New Laws

Here are some of the new laws now in effect in California, as reported by the major Sacramento newspaper:

EDUCATION

Senate Bill 1317: Allows parents of chronic truants to be charged with a misdemeanor if they have not reasonably supervised them and encouraged school attendance. (Sen. Mark Leno, D-San Francisco)

Senate Bill 1290: Requires self-defense for middle and high school students to be added to physical education classes once curriculum frameworks are revised. (Sen. Christine Kehoe, D-San Diego)

Assembly Bill 354: Mandates that students be immunized for whooping cough before attending seventh through 12th grades in 2011-12. (Assemblymen Juan Arambula, I-Fresno, and Nathan Fletcher, R-San Diego)

Senate Bill 1413: Requires school districts to provide access to free, fresh drinking water during meal times by July 2011. (Sen. Mark Leno, D-San Francisco)

HIGHER EDUCATION

Senate Bill 1440: Sets uniform standards for transfer degrees to assist community college graduates in switching to California State University. (Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Los Angeles)

Assembly Bill 2382: Authorizes the California State University system to award a doctor of physical therapy degree. (Assemblyman Bob Blumenfield, D-Woodland Hills)

Assembly Bill 867: Allows the CSU system to award a doctor of nursing practice degree at three campuses until 2018. (Assemblymen Pedro Nava, D-Santa Barbara, and Juan Arambula, I-Fresno)