New laws from local politicians in effect in 2007

Improved visitation rights for grandparents, clearer requirements for child-care providers and looser rules for inheritance are among the laws shepherded by Newport-Mesa lawmakers that will take effect in 2007.

State Sen. Tom Harman, Assemblyman Van Tran and Assemblyman Chuck DeVore each had several bills signed into law in 2006 by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. In 2006, the governor signed 910 bills and vetoed 262 others, according to a spokesman from his office. The total exceeds that from 2005, when Schwarzenegger signed 729 bills into law — the lowest amount in more than three decades.

Following are some of the new laws going into effect this year.

Day care: In California, residents may apply to open two kinds of day-care centers in their homes: small ones that serve five or fewer children, and large ones that serve between six and 12. For the latter, an applicant may require a conditional use permit, in which case he or she must undergo a review from the local governing agency.

DeVore’s bill changes the California Child Day Care Facilities Act, requiring cities and counties to tell applicants about the permits they must obtain, how long the reviewing process will take, and whether the fees charged by the government exceed the costs of the review and permit process.

Grandparents’ visitation rights: Under California law, grandparents may petition a court for visitation rights to their grandchildren in a number of circumstances if the child’s parents are unmarried and a relationship exists with the grandparent; if the parents are married but separated; or if the child does not reside with either parent. In Assembly Bill 2517, submitted by Tran, grandparents could also have visitation rights if their grandchild has been adopted by a stepparent.

“If there’s a relationship between grandparents and their grandchildren, I think we ought to celebrate the maintenance of family,” Tran said.

State-owned housing: DeVore submitted Assembly Bill 1708, which requires state agencies to rent state-owned housing to employees at fair-market value, after finding that state employees were renting beachfront cottages at Crystal Cove State Park at a discount.

Inheritance: Harman submitted a bill that allows people to pass on belongings without having to identify the items in a will. Under Assembly Bill 2568, a testator could leave items of modest value to friends and relatives through informal means. Harman said the items he had in mind were on the level of “costume jewelry, small coin collections” and other “damnedest things.”

Crime victims: Tran’s Assembly Bill 2615 gives county probation departments access to the statements of sexual assault victims, in order to give defendants more appropriate sentences.

Bankruptcy filings: Under Assembly Bill 2658, composed by Harman, contractors cannot get out of repaying their debts by declaring bankruptcy.