New ERA Article February, 1999

New California Laws
Effective January, 1999

     Each year, the California Legislature enacts many laws which
become  effective  on  January 1  of  the  following  year.   The
following  are  a  few of the more interesting  laws  which  took
effect on January 1, 1999:

      Worried about whether your employer uses an audio or  video
recording device in the employee restroom, locker room  or  other
area  where employees change clothes?  In the absence of a  court
order,  employers may not use such devices to eavesdrop on  their
employees in these areas. [AB 2303]

      If  you  quit your job to protect yourself or your children
against  domestic  violence,  you can  now  collect  Unemployment
Insurance. [SB 165]

      Children in college?  For 1999, you will be able to  deduct
up  to  $1,000.00  in  interest on college student  loans.   This
deduction will rise in each of the next three years. [AB 1613]

      Don't  count  on  an  inheritance from  an  abused  elderly
person's  estate if you engage in acts of physical  or  financial
abuse  of that person!  Anyone convicted of physical or financial
abuse of an elderly person will be prohibited from inheriting the
abused person's estate. [SB 1715]

      A young Berkeley girl, age 11, apparently found that 94% of
the  City  of  Berkeley  parking meters were  inaccurate.   As  a
result, county officials must now test meters for accuracy.   The
officials  have the power to shut down the meters if  they  don't
correctly measure time. [SB 1676]

     In the event anyone needed to be reminded that you have less
privacy  in  a  car  than  you do in your  own  home,  the  State
Legislature  is  providing  a  reminder.   Anyone  convicted   of
soliciting a prostitute or engaging in a lewd act while in a  car
faces  the  loss of his or her drivers license for  30  days  and
restrictions for up to six months. [AB 1788]

      One-day  sports  fishing licenses are  now  valid  for  two
consecutive  calendar  days. [AB 2230]  Why  didn't  they  simply
label the license a two-day license?

      If you retrofit your home according to specified standards,
you  can  obtain a 5% discount on earthquake insurance. [SB  266]
After  you determine the cost of retrofitting your home, you  may
prefer to continue to pay the 5%!

      In  buying  back "lemon" automobiles, certain manufacturers
apparently  included  within the agreement a  "gag"  clause  that
would  prevent  owners  of  the lemons  from  talking  about  the
vehicles problems.  Auto manufacturers may no longer do  so.  [AB
2410]

      Senders of unsolicited e-mail advertising, known as "spam",
must now provide a return toll-free number or e-mail address  and
stop  sending the unsolicited material if the recipient asks  for
relief. [AB 1629]

       Private   schools  are  now  prohibited   from   employing
individuals  who  have  been convicted of a  serious  or  violent
felony,  or  misdemeanor sex or drug offense. [AB  1392]   Public
schools  already operate under such a prohibition.   One  wonders
how long it took members of the State Legislature to realize that
there are a number of private schools out there as well as public
schools!

      Don't  even think that the State Legislature has  exhausted
its  interest  in passing new California laws.   Wait  'til  next
year!


[This column is intended to provide general information only  and
is  not intended to provide specific legal advice; if you have  a
specific  question  regarding the  law,  you  should  contact  an
attorney  of your choice.  Suggestions for topics to be discussed
in this column are welcome.]


Reprinted from New Era Magazine
Myles M. Mattenson © 1999-2002

	Myles M. Mattenson ATTORNEY AT LAW 5550 Topanga Canyon Blvd. Suite 200 Woodland Hills, California 91367 Telephone (818) 313-9060 Facsimile (818) 313-9260 *Email:* MMM@MattensonLaw.com *Web:* http://www.MattensonLaw.com	New California Laws Effective January, 1999
Myles M. Mattenson engages in a general civil and trial practice including litigation and transactional services relating to the coin laundry and dry cleaning industries, franchising, business, purchase and sale of real estate, easements, landlord-tenant, partnership, corporate, insurance bad faith, personal injury, and probate legal matters. In providing services to the coin laundry and dry cleaning industries, Mr. Mattenson has represented equipment distributors, coin laundry and dry cleaning business owners confronted with landlord-tenant issues, lease negotiations, sale documentation including agreements, escrow instructions, and security instruments, as well as fraud or misrepresentation controversies between buyers and sellers of such businesses. Mr. Mattenson serves as an Arbitrator for the Los Angeles County Superior Court. He is also past chair of the Law Office Management Section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. Mr. Mattenson received his Bachelor of Science degree (Accounting) in 1964 and his Juris Doctorate degree from Loyola University School of Law in 1967. Bi-monthly articles by Mr. Mattenson on legal matters of interest to the business community appear in alternate months in The Journal, a leading coin laundry industry publication of the Coin Laundry Association, and Fabricare, a leading dry cleaning industry publication of the International Fabricare Institute. During the period of May 1995 through September 2002, Mr. Mattenson contributed similar articles to New Era Magazine, a coin laundry and dry cleaning industry publication which ceased publication with the September 2002 issue. This website contains copies of Mr. Mattenson's New Era Magazine articles which can be retrieved through a subject or chronological index. The website also contains copies of Mr. Mattenson's Journal and Fabricare articles, which can be retrieved through a chronological index. In addition to Mr. Mattenson's trial practice, he has successfully prosecuted and defended appeals on behalf of his clients in various areas of the law. Some of these appellate decisions are contained within his website.