<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto">Courtesy of <i>CNN</i> at:<div><br></div><div><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2018/01/02/politics/california-new-laws-2018/index.html">http://www.cnn.com/2018/01/02/politics/california-new-laws-2018/index.html</a><br><div><br></div><div>———————————————</div><div><h1 class="pg-headline" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 56px; margin: 27px auto 0px; padding: 0px; font-family: "CNN Condensed", CNN, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-weight: 500; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; line-height: 64px; font-feature-settings: 'kern' 1; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility; letter-spacing: -0.01em; color: rgb(38, 38, 38); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">It's not just pot: California's legislating guns, tampons and diaper changes in 2018</h1></div><div><br></div><div><div>(CNN) - Welcome to the new California, where you can smoke weed just for fun and change babies' diapers in the men's room.</div><div><br></div><div>But there's a lot more changing than just regulations about baby-changing tables and marijuana sales in 2018. Here's a look at the new laws now in effect in the country's most populous state:</div><div><h3 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 32px; margin: 32px 0px -5px; padding: 0px; font-family: "CNN Condensed", CNN, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-weight: 500; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; line-height: 40px; color: rgb(38, 38, 38); font-feature-settings: 'kern' 1; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">New salary rules</h3></div><div><br></div><div>In California, employers can no longer ask about your prior salary -- thereby preventing them from using your salary history to decide whether to make you a job offer or to determine how much to offer you.</div><div><br></div><div>The law is intended to narrow the gender pay gap.</div><div><br></div><div>Job applicants can also request the pay scale for a position.</div><div><h3 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 32px; margin: 32px 0px -5px; padding: 0px; font-family: "CNN Condensed", CNN, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-weight: 500; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; line-height: 40px; color: rgb(38, 38, 38); font-feature-settings: 'kern' 1; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">Free tampons in schools</h3></div><div><br></div><div>For many teenage girls, access to tampons and sanitary pads is a given. But for low-income students, a lack of feminine hygiene products impacts their education, said Cristina Garcia, who authored Assembly Bill 10.</div><div><br></div><div>"I've heard stories from many young girls that struggle with their period on a monthly basis, affecting their schooling, morale, and health," Garcia said.</div><div><br></div><div>Gov. Jerry Brown signed the bill into law, meaning public schools with students from grades 6 to 12 which have a 40% student poverty rate must have free feminine hygiene products in restrooms.</div><div><h3 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 32px; margin: 32px 0px -5px; padding: 0px; font-family: "CNN Condensed", CNN, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-weight: 500; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; line-height: 40px; color: rgb(38, 38, 38); font-feature-settings: 'kern' 1; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">Baby-changing tables in men's rooms</h3></div><div><br></div><div>Speaking of restrooms, fathers will no longer struggle to find a place in public facilities to change their babies' diapers.</div><div><br></div><div>The passage of Assembly Bill 1127 means shopping malls, sports arenas and other large buildings must have diaper-changing stations in men's restrooms or in places accessible to both men and women.</div><div><h3 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 32px; margin: 32px 0px -5px; padding: 0px; font-family: "CNN Condensed", CNN, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-weight: 500; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; line-height: 40px; color: rgb(38, 38, 38); font-feature-settings: 'kern' 1; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">Some criminals must give up guns</h3></div><div><br></div><div>Californians approved Proposition 63, which means anyone convicted of a felony or certain misdemeanors must give up their firearms.</div><div><br></div><div>In addition, online ammunition purchases will be shipped to a licensed vendor -- not directly to a buyer's home, CNN affiliate KRON reported.</div><div><h3 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 32px; margin: 32px 0px -5px; padding: 0px; font-family: "CNN Condensed", CNN, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-weight: 500; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; line-height: 40px; color: rgb(38, 38, 38); font-feature-settings: 'kern' 1; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">Job protection for parents in small businesses</h3></div><div><br></div><div>Millions of parents who work for small businesses will now be able to take 12 weeks off to take care of newborns -- without worrying about losing their jobs for doing so.</div><div><br></div><div>The New Parent Leave Act gives three months of unpaid maternity and paternity leave to parents who work at businesses with 20 to 49 employees.</div><div><br></div><div>"We are in the midst of a paradigm shift right now, one in which both parents often work and shoulder caregiving responsibilities," said the bill's author, Hannah-Beth Jackson. "No one should have to choose between caring for their newborn and keeping their job."</div><div><br></div><div>The New Parent Leave Act gives three months of unpaid maternity and paternity leave to parents who work at businesses with 20 to 49 employees.</div><div><br></div><div>"We are in the midst of a paradigm shift right now, one in which both parents often work and shoulder caregiving responsibilities," said the bill's author, Hannah-Beth Jackson. "No one should have to choose between caring for their newborn and keeping their job."</div><div><h3 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 32px; margin: 32px 0px -5px; padding: 0px; font-family: "CNN Condensed", CNN, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-weight: 500; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; line-height: 40px; color: rgb(38, 38, 38); font-feature-settings: 'kern' 1; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">Sanctuary state status</h3></div><div><br></div><div>After a year of controversy over sanctuary cities, California is reinforcing its reputation as a "sanctuary state."</div><div><br></div><div>Both state and local law enforcement agencies will not be allowed to use their funds or personnel to investigate, detain or arrest people for immigration enforcement purposes.</div><div><br></div><div>Unofficially called a "sanctuary state" bill, supporters such as the governor said it "prohibits the commandeering of local officials to do the work of immigration agents."</div><div><br></div><div>But critics say it limits cooperation between federal agencies and local law enforcement.</div><div><h3 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 32px; margin: 32px 0px -5px; padding: 0px; font-family: "CNN Condensed", CNN, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-weight: 500; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; line-height: 40px; color: rgb(38, 38, 38); font-feature-settings: 'kern' 1; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">Recreational pot</h3></div><div><br></div><div>In case you've been living under a rock (and not getting stoned), California just legalized recreational marijuana to anyone over the age of 21. That means you don't need a medical card anymore.</div></div><div><br></div><div>———————————————<br><br><div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Moscow Cares" (the most fun you can have with your pants on)</span></div><div><a href="http://www.moscowcares.com/" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000">http://www.MoscowCares.com</font></a></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></div><div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Tom Hansen</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Moscow, Idaho</span></div></div><div><br></div></div></div></div></body></html>