2021 New Year, New Laws

Karolina Grabowska Happy New Year 2021

2021 New Year, New Laws in California/Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels

Happy New Year!

Adios, 2020, it’s 2021!

2021 California New Laws

I compliled a list of laws I deem most relevant.  For a complete list of new 2021 California laws, click here.

SB 1141

This bill adds “coercive control” to the definition of what constitutes domestic violence.  The bill would further define conduct that constitutes coercive control to include, among other things, isolating a victim from friends, relatives, or other sources of support. The bill would provide that coercive control only applies with respect to victims of domestic violence.

Existing law establishes the Domestic Violence Prevention Act for the purpose of preventing acts of domestic violence, abuse, and sexual abuse and providing for a separation of the persons involved in the domestic violence for a period sufficient to enable those persons to seek a resolution of the causes of the violence. Existing law, for purposes of that act, defines “abuse” to mean, among other things, sexual assault.

@lawyerkelly

New law #familylaw #divorcelawyer #divorcedparents #divorceattorney #TortillaTrend

♬ original sound – Lawyer Kelly

SB 24

This bill would authorize a court to issue an ex parte order restraining a party from accessing records and information pertaining to the health care, education, daycare, or employment of a minor child of the parties.

This bill will be codified in Family Code 6323.5.

AB 685

Potential COVID-19 Exposure Notification: Requires all employers to promptly notify employees of potential coronavirus exposure, as well as local public health officials, after someone at the worksite tests positive for COVID-19, receives a medical diagnosis, and/or receives an isolation order.

AB 15

COVID-19 relief: tenancy: Tenant Stabilization Act of 2021.

(1) Existing law, the COVID-19 Tenant Relief Act of 2020, establishes certain procedural requirements and limitations on evictions for nonpayment of rent due to COVID-19 rental debt, as defined. The act, among other things, prohibits a tenant that delivers a declaration, under penalty of perjury, of COVID-19-related financial distress from being deemed in default with regard to the COVID-19 rental debt, as specified. Existing law defines COVID-19 rental debt as unpaid rent or any other unpaid financial obligation of a tenant that came due between March 1, 2020, and January 31, 2021. Existing law repeals the act on February 1, 2025.

This bill would extend the definition of “COVID-19 rental debt” as unpaid rent or any other unpaid financial obligation of a tenant that came due between March 1, 2020, and December 31, 2021. The bill would also extend the repeal date of the act to January 1, 2026. The bill would make other conforming changes to align with these extended dates. By extending the repeal date of the act, the bill would expand the crime of perjury and create a state-mandated local program.

AB 76

Open California Schools Act
This bill would require a local educational agency, as defined, to offer in-person instruction, as defined, as soon as state and county health orders and guidelines no longer prohibit the local educational agency from reopening for full-time in-person instruction, as specified.

SB 145

Sex offenders: registration.

Existing law, the Sex Offender Registration Act, requires a person convicted of one of certain crimes, as specified, to register with law enforcement as a sex offender while residing in California or while attending school or working in California, as specified. A willful failure to register, as required by the act, is a misdemeanor or felony, depending on the underlying offense.

This bill would exempt from mandatory registration under the act a person convicted of certain offenses involving minors if the person is not more than 10 years older than the minor and if that offense is the only one requiring the person to register.

2021 New Year, New Laws

Have a case like this?

Family matters are extremely personal, and it is important for us to know details of your case before giving advice. Each case is different, and it is important to find an attorney you trust. To arrange an appointment, please call us at (626) 765-5767 between 8:30am – 5:00pm, Mondays to Fridays, or fill out the form below.

Schedule a Consultation