 2009 New Laws
We're now in the 10th year of a new century, a new millennium even, and time is flying. Among the many changes that come to us this New Year are hundreds of new state laws. Be prepared by looking below to see some of the laws that will be affecting Coaster employees in 2009.
California
New laws in the sunshine state include a slew of new laws affect California drivers including a new law that prohibits drivers over the age of 18 from text messaging or using any other hand-held mobile device while driving. Such rules are already in place for those under 18. Drivers may also continue using GPS devices mounted on the windshield. But those devices must now be placed within the seven-inch area on the lower passenger side of the windshield or within a five inch area on the lower driver side of the windshield and the penalty for moving violations has increased by $35, traffic school attendance fees by $25, fix-it-ticket fees by $15 and parking fees by $3. Another new law protects the buyer of a used vehicle from paying the parking tickets of the previous vehicle owner.
In education school administrators may not discipline high school or college journalism advisors for the content of a student newspaper or other publication, but may suspend and recommend the expulsion of students who engage in any form of cyber bullying -- or harassment via text messaging, instant messaging or the Internet.
Chain restaurants with more than 20 locations are now required to post nutritional information in the form of a brochure at their locations. Insurance companies are now prevented from refusing to pay the medical expenses of customers injured while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. A new law requires insurers pay for HIV screening, and another requires insurers to allow the coverage of families after one family member's coverage is canceled. Doctors treating terminally ill patients are legally obliged to provide all available options including in-home hospice care and the right to refuse treatment. Families with members on active military duty may be eligible up to 12 weeks of leave, if they meet certain criteria. Finally, metal scavengers who collect and recycle glass and aluminum from recycling bins must now show identification and be paid with a check if they bring in a large amount of recyclables.
 Florida
Florida had only six new laws take effect on New Year’s Day. Hospitals are now required to give patients a good-faith estimate of anticipated charges for planned procedures, if they request an estimate, and to post notices in reception areas advising patients how they can get information on charity and discount policies. The check-cashing law requires businesses to be licensed, and will regulate these businesses as “money-services businesses.” The third law forbids involuntary transfer of employees beyond a 50-mile radius whereas the fourth revises requirements for taking dentistry examinations and making other regulatory changes in an effort to get better dental service for rural and poor areas. The final two laws for Florida encompass redefining bone-marrow transplants and revising application procedures for psychological licensure.
Georgia
The Peach state is similar to California in that a lot of new laws affect drivers. License plates for disabled persons and certain veterans’ tags are now exempt from displaying a home county name decal. The law also sets requirements for issuing state titles for off-road vehicles and vehicles and motorcycles made from kits. The law requires lien holders to register the title for these vehicles within 30 days of purchase or pay a penalty. Georgia motorists will automatically be switched to a higher insurance coverage to address under-insured motorists unless they opt out in writing. To pay for this extra protection, premiums may increase.
Another new law will eliminate the state and local taxes for insurance carriers that offer high-deductible health plans. Under such plans, the policyholder pays high deductibles, but gets a tax break for putting money into a savings account specifically used for health care. The new law exempts the insurance company from paying taxes on the premiums associated with those high-deductible savings account plans and it could save insurers $146 million over the next five years.
Illinois
The Home state of the President-elect enacted a wide range of laws for January 1st. Outdoor fitness and sports facilities now are required to have an automated external defibrillator on site, and insurance companies must pay for treatment of anorexia and bulimia after lawmakers expanded the definition of "serious mental illness" to include the eating disorders.
Sex offenders will no longer be allowed to serve as election judges and if they own property are banned from renting units in the building where they live to a parent or guardian of a child. Lawmakers also went after the practice of online predators. It's illegal for someone to use the Internet or other electronic devices to seduce, solicit, lure or entice a child or person posing as a child to commit sex acts.
Responding to shootings at schools, colleges and universities across the state are required to develop disaster response plans with local and state safety officials and practice them at least once a year. Penalties were also raised this year for those attempting to illegally buy firearms.
 New Jersey
New Jersey now implements the California Low Emission Vehicle program with tougher standards for emissions of smog, soot and air toxics and requires more hybrid cars to be sold in New Jersey.
New Jersey's sales tax is changing. This means the tax on sales of fur clothing increases, no more tax on long-distance pay phone calls; and that sales taxes will be charged on purchases of mobility-enhancing equipment such as walkers and wheelchairs unless the buyer has a prescription.
Charities that operate clothing bins must now register and get written consent from property owners to place their bins, and information is now required on the bins revealing which groups ultimately receive the donations. Finally, gasoline cannot be sold if it contains more than 0.5 percent in volume of MTBE.
Texas
The Lone Star state focused on health and education by now requiring all school districts in the state to establish “elective courses in the history and literature of the Old and New Testaments eras,” the use of those two books as texts. Teachers in the texas, will have to work longer before they can retire after the age was increased from 50 to 60.
For your health, not only has the price of cigarettes gone up, but now there will be an additional penalty (tax) added to the cost to ensure that cigarettes (but not cigars) are “fire-safe.” A fire standard compliant cigarette is designed to self-extinguish if it is left unattended or is not actively being smoked.
*this list is not all inclusive and should not be considered legal advice. |
