“ Workers in ‘substantially similar’ jobs but of different races or ethnicity will need to be paid equal wages.”
(Part 2 of 2)
TEXTING While Driving: Texting is already forbidden, but new law further prohibits drivers from using smartphones for other purposes while behind the wheel — unless they’re in hands-free mode. The state’s ban on texting expands to include other distractions such as searching for “Pokemon Go” characters.
Wage Discriminations: An employer can’t pay a woman less than her male colleagues because of her prior salary. Employers are prohibited from paying women less than male colleagues based on earlier salary.
Workers in “substantially similar” jobs but of different races or ethnicity will need to be paid equal wages.
Allergic Reactions: California businesses and public agencies are authorized to have on hand medicine designed to combat emergency allergic reactions.
Autographed Collectibles: Every autographed collectible sold in California must come with a certificate that verifies it’s not a forgery, under a bill backed by famed “Star Wars” actor Mark Hamill.
Bedbug infestation: Landlords of residential rentals are now prohibited from showing, renting, or leasing a vacant unit that they know has bedbug problems.
Birth Control Pills: Women can pick up an entire year’s worth of birth control pills at once, and health plans must cover the cost.
Motorcycle Riders: California became one of the first states to define “lane-splitting” formalizing a long-standing practice of motorcycle riders to squeeze through stacked up traffic.
Prescription Drugs & Doctors: Lawmakers passed legislation to hold physicians accountable for prescribing psychotropic medications to help control troubled children. New law puts doctors who recklessly prescribe psychiatric drugs at risk of losing their medical license.
Ransomware: It is now a crime to use ransomware, malware, or intrusive software injected into a computer or network to hold data hostage until money is paid.
Sex Crimes: New law broadens the definition of rape to include all forms of nonconsensual sexual assault.
It also makes sexually assaulting an unconscious person a crime with a mandatory prison sentence. Prison time will be mandatory for those convicted of assault in which the victim was unconscious or not capable of giving consent because of intoxication. California eliminated statutes of limitations for rape and some other sex crimes. Rape, sexual assault, and other sex offenses committed in 2017 will no longer be subject to statute of limitations. Previous law generally limited prosecution to within 10 years.
Single-User Bathrooms: New law requires all single-toilet bathrooms in businesses and public agencies to be gender neutral. Bathrooms in public buildings with a single toilet must be designated as all-gender, open to anyone.
Smoking: Smoking or use of electronic cigarettes within 250 feet of any youth sports event including Little League baseball game is now illegal.
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Victor Santos Sy graduated Cum Laude from UE with a BBA and from Indiana State University with an MBA. Vic worked with SyCip, Gorres, Velayo (SGV – Andersen Consulting) and Ernst & Young before establishing Sy Accountancy Corporation in Pasadena, California.
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He has 50 years of experience in defending taxpayers audited by the IRS, FTB, EDD, BOE and other governmental agencies. He is publishing a book on his expertise – “HOW TO AVOID OR SURVIVE IRS AUDITS.” Our readers may inquire about the book or email tax questions at [email protected].