded changes every year.
Landlord Tenant Laws. California Association of Realtors posted on their website all the laws relating to the real estate industry. It even included a quick guide to new 2020 New Laws Landlord Tenant
WORK
SB 3: Minimum wage
Minimum wage goes up in California to $12 per hour for workers at companies with 25 or fewer employees and to $13 an hour for workers at larger companies.
AB 5: Independent workers
While aimed directly at gig workers, this new law may also apply to many more contract or independent worker in California. Under AB-5, workers would be considered employees and not independent contractors if the employer controls the work, directs them in the course of their work or if the worker’s job is part of a company’s core business.
This law basically codifies the Supreme Court Decision in 4 Cal.5th 903, S222732, Dynamex Operations West, Inc. v. Superior Court (Charles Lee) . All workers are presumed to be employees unless the employer meets his burden of proving all 3 elements of the “ABC” test:
(A) The worker is free from the type and degree of control and direction the hiring entity typically exercises over its employees; and
(B) The worker performs work outside the scope of the hiring entity’s business, and whose work therefore would not ordinarily be viewed by others as working in the hiring entity’s business; and
(C) The worker is customarily engaged in an independently established trade, occupation, or business, taking such steps as incorporating his business, getting a business or trade license or advertising. A hiring entity does not satisfy part C of the test simply by showing that it does not prohibit or prevent a worker from engaging in such an independent business.
Failing any one of the three parts of this test will preclude an entity from treating a worker as an independent contractor rather than an employee.
This law is extremely controversial, and lots of businesses are filing lawsuits alleging the law is unconstitutional. See Uber’s Complaint: Uber’s 45-page Complaint Against AB-5
Freelance journalists and reporters are also suing. See Journalists and Authors Complaint Against AB5
SB 142: Lactation accommodations
Yay for nursing mothers! No more pumping in the closet and nasty bathroom. Not only are lactating moms allowed to have breaks to pump, they can now do it out of the closet! This new law requires companies to provide appropriate lactation accommodations that is close to the employee’s work area, has electrical plugs and is free of intrusion.
SB 188: Hairstyles
Style your hair any way you please. Dubbed the “Crown Act”, California becomes the first state to ban workplace and school discrimination based on a person’s natural hairstyle or hair texture. Protected hairstyles include braids, twists and locks. This will pave the way to more people being free with their hair. Maybe by 2030, it will be acceptable (and encouraged) for women to have grey hair!
SB 1343: Sexual harassment training
In business with more than 5 employees, everyone, not just supervisors, get sexual harassment training. Requires employers to provide sexual harassment training to all employees. Under current law, only supervisors at most employers have to receive training. Training must be provided within six months of being hired, and every two years after that.
AB 9: Workplace harassment complaints
If the training doesn’t work, and people sexually harass you, you have 3 years to sue. Extends time limit to file complaint of workplace harassment or discrimination with the state Dept. of Fair Employment & Housing from 1 year to 3.
SB 970: Human trafficking
Operators of motels and hotels in California must provide training to teach its staff how to identify victims of human trafficking.
SB 83: Paid family leave
Focus on family!! New parents will have more time to care for their child. Benefits under Paid Family Leave will increase from 6 to 8 weeks starting on July 1, 2020.
SCHOOLS
SB 419: Pupil discipline: suspensions: willful defiance.
And the war against teachers continue, under the guise of “restorative justice”. Commencing July 1, 2020, the bill would additionally prohibit the suspension of a pupil enrolled in a school district or charter school in grades 4 and 5 for disrupting school activities or otherwise willfully defying the valid authority of those school personnel engaged in the performance of their duties. The bill, from July 1, 2020, until July 1, 2025, would prohibit the suspension of a pupil enrolled in a school district or charter school in any of grades 6 to 8, inclusive, for those acts.
Under SB 419, students could still be suspended for violence and also for bringing a weapon or illegal drugs to school. Students in grades 9-12 could still be suspended for willful defiance — but not expelled.
SB 24: Student Right to Access Act.
Requires student health centers on University of California and California State University campus student health centers to provide primary health care and medical abortions to students by January 2023.
SB 276 and SB 714: Vaccination Exemptions
Outbreaks of measles and other vaccine-preventable illnesses were a common headline in 2019, yet some parents still opted to go around California’s mandatory vaccination rules by taking advantage of exemptions intended for vulnerable children who are medically unable to get vaccines. SB 276 and SB 714 attempt to address the issue by clarifying some details of the exemptions, like what conditions constitute a legitimate reason to be exempted and what types of doctors are credentialed to make that determination.
CONSUMER PROTECTION
AB 375: Data privacy for consumers
Bring on the class action lawsuits for data breaches. The state’s sweeping new consumer data privacy law gives Californians the right to learn what companies like Facebook and Google know about them — and to stop the sharing or selling of their data. They will also be able to sue over data breaches if companies fail to adequately protect their data.
AB 539: Predatory lending
Caps the interest that can be charged on loans between $2,500-$10,000. In my opinion, this law should be even harsher. Sorry, mortgage industry!
SB 8: Smoking ban: State parks and beaches
No smoking at state parks and beaches! The fine is $25,but with court fees, could be $100-$200 more. If you wanna smoke, go to a parking lot: people can still smoke on paved surfaces.
HEALTHCARE
SB 104: Healthcare for undocumented immigrants
California becomes the first state in the nation to offer government-subsidized health benefits to young adults living in the country illegally. The law expands the Medicaid program to include low-income adults age 25 or younger regardless of their immigration status.
AB 2119: Transgender youth
Transgender youth in the foster care system will get appropriate health care. The law is the first in the country to include access to gender-affirming medical services, mental health counseling, hormone therapy and surgery.
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