Across US, new laws take effect


By ANDREW Welsh-Huggins

Associated Press

COLUMBUS

New state laws taking effect today give livestock in California more living room, approve direct-to-consumer wine shipments in Massachusetts and levy the ultimate punishment on wannabe teen drivers in Nevada by denying them licenses if they skip too much school.

Other laws will allow trained school personnel in Tennessee to administer insulin, let Louisiana teens as young as 16 register to vote and raise the minimum wage in Ohio, New York, Rhode Island and elsewhere.

Although it doesn’t take effect until early February, a New York law captures this year’s “Who knew?” prize by banning tiger selfies, which have been used by young men as profile photos on social media sites.

A look at some of the new laws taking effect today, by topic:

ALCOHOL

Wine connoisseurs will be popping the cork over a new law taking effect today that allows out-of-state wineries to ship bottles directly to consumers in Massachusetts. The drive for direct wine shipments had been stalled for years before getting a big boost from former New England Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe. Now a winemaker in Washington state, Bledsoe complained to lawmakers he could not send his products to Massachusetts residents.

ANIMALS

In California, a ballot initiative approved by voters in 2008 takes effect restricting the confinement of egg-laying hens, breeding sows and veal calves.

In Utah, cities and towns no longer can ban specific dog breeds within their limits.

CRIME

In California, a “yes means yes” standard for sex between college students takes effect, requiring “an affirmative, conscious and voluntary agreement to engage in sexual activity,” meaning silence or a lack of resistance no longer can be deemed consent.

In Michigan, rape evidence may be better organized and tracked under laws designed to help ensure kits aren’t caught in the sort of backlog found when more than 11,000 untested boxes were discovered in a Detroit Police storage facility in 2009.

In Tennessee, ex-felons who have turned their lives around can receive a certificate of employability, which gives businesses that hire such individuals protection from negligent- hiring lawsuits.

ELECTIONS

In Louisiana, 16- and 17-year-olds will be able to register to vote when obtaining a driver’s license, though they still won’t be able to vote until they turn 18.

ENVIRONMENT

In North Carolina, home sellers will have to disclose whether they know if underground oil and gas rights have been sold.

In New York State, consumers must begin recycling old computers, televisions and video-game consoles instead of throwing them in the trash.

HEALTH

Tennessee joins more than 20 states adding insulin to medications that school staff may volunteer to be trained to administer.

MOTOR VEHICLES

In California, drivers’ licenses will be available for people in the country illegally.

In Nevada, students who are declared habitually truant could be delayed from obtaining a driver’s license, or have their license suspended.

In Indiana, license plates will be required on motor scooters for the first time after complaints about unsafe driving by those who’ve lost their licenses because of drunken-driving arrests or other offenses.

Massachusetts finally will allow “hold open” clips on pumps at self-service gasoline stations.

SOCIAL MEDIA

In New York in February, it becomes illegal to pose for a photo with a lion, tiger or other big cat. The measure, which specifically prohibits contact between members of the public and big cats at animal shows, passed after self-portraits with the animals started becoming more popular online, particularly with some young men on dating sites.

WAGES

The minimum wage goes up today in several states, including Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Maryland, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. A wage increase in New York took effect Wednesday. In addition, troopers in Oklahoma get their first pay raise in seven years.

WEAPONS

In Pennsylvania on Monday, a law takes effect that’s designed to give the National Rifle Association, or any gun owner, a better chance at successfully challenging local firearms ordinances in court. In general, Pennsylvania bars its municipalities from enforcing firearms ordinances that are stronger than state law. But the NRA has complained that dozens of local ordinances go unchallenged in Pennsylvania courts by residents who can prove it harmed them.

WELFARE

In Tennessee, as part of welfare eligibility, a parent or guardian with a child struggling in a school must attend two or more teacher conferences within a year to review the child’s status.

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