In May 2011, the California Senate passed Senate Bill 332, extending the legal powers that landlords and cities have to regulate smoking in apartments. If approved by the Assembly, the bill, which takes effect January 1, 2012, permits property owners to ban smoking in dwelling units as well as other interior and exterior areas. The law does not preempt local anti-smoking ordinances in effect prior to the state bill’s effective date. Cities such as Calabasas and Belmont and counties such as Contra Costa already have strict smoking laws in place for apartment dwellers.
Smoking in public places has become either illegal or severely curtailed in many locations around the United States. The state of California has many laws regarding smoking in public places.
Effective Jan. 1, 2009, California law SB 1168 forbids the termination of health insurance for dependent students covered by their parent's health insurance plan during an interruption in the school year or a medical leave of absence.
Proposition 65 was approved in 1986 and became known as the "Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act." The Act is administered through California's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. Under the Act, Alcoholic beverages require health warning labels.
The California Department of Health requires health professionals who treat individuals infected with certain sexually transmitted diseases to report the infection to the state Health Department. The requirement excludes genital herpes.
Rabies is a deadly viral infection that is most often spread through animal bites. Symptoms include anxiety, convulsions and muscle spasms. If not treated within 48 hours, patients usually die in less than seven days. Each state has different laws regarding rabies.
Because health care coverage is often a confusing topic, it is necessary to fully understand the laws set forth by the state and other government agencies. Working in line with the laws and regulations set forth by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, the State of California has put solid laws in place to protect its citizens.
The California Natural Death Act ensures that those dying from terminal diseases cannot be forced to accept procedures that would prolong the dying process. The act, a result of medical advances that can sustain the lives of patients with chronic, non-reversible conditions, is an extension of a person's right to maintain control over her own body.
In California, a child must ride in a safety seat in the rear of a vehicle until he either six years of age or weighs 60 lbs. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) notes that the risk of injury to a child is reduced by 33 percent when he rides in the back versus the front seat. Fines for violating California's child safety seat laws range from $100 to $250, but are waived under special circumstances.
If you live in California, are disabled and use the services of an assistance dog or Service dog you can receive your dog license in the form of the California Assistance Dog tag at no cost. According to federal guidelines your assistance dog or service dog is classified as "durable medical equipment" this means that your local animal control agency (no matter what state you are in) can not charge you a fee to license your assistance dog! If you are not required to register and pay a fee for your wheelchair, walker or cane you can not be required…