5 New California Laws That Just Took Effect This Week

CALIFORNIA — It can be difficult to keep track of newly passed laws that will affect Californians, so we've rounded up the five signed and sealed pieces of legislation likely to impact residents as the new fiscal year began Thursday.

Many of these laws were born out of discussions and issues that appeared in the news cycle during the coronavirus pandemic, which upended life in the Golden State for more than 15 months.

Here's what took effect this week.

1. Restrictions tighten on semiautomatic centerfire rifles

California already had a ban on buying more than one handgun within a 30-day period, but Senate Bill No. 61 expands that prohibition to semiautomatic centerfire rifles. Some of these rifles are defined as an "assault weapon," which are banned in California.

California's ban on assault weapons was nearly overturned in June, but the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals blocked a lower court judge's controversial ruling that overturned a decades-old ban.

A three-judge panel of the federal appeals court on Monday stayed California-based U.S. District Judge Roger Benitez's earlier order this month.

2. More protections for those taking out student loans

Assembly Bill No. 376 imposes new rules on student loan servicers to appoint an ombudsman to advocate for borrowers and help review complaints to reduce predatory practices.

The initiative is meant to prevent student loan servicers from engaging in malpractice and abusive acts.

3. Laura's Law is extended

Legislation known as Laura's Law was signed into law in 2002 to boost mental health services for outpatient treatment. That law just became permanent in California.

The law allows court judges to require mental health treatment for outpatients who exhibit signs of severe mental illness.

4. Assistance for those impacted by California wildfires

Two laws — Assembly Bill No. 3012 and Senate Bill No. 872 — were passed to assist homeowners affected by wildfires in the Golden State. This legislation is meant to help those who lose their homes during a wildfire and to help cover the living expenses of those who become displaced.

5. Three juvenile prisons will close admissions

California is reimagining the way it deals with children who commit serious crimes by phasing out its state-run youth detention centers. Starting Thursday, the state's three prisons for youths will stop accepting new admissions. Eventually, they will close in 2023.