Education - October 21 2019

California Governor Signs SB 328

CALIFORNIA Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signs SB 328, which makes the Golden State the first to mandate that high schools and middle schools start later in the morning. The law will be phased in, requiring that by July 1, 2022 public middle schools begin classes at 8 a.m. or later while high schools start no earlier than 8:30 a.m. The law does not apply to “zero periods” or to some rural districts (LEXISNEXIS STATE NET).

California Governor Signs SB 265

Also in CALIFORNIA, Gov. Newsom signs SB 265, which requires all children get the same meal, even if their family isn’t up to date on their meal fees. The rule applies from kindergarten through 12th grade (LEXISNEXIS STATE NET).

California Governor Signs AB 982

CALIFORNIA Gov. Newsom also signs AB 982, which requires teachers in public and charter schools to provide homework assignments to the parent or guardian of a student that has been suspended for two or more schooldays, upon request (CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR’S OFFICE).

California Governor Vetoes AB 500

Finally, CALIFORNIA Gov. Newsom vetoes AB 500, which would have required all school districts, charter schools and community colleges to provide at least six weeks of paid leave for teachers, other academic employees and classified employees for pregnancy, miscarriage, childbirth and recovery (EDSOURCE).

Environment - October 21 2019

California Governor Signs AB 342 

CALIFORNIA Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signs AB 342, which prohibits new pipelines and other infrastructure on state lands that would support new oil and gas production (LEXISNEXIS STATE NET).

California Governor Signs AB 8 

Also in CALIFORNIA, Gov. Newsom signs AB 8, which bans smoking and vaping at state parks and beaches. It takes effect in January (LEXINEXIS STATE NET).

California Governor Signs Several Animal Welfare Bills

Staying in CALIFORNIA, Gov. Newsom signs several animal welfare bills, including: AB 25, which prohibits the hunting, trapping or killing of bobcats until 2025, after which the state will implement a bobcat management plan; AB 128, which among several things requires the operator of an animal auction yard to determine and post online any identifying brand, tattoo, or implanted microchip an animal may have before being sold at auction: and AB 1260, which adds iguana, skink, caiman, hippopotamus, and three types of lizards to the import and trade prohibition of dead animals and dead animal parts into the state (CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR’S OFFICE).

Health & Science - October 21 2019

Oregon Liquor Control Commission Imposes Six-Month Moratorium 

The OREGON Liquor Control Commission imposes a six-month moratorium on the sale of flavored nicotine and cannabis vaping products. The ban comes in the wake of a national outbreak of vaping-related illnesses that have sickened at least 1,300 people and killed 26 (ASSOCIATED PRESS).

California Governor Signs SB 600

CALIFORNIA Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signs SB 600, which will require health insurance companies to cover the cost of fertility procedures for patients undergoing treatment that can make it difficult to have children, such as chemotherapy (LOS ANGELES TIMES).

California Governor Signs AB 1264

Also in CALIFORNIA, Gov. Newsom signs AB 1264, which clarifies that birth control can be prescribed via teleconference without a video chat (CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR’S OFFICE).

California Governor Signs AB 290

CALIFORNIA Gov. Newsom also signs AB 290, which will restrict the amount of money dialysis providers and drug rehabilitation centers can charge group health plans in the state. The measure also requires that third-party payers of health insurance premiums reveal to commercial health plans the names of patients who get premium assistance and the names of dialysis providers who provide financial assistance to each patient (CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR’S OFFICE).

New York Governor Signs AB 264

NEW YORK Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) signs AB 264, which requires health insurance companies to ensure that when enrollees receive care from a non-participating provider, the patient will not incur greater out-of-pocket costs than they would have incurred from a participating provider (NEW YORK GOVERNOR’S OFFICE).

Immigration - October 21 2019

California Governor Signs AB 1747

CALIFORNIA Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signs AB 1747, which bars personal information stored in statewide databases from being used for immigration enforcement, except in cases where the information is related to an individual’s criminal history (LEXISNEXIS STATE NET).

Social Policy - October 21 2019

California Governor Signs AB 32 

CALIFORNIA Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signs AB 32, which makes the Golden State the first to ban both for-profit, private prisons and civil detention centers. As of January 1, 2020 the state will be barred from entering into new or renewed contracts with for-profit private prisons, with all use of those facilities phased out by January, 2028 (LEXISNEXIS STATE NET).

California Governor Signs SB 313

Also in CALIFORNIA, Gov. Newsom signs SB 313, which bans the use of bears, tigers, elephants, monkeys and other wild animals in circuses (CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR’S OFFICE).

California Governor Signs SB 24

CALIFORNIA Gov. Newsom also signs SB 24, which requires student health centers on University of California and California State University campuses to offer abortion by medication techniques on site (CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR’S OFFICE).