Another year has come and gone. Some of it was good and some of it well.......here's to another year! As we pack away our Christmas trees and remember what the radio is like without Bing Crosby we have to be aware of the new laws that start in 2014. Below is only a highlight of the new laws that will start in 2014 (because we are California after all and we love laws – I would need three newspapers to print them all) so here we go:

Under the Thank goodness category:

TEEN DRIVERS (SB 194): This law will "prohibit a person who is under 18 years of age from using an electronic wireless communications device to write, send, or read a text-based communication while driving, even if it is equipped with a hands-free device."

AMBER ALERT EXPANSION (AB 535): This law requires law enforcement to request activation of the AMBER Alerts after receiving a report that a child has been taken abducted by anyone, including a custodial parent or guardian, who may cause serious bodily injury or death to the child.

PASSING DISTANCE (AB 1371): This law prohibits motorists from passing a bicycle with less than three feet between any part of the vehicle and any part of the bicycle or driver.  When three feet is not possible, the motor vehicle must slow to a reasonable and prudent speed and only pass when no danger is present to the bicyclist. Failing to do so can incur a fine, regardless of a collision or not. This law will go into effect September 16, 2014.

Veterans License Plates:

VETERANS LICENSE PLATES (AB 244): The California Department of Veterans Affairs will sponsor a special interest license plate if it meets minimum requirements and pre-sells 7,500 plates.

Can't escape the DMV Fees:

REGISTRATION AND VEHICLE TRANSFERS BETWEEN FAMILY MEMBERS (AB 443): Want to transfer ownership of a vehicle to a relative or living trust? Pay your parking and toll violation fines and penalties first.

Minimum Wage Increase:

INCREASE IN MIN WAGE (AB10): Raises California’s current minimum wage of $8 per hour by two, one-dollar increments: to $9 per hour effective July 1, 2014, and to $10 per hour effective January 1, 2016.

TIME OFF FOR FIRE/POLICE VOLUNTEERS (AB 11) requires an employer with 50 or more employees to provide a temporary leave of absence of up to 14 days per calendar year for reserve peace officers and emergency rescue personnel to receive training. Current law provided the training leave of absence only to volunteer firefighters. AB 11 also expands the law to cover time off for “emergency rescue training” in addition to the existing protections for fire or law enforcement training.

There are numerous other news laws that impact LLC's, Employers, Workmans Compensation, Farmers, Ranchers, among others. The best thing about new laws is as soon as we get used to them there will new ones to learn all over again!

Jeremiah Raxter