What do harassment and bullying in schools, tattoo artists, health insurance, and food stamps have in common? They are all the subjects of California laws that took effect on July 1. Schools must update their anti-harassment and anti-discrimination policies and programs to include sexual orientation and gender identity, as well as race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, disability and religion. School employees will get training in the prevention of bullying, while victims get priority for transfers to a different school district. The definition of bullying is expanded to include posting material on an online social media website. Tattoo artists, piercing artists and permanent cosmetics artists must register every year with a local government and must now meet minimum statewide standards. California health care insurers must provide coverage for behavioral treatment of autism for children and young adults. Individual and group health insurance providers in California must cover maternity services. California counties can use the Social Security Administration benefits database to find low income individuals over age 60 who may be eligible to participate in the CalFresh food stamps nutrition program. It is now illegal in California to produce or sell foie gras (fatty liver) which is made by force-feeding ducks or geese.
