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2012 CONSUMER LAWS

This section contains a list of the top consumer laws passed in California in 2011. It also contains select federal laws. The Official California Legislative Information Web site contains the full text of the California laws in this digest – searchable by bill number, code section, or keyword.

The California legislature has two-year sessions. 2011 was the first of these two years.

Bills the governor signs generally become law at the beginning of the year on January 1. Emergency bills, which must be passed by two-thirds of each house, can become law immediately after the governor signs them.

Effective January 1, 2012, unless noted

Automobiles

Airbags — Punishment for repair shops that don’t fix them
GAP Insurance — Can cover deductibles
Low-Cost Insurance — Can be sold online
Sobriety Checkpoints — Limits on car impounding

Consumer Retail Goods and Services

Alcohol — Can’t sell caffeinated alcoholic beer
Alcohol — Can’t sell it at self-checkouts
Doctoral Degree Programs — Must tell students if they are unaccredited
Government-Look-Alike Scams — Stop pretending you are with the government
Insurance for Portable Electronic Devices — Can be sold after device is sold
Insurance – Life — Better asset disclosures for beneficiaries
Insurance – Life — Clearer payment options disclosures for beneficiaries
Internet Sellers — Collect sales taxes
Loans and Leases — Federal consumer protections cover higher amounts
Marriage and Family Therapists — Tell customers if you unlicensed
Massage Therapists — Can’t get fake diplomas
Notaries Public — Stop notarizing phony documents
Notaries Public — Thumb prints required for powers of attorney
Schools – For-Profit — Better student testing required
Self-Storage — Better advertising when selling customers’ stuff
Veterans — Charge them only reasonable fees for help in getting benefits

Courts

Crime Victims Program — Violators to pay higher penalties
Small Claims Court — Suing limit up from $7,500 to $10,000
White Collar Criminals — Freeze their assets

Elder Financial Abuse

Annuities — Recommend them only if good for consumer
Elder Abuse — Can report over internet
Estates and Trusts — Greater punishment for taking property
Long-term Care Facilities — Streamlined appeals
Residential Care Facilities — Disclose financial trouble
Residential Care Facilities — Disclose if license is being revoked
Restitution — Easier to freeze defendant’s assets

Health and Health Care

Health Care Customer Service — Centralized, better service for questions, complaints
Health Care Benefits — Use one application form
In-Home Support Services — Stricter screening of care providers
Insurance — Coverage added for behavioral treatment
Insurance — Coverage added for children
Insurance — Group plans to cover maternity services
Insurance — Individual plans to cover maternity services
Insurance — Use premiums for more service, less overhead
Jewelry — Remove the lead
Tanning Services — Not for minors