California lawmakers targeted so-called cyber-bullying last
year. Now school officials can suspend or expel students who
harass or intimidate others on social networking sites like myspace
- or through text-messaging. Another law aimed at protecting
kids requires wave pool operators to provide life vests to
non-swimmers, children under 42 inches tall - and anyone else who
wants one. High school and college journalism teachers
have new protections this year, too. It's now illegal for
them to be punished for refusing to censor some student material.
Other changes: Regulators can now disconnect the
phone lines of so-called bandit taxicabs that are unlicensed.
Bottled water sold in California now has to include the source on
the label. Recyclers have to take the thumbprint and driver's
license number from people selling scrap metals. And a new
board will be established to certify massage therapists.