5 New CA Laws That May Change Your Life

Living in California, residents are used to seeing hundreds of new laws go into effect each year. Many are active on January 1, while others start on July 1.

You're probably well aware of one of the most high-profile bills that took effect on July 1 (and if you're not, you wallet may have noticed). The gas tax increase added 5.6 cents to the price of a gallon of fuel.

Here's a look at five other laws that may change your life in the Golden State as of July 1, 2019:

• Gun Ammo

Those purchasing gun ammunition in California must now go through a background check prior to doing so. It's the final part of Proposition 63, a ballot measure from 2016 promoted as the 'Safety For All' measure. The measure was created by then-Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom who said the measure closed "loopholes" related to firearm purchases. Opponents to the measure included the California State Sheriffs' Association who called it "an ineffective, burdensome, and costly proposal."

• Police Recordings

Law enforcement agencies are required to release video and/or audio recordings from "critical incidents" within 45 days if requested. AB 748 was signed by Jerry Brown in September. Footage can only be withheld "if the public interest in withholding video or audio recording clearly outweighs the public interest in disclosure because the release of the recording would, based on the facts and circumstances depicted in the recording, violate the reasonable expectation of privacy of a subject depicted in the recording."

• Homeless Hospital Patients

California hospitals must now have a written plan in place when it comes to releasing homeless patients. SB 1152, also approved in September, should be made with help from "the county behavioral health agency, health care and social service agencies in the region, health care providers, and nonprofit social service providers, as available." The hospitals are also required to offer to help the patients find a family member or other caregiver and keep a log traking where such patients are discharged.

• Doctor Disclosure

Under SB 1448, physicians, surgeons, osteopaths, naturopathic doctors, chiropractors, podiatrists and acupuncturists who've been placed on probation for various reasons must notify their patients before seeing them. The categories of misconduct include: sexual misconduct with a patient, drug abuse that can harm patients, criminal conviction involving harm to patients and inappropriate prescribing resulting in patient harm and five or more years of probation.

• No Lead Hunting

For all the hunters out there, as of July 1, lead ammunition is banned from all forms of hunting in the state. California has been phasing in the law since it was first signed in 2013 and is the first state in the nation to have such a ban. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife saysthe ban applies to hunting on public land, private property and licensed game bird clubs. "CDFW strongly recommends that hunters acquire and practice with nonlead ammunition well before heading afield, particularly in advance of upcoming big game seasons, to make sure rifles are sighted in and to understand how their firearms perform with nonlead ammunition," the agency says.