Name a few of the laws that Governor Jerry Brown and the legislature have established recently.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Varies. Among the laws mentioned at the end of Chapter 2 are the following: Rainy Day budget fund (for emergency spending); higher gas tax; tax credits for the working poor and self-employed; criminal justice reform (realignment or shifting state prison inmates to county jails and parole); loosening automatic sentencing enhancements; creating regulations for marijuana growth, distribution, and recreational use; raised the minimum wage to $11 per hour in 2018 and $15 per hour in 2022. Other laws mentioned in Chapter 2 may be considered "recent," such as AB32 and the carbon cap-and-trade system for controlling greenhouse gas emissions, and the DREAM Act for undocumented immigrants. New laws that have caught the attention of media but not discussed in Chapter 2 include new "right to die" law; prohibition on the state's displaying or selling merchandize emblazoned with the Confederate flag; ban on using the name "Redskins" in public schools; new "Motor Voter" law allowing automatic voter registration when registering for a driver's license at the DMV; mandatory paid sick days for part-time workers, including disability pay for new mothers; expansion of alcohol tasting events at retailers' premises; allowing pets in outdoor seating areas of restaurants with some conditions; stronger gender equality pay laws; requiring all single-stall public bathrooms be gender-neutral; creating a third gender option, "X." Note that both the Citizens Redistricting Commission (redistricting) and the "Top-Two" primary were not enacted by the legislature and governor, but rather via the initiative process.