| California law |
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| Constitution |
| Codes |
| Note: There are 29 California codes. |
| Courts of record |
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The California Health and Safety Code is the codification of general statutory law covering the subject areas of health and safety in the state of California. [1] It is one of the 29 California Codes and was originally signed into law by the Governor of California on April 7, 1939. [2]
The code contains various laws, including:
Division 5 is entitled Sanitation; however, in 1989, California Integrated Waste Management Act (IWMA) of 1989 moved much of the waste management law into the California Public Resources Code [37]
Division 2 contains licensing requirements for a variety of healthcare facilities. Physicians are licensed by the Medical Board of California.
Chapter 2 enumerates 13 types of facilities in Section 1250.1 [41] including hospitals, skilled nursing, and hospice; these are generally regulated by the Licensing and Certification Division of the California Department of Public Health.
Outpatient ambulatory surgery center facility licensing per Chapter 1 [42] can vary, with three options: (1) Medicare certification and regulation by the Licensing and Certification Division of the California Department of Public Health; (2) accreditation by one of five different accrediting agencies and oversight by the Medical Board of California; or (3) state licensure, which is uncommon. [43]
The California Adult Day Health Care Act of 1977 in Division 2, Chapter 3.3 [44] which created a system to provide healthcare during the day without committing to a nursing home has been cited as a model for the nation. [45]
Chapter 5 regulates the use of animals for research with a 1951 law, [46] in practice, as of 2017 many laboratories are exempt from state law due to receiving federal funds or USDA regulation. [47]
The grantor of licenses, which in the case of many facilities is the California Department of Public Health, is responsible for investigating complaints and issuing fines. It has been criticized for lack of investigations and limited fines. [48] In 2014, lawmakers held a hearing [49] after investigative reporters raised concerns. [49] Cases from 2001 were reportedly still open as of 2014. [50]
A California domestic partnership is a legal relationship, analogous to marriage, created in 1999 to extend the rights and benefits of marriage to same-sex couples. It was extended to all opposite-sex couples as of January 1, 2016 and by January 1, 2020 to include new votes that updated SB-30 with more benefits and rights to California couples choosing domestic partnership before their wedding. California Governor Newsom signed into law on July 30, 2019.
Gilbert Anthony Cedillo is an American politician, who served as a member of the Los Angeles City Council for the 1st district from 2013 to 2022. A member of the Democratic Party, Cedillo was previously a member of both the California State Assembly and the California State Senate.
The California Arts Council is a state agency based in Sacramento, California. Its eight council members are appointed by the Governor and the California State Legislature. The agency's mission is to advance California through arts, culture and creativity.
Mark Leno is an American politician who served in the California State Senate until November 2016. A Democrat, he represented the 11th Senate district, which includes San Francisco and portions of San Mateo County. Before the 2010 redistricting, he represented the 3rd Senate district.
In response to court action in a number of states, the United States federal government and a number of state legislatures passed or attempted to pass legislation either prohibiting or allowing same-sex marriage or other types of same-sex unions.
Frances J. "Fran" Pavley is an American politician who served two terms in the California State Senate and three terms in the California State Assembly. A Democrat, she last represented the 27th Senate District, which encompasses the Conejo Valley, and portions of the San Fernando and Santa Clarita Valleys. Due to term limits in California, Senator Pavley completed her legislative career in 2016. She is currently working as the Environmental Policy Director for the USC Schwarzenegger Institute.
Californians Against Waste is an environmental advocacy organization that advocates for stronger environmental laws and more recycling at the state and local level. The organization was founded in 1977 and has sponsored numerous successful citizen initiatives. It is headquartered two blocks from California's state capitol in Sacramento.
Drug policy of California refers to the policy on various classes and kinds of drugs in the U.S. state of California. Cannabis possession has been legalized with the Adult Use of Marijuana Act, passed in November 2016, with recreational sales starting January of the next year. With respect to many controlled substances, terms such as illegal and prohibited do not include their authorized possession or sale as laid out by applicable laws.
Nancy Skinner is an American politician and a member of the California State Senate. A Democrat, she represents California's 9th State Senatorial district, encompassing parts of the East Bay.
In the United States there is no federal law regulating the practice of tattooing. However, all 50 states and the District of Columbia have statutory laws requiring a person receiving a tattoo be at least 18 years old. This is partially based on the legal principle that a minor cannot enter into a legal contract or otherwise render informed consent for a procedure. Most states permit a person under the age of 18 to receive a tattoo with permission of a parent or guardian, but some states prohibit tattooing under a certain age regardless of permission, with the exception of medical necessity.
California is seen as one of the most liberal states in the U.S. in regard to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) rights, which have received nationwide recognition since the 1970s. Same-sex sexual activity has been legal in the state since 1976. Discrimination protections regarding sexual orientation and gender identity or expression were adopted statewide in 2003. Transgender people are also permitted to change their legal gender on official documents without any medical interventions, and mental health providers are prohibited from engaging in conversion therapy on minors.
Scott Wiener is an American politician and a member of the California State Senate. A Democrat, he represents the 11th Senatorial District, encompassing San Francisco and parts of San Mateo County.
Edwin “Ed” Chau is an American jurist and politician who served in the California State Assembly as a Democrat representing the 49th state assembly District from 2012 to 2021. On November 29, 2021, California Governor Gavin Newsom appointed Chau to be a judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court.
Travis Ethan Allen is an American politician who served as a Republican member of the California State Assembly. Allen was first elected in November 2012 to represent California's 72nd State Assembly district, which includes the cities of Fountain Valley, Los Alamitos, Seal Beach, and Westminster, most of Garden Grove, portions of Huntington Beach and of Santa Ana, and the unincorporated communities of Midway and Rossmoor.
Lorena Sofia Gonzalez Fletcher is an American union leader and former politician. A Democrat, she served in the California State Assembly from 2013 to 2022, representing the 80th Assembly District, which encompasses southern San Diego. She was first elected to the Assembly in a 2013 special election to succeed Ben Hueso, who was elected to the State Senate in a special election.
Jim Wood is an American politician currently serving in the California State Assembly. He is a Democrat representing the 2nd Assembly District, which encompasses all of Del Norte, Humboldt, Trinity, and Mendocino counties, plus northern and coastal Sonoma County, including the northern half of Santa Rosa.
Arnold Schwarzenegger was an early opponent of same-sex marriage in the United States, including during his Governorship of California. As an elected official he opposed legal recognition of same-sex marriage but otherwise he supported LGBT rights legislation, including civil unions.
California's Assembly Bill 1066, Phase-In Overtime for Agricultural Workers Act of 2016, was authored by Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher and was signed by Governor Jerry Brown on September 12, 2016. This bill allows farmworkers in California to qualify for overtime pay after working 8 hours in a single day or 40 hours in a workweek. Prior to the passage of AB 1066, farmworkers were only eligible for overtime pay after working 10 hours.
As the most populous state in the United States, California's climate policies influence both global climate change and federal climate policy. In line with the views of climate scientists, the state of California has progressively passed emission-reduction legislation.
The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) is a state statute intended to enhance privacy rights and consumer protection for residents of the state of California in the United States. The bill was passed by the California State Legislature and signed into law by the Governor of California, Jerry Brown, on June 28, 2018, to amend Part 4 of Division 3 of the California Civil Code. Officially called AB-375, the act was introduced by Ed Chau, member of the California State Assembly, and State Senator Robert Hertzberg.