Wrapping up the 2012 Legislative Session

Fifteen of Seventeen new laws authored by former Assemblywoman Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco and San Mateo Counties) signed this fall by Governor Brown, will go into effect on January 1, 2013. These new laws build on Assemblywoman Ma's first two terms where s

SAN FRANCISCO, CA- Fifteen of Seventeen new laws authored by former Assemblywoman Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco and San Mateo Counties) signed this fall by Governor Brown, will go into effect on January 1, 2013. These new laws build on Assemblywoman Ma's first two terms where she focused on creating jobs, securing funding for education and public safety, and improving the quality of life in San Mateo and San Francisco neighborhoods.

“In the last six years, I have authored legislation to protect young children from dangerous chemicals, I have authored bills to prevent the spread of Hepatitis B, we have worked to increase access to quality healthcare, and provide equal rights for all Californians. I have authored laws to combat graffiti; and have been a strong advocate for our State's parks like the Joss House in Weaverville and my team and I helped introduce more Bison to the Golden Gate Park. Most recently, Governor Brown signed two of my bills to protect incarcerated victims of domestic violence. Together, you and I have worked together to lead California forward into a prosperous, greener, and more innovative future,” said Fiona Ma.

Below is a snap-shot of some of Assemblywoman Ma's legislation which was signed by Governor Edmund G. Jerry Brown Jr. upon the conclusion of the 2012 legislative session.

2012 Legislation Signed by Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr.:

AB 593-Domestic violence: battering: recall and resentencing

This bill expands the provisions allowing a habeas corpus petition in cases where intimate partner battering was not introduced into evidence to include cases where the evidence was not competent or substantial and where such evidence may have changed the sentence not just the conviction.

AB 733-Pupil records: privacy rights

This bill makes numerous technical changes to conform state law with the federal Family Education Rights and Privacy Act regarding access to pupil records without parental consent or judicial order, as well as makes more substantive changes that are permitted by federal law.

AB 812-Solid waste: recycled asphalt

This bill authorizes the Department of Transportation to establish specifications for the use of up to 40% reclaimed asphalt pavement for hot asphalt mixes on or before January 1, 2014.

AB 845-Solid waste: place of origin

This bill clarifies the intent of the Integrated Waste Management Act (IWMA) to prevent discrimination prohibiting the disposal of waste based on its geographic origin.

AB 907-Processors of farm products

This bill authorizes California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) to impose sanctions three times the amount of unpaid or underpaid license fees, as well as requires any bond or irrevocable guarantee, placed in lieu of proof of financial responsibility, to include both past and future debts owed as a requirement of obtaining a processor’s license.

AB 1593-Parole: intimate partner battering

This bill requires the Board of Parole Hearings (BPH), when reviewing a prisoner’s suitability for parole, to give great weight to any information or evidence that, at the time of the commission of the crime, the prisoner had experienced intimate partner battering and provide that they cannot use the fact that the prisoner brought in the evidence to find that a prisoner lacks insight to his or her crime.

AB 1674-Child custody: visitation

This bill clarifies the role of a professional supervised visitation provider ensuring that professional visitation providers are properly trained in cases of domestic violence, child abuse, and sexual abuse and allow the court discretion in choosing a nonprofessional provider.

AB 1777-Disposition of cremated remains

This bill authorizes cremated remains to be transferred from a durable container into a scattering urn, as defined, no more than seven days before scattering the cremated remains at sea from a boat.

AB 1839-Veterinary medicine: veterinary assistants

This bill authorizes Registered Veterinary Technicians and veterinary assistants to help sick animals by allowing them to administer medication considered to be a controlled substance, and requires the fingerprinting of "veterinary assistants."

AB 1877-Repossession agencies: exemptions

This bill exempts, until January 1, 2018, a dealer and his or her bona fide employees from licensure as a repossession agency if they regularly sell specified collateral that is subject to a security agreement of the manufacturer or a manufacturer’s affiliate.

AB 1925- Real Property: rent control

This bill limits sets reasonable daily relocation rates for landlords who must relocate a tenant temporarily for San Francisco. The amount would be prorated in the amount to a daily fee of $275 and would require the landlord to continue to pay for moving expenses if necessary to move a tenant's possessions.

AB 1966- Natural Resources: oil and gas: drilling

This bill requires a mineral rights owner to provide specified notices to the owner of real property if the mineral rights owner intends to enter the real property to undertake surface-disrupting or non-surface-disrupting activities.

AB 2564-Environmental quality: pipelines: project applicants

Expands the application of an existing California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) exemption for pipeline projects less than one mile in length.

AB 2618- Sales and use taxes: auction: vehicles

This bill limits who can acquire salvage certificate vehicles to those persons that are licensed dealers, dismantlers, auto repair dealers, or scrap metal processors.

AB 2643-Property taxation

This bill makes several changes to the statutes related to property tax collection.