New Calif. Laws for 2017: Booze at Barber Shops, Tougher Punishment for Sex Crimes, Restroom Changes, Bullet Button

California lawmakers are continually proposing and amending legislation in the Golden State. It's no wonder it's hard to keep track of what's on the books now and what's to come.

To help make your life easier as we head into 2017, here are several new laws that take effect in the New Year, coming in the form of new laws or changes to current law.

The below listed laws have to do with things other than roadway-related legislation. For Patch's breakdown of traffic safety changes, see:

• New California Laws for 2017: Truly Hands-Free Driving, Carseat Changes, Lane-Splitting and More

SB 3 – Minimum Wage

Minimum wage in the state is set to gradually increase to $15 by 2020. Under this updated law, the first wave of increases will take the minimum wage to $10.50 per hour on Jan. 1 for businesses with more than 26 employees. Businesses with fewer employees have an extra year to implement the increase.

AB 2888 – Mandatory Prison Sentence for Certain Sex Crimes

Inspired by the now-infamous Brock Turner Stanford assault case, this change in law clarifies that the sexual assault of an intoxicated or unconscious victim makes the offender ineligible for probation.

"This bill would prohibit a court from granting probation or suspending the execution or imposition of a sentence if a person is convicted of rape, sodomy, penetration with a foreign object, or oral copulation if the victim was either unconscious or incapable of giving consent due to intoxication," the law states.

SB 1322 – Commercial Sex Acts: Minors

This law states that those caught committing acts of prostitution are victims rather than criminals. The author of the bill says it's aimed at treatment for these young individuals versus prosecution.

Under SB 1322, law enforcement cannot arrest those younger than 18 for prostitution or loitering in a public place with the intent to commit prostitution. Rather, the minor is to be taken into temporary custody under limited circumstances.

"The law is supposed to protect vulnerable children from adult abuse, yet we brand kids enmeshed in sex-for-pay with a scarlet ‘P’ and leave them subject to shame and prosecution," said State Sen. Holly J. Mitchell, a Democrat from Los Angeles, who introduced SB 1322. "This is our opportunity to do what we say is right in cases of sex trafficking: stop the exploiters and help the exploited."

SB 819 – Powdered Alcohol Ban

Powdered alcohol, or "palcohol," is not actually yet sold in California, but Sen. Bob Huff, a Republican from San Dimas, wanted to insure that it never will be. The freeze-dried version of alcohol normally comes in a small pouch and is the equivalent to a shot of alcohol once missed with water.

California was the 34th state to ban or restrict the sale of the product, according to Huff's office. SB 819 also says that the state's Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control "...shall revoke the license of any licensee who manufactures, distributes, or sells powdered alcohol in California."

AB 1322 – Alcoholic Beverages at Beauty Salons and Barber Shops

The author of this bill, Assembly member Tom Daly, a Democrat from Anaheim, says it was created along with some other legislation "in an effort to eliminate bureaucratic barriers and improve the lives of everyday Californians."

It allows owners of beauty salons and barbershops to offer a "modest amount" of beer or wine (no more than 12 ounces of beer or 6 ounces of wine) to their customers who are 21 years of age or older.

"Many of these small business owners already do serve beverages to their customers, putting them at risk of penalties under an archaic state law," Daly said.

SB 1046 – Ignition Interlock Devices for Drunk Driving Offenders (Info via Office of Senator Jerry Hill)

This bill extends a pilot program requiring drunk driving offenders in Alameda, Los Angeles, Sacramento and Tulare counties to install the devices known as IIDs. IIDs are calibrated to the driver and prevent a car from starting if the driver is not sober. The four-county pilot would run until January 1, 2019, when the program would be expanded statewide with minor modifications so that:

• A first conviction for driving drunk and causing injury would result in an IID being required for six months
• With a first conviction for driving under the influence that did not involve injuries, the offender could choose to install and use an IID for six months, enabling full driving privileges – or choose a one-year restricted license, which would limit driving to travel to and from work or a treatment program.
• A second DUI offense would result in a one-year IID requirement
• A third DUI offense, a two-year IID requirement
• A fourth DUI offense or more, a three-year IID requirement

SB 1046 also creates an early incentive program, providing DUI offenders with full driving privileges soon after arrest if they install an IID. Their ultimate IID time requirement would be reduced based on when the early installation occurred. Low income offenders would be eligible for assistance to pay for an IID based on a sliding scale pegged to household income.

• ALSO SEE: 5 Marijuana Usage Laws You Need to Know in California

AB 1732 – Single-User Restrooms

This law doesn't go into effect until March, but it's been widely publicized. Under AB 1732, all single-user restrooms in California businesses, government buildings, and places of public accommodation must be accessible to all genders.

“California is charting a new course for equality,” said Assembly member Phil Ting, a Democrat in San Francisco, who introduced the legislation. “Restricting access to single-user restrooms by gender defies common sense and disproportionately burdens the LGBT community, women, and parents or caretakers of dependents of the opposite gender. Bathroom access is a biological need. This law will ensure more safety, fairness, and convenience access for everyone.”

SB 438 – Earthquake Early Warning Implementation (Info via Office of Senator Jerry Hill, D-San Mateo)

Complements the $10 million included in the 2016-2017 budget for the statewide earthquake early warning system by establishing the Earthquake Early Warning Advisory Board within the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. The new law brings California closer to statewide implementation of the earthquake early warning system. In emergencies, the alerts sent by the warning system will help prevent devastating and life-threatening missteps. Governor Brown’s announcement of his signing the bill is here and view video of the press conference held at the Office of Emergency Services headquarters here.

AB 1135 – Assault Weapons, "Bullet Button" Ban

Citing the terrorist attack in San Bernardino as part of their reasoning, Democrat Assembly members Marc Levine, from Marin County, and Phil Ting , from San Francisco, proposed a "bullet button" ban on firearms in the state.

"Military assault weapons have no place on our streets and gun violence must not be tolerated. We raise our children in communities, not war zones," said Assemblymember Levine. "This legislation closes a loophole in law that allows military-style assault rifles to be sold legally in California. The gun manufacturers’ development of the bullet button clearly exploits California law and allows dangerous weapons on our streets."

Levine said AB 1135 will prohibit the use of any tool that "...allows for easily changeable magazines on all military-style assault weapons. Guns equipped with a bullet button are functionally the same as illegal assault weapons, but they are sold legally in California."

SB 814 – Cracking Down on Water-Guzzling Households During a Drought (Info via Office of Senator Jerry Hill)

A winner of Senator Hill’s 2016 “Oughta Be a Law…Or Not” bill idea contest for constituents, SB 814 pulls the plug on excessive water use by households that flout mandatory reductions during drought emergencies. The law requires urban retail water suppliers to set rules for identifying and cracking down on households that consume enormous amounts of water despite restrictions imposed during a statewide declaration of a drought. The new law ensures that every urban retail water supplier has a tool to curb excessive water use by customers. Households that guzzle water – while neighbors and most other Californians abide by mandatory reductions – will no longer be able to hide and persist in their excess.

SB 869 – Safe Storage of Police Handguns in Vehicles (Info via Office of Senator Jerry Hill)

Another winner of Senator Hill’s 2016 “Oughta Be a Law…” contest, SB 869 responds to numerous thefts of handguns that law enforcement officers had left in cars. The stolen firearms included guns used in two murders in the Bay Area. SB 869 closes a legal loophole that had exempted law enforcement officers as well as concealed weapons permit holders from requirements to securely stow handguns in a lockbox out of plain view, or in the trunk, if the weapons are left in an unattended vehicle.

Patch file photo by Renee Schiavone