At about this time every year the legislative session in California is winding down. The last day for the Governor to sign any bill this year is September 15, 2017. As the legislative year comes to an end I once again summarize several of the new laws that I believe are of most importance to our readers.
LANE SPLITTING. Assembly Bill No. 51, authored by Democratic Assembly member Bill Quirk whose district, District 20 encompasses Hayward, Union City, Castro Valley, San Lorenzo, Ashland, Cherryland, Fairview, Sunol and North Fremont. AB 51 defines “lane splitting” as two wheeled vehicles traveling between rows of stopped or moving vehicles in the same lane, including on both divided and undivided streets, roads, and highways. Lane splitting in California has been legal for years. The reasons why include the fact that many motorcycles are air cooled and rely on air passing over the engine to keep the engine from overheating and it allows motorcycles to position themselves so that they do not get “sandwiched” between two vehicles and crushed in a rear-end collision. AB 51 prompts the California Highway Patrol to develop educational guidelines relating to lane splitting in a manner that would ensure the safety of the motorcyclist and the drivers and passengers of the surrounding vehicles. It is anticipated that the CHP will set forth conditions under which lane splitting will be permitted such as under what traffic conditions, speeds, and between which lanes motorcycles may lane split. Hopefully the guidelines and public education programs will help motorists to become aware of the conditions under which they need to be watchful for lane splitting motorcyclists as well as provide guidelines to motorcyclists so that they lane split in a safe fashion. I think this law is great for public safety as we all too often get calls from motorcyclists that are injured while lane splitting. Most motorists, when sued following such an event, are unaware that the motorcycle was operating lawfully at the time of the collision. From a pure legal standpoint the law will help injured motorcyclists, who are operating within the guidelines, defend themselves against accusations of being contributorily (partially) at fault for exercising their right to lane split.
MINIMUM WAGE. Senate Bill 3 was authored by Democratic State Senator Mark Leno from District 11 covering San Francisco and part of San Mateo. Senator Leno, known as one of Sacramento’s most effective lawmakers was “termed-out” in 2016 (meaning he can no longer serve in state office) and the District is now represented by Scott Wiener. Senator Leno has announced a bid for Mayor of San Francisco in the next election. This bill would require the minimum wage for all industries to not be less than specified amounts to be increased from January 1, 2017, to January 1, 2022, inclusive, for employers except when the scheduled increases are suspended by the Governor based on certain determinations.
For any employer who employs 26 or more employees, the minimum wage shall be as follows: from January 1, 2017, to December 31, 2017, inclusive,—ten dollars and fifty cents ($10.50) per hour; from January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2018, inclusive,—eleven dollars ($11) per hour; from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2019, inclusive,—twelve dollars ($12) per hour; from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2020, inclusive,—thirteen dollars ($13) per hour; from January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2021, inclusive,—fourteen dollars ($14) per hour; and from January 1, 2022 forward fifteen dollars ($15) per hour. For any employer who employs 25 or fewer employees, the minimum wage shall be as follows: from January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2018, inclusive,—ten dollars and fifty cents ($10.50) per hour; from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2019, inclusive,—eleven dollars ($11) per hour; from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2020, inclusive,—twelve dollars ($12) per hour; from January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2021, inclusive,—thirteen dollars ($13) per hour; from January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2022, inclusive,—fourteen dollars ($14) per hour; and from January 1, 2023—fifteen dollars ($15) per hour. These wage increases apply even if the Federal Minimum Wage is lower. The bill was passed and signed by the Governor over original opposition from the Chamber of Commerce which is no friend to the working people of California. Given the extremely high cost of living anywhere in California I think that this law is beneficial for all Californians.
SEX CRIMES WITH UNCONSCIOUS VICTIMS. Assembly Bill 2888 was authored by Democratic Assembly Member Evan Low from the 28th Assembly District which includes parts of San Jose, Los Gatos, Campbell, Cupertino and Saratoga. Existing law prohibits a court from granting probation or suspending the execution or imposition of a sentence if a person is convicted of violating specified provisions of law, including rape by force, pandering, aggravated sexual assault of a child, etc. AB 28 prohibits a court from granting probation or suspending the execution or imposition of a sentence if a person is convicted of rape, sodomy, penetration with a foreign object, or oral copulation if the victim was either unconscious or incapable of giving consent due to intoxication. This law was passed in response to the outrage which followed a Santa Clara judge granting probation to Brock Turner, a Stanford University swimmer who was given six (6) months in jail and then probation for sexually assaulting an unconscious woman. This law is an important enhancement of existing law which will prevent sweetheart deals with sexual offenders (usually favoring white upper-class males).
I will continue to report on new laws for the next several weeks as the legislative session draws to an end.
By attorney Christopher B. Dolan, owner of the Dolan Law Firm. Email Chris questions and topics for future articles to help@dolanlawfirm.com
We serve clients across the San Francisco Bay Area and California from our offices in San Francisco and Oakland. Our work is no recovery, no free or also referred to as contingency-based. That means we collect no fee unless we obtain money for your damages and injuries.
