The new state laws run the gamut of issues, as lawmakers have responded to the needs of their constituents, said NCSL.
Five states increased the minimum wage. New Mexico started a DNA database. Rhode Island now requires health plans to cover smoking cessation programs. And it will be illegal in Arkansas to publicly display a person's Social Security number.
Smokers in Texas will pay an additional $1 tax per pack of cigarettes. In Illinois, you can talk to a live operator when you call a state agency. And in Michigan, you can use the Internet to find out where illegal meth labs have been located.
Following are some technology-related legislation from the compilation:
- In an effort to maintain closer supervision, Illinois registered sex offenders' driver's licenses will now expire every 12 months. Additionally, if it is found that an individual who is required to register under Illinois' sex offender laws has not done so, that individual's driver's license can be cancelled.
- Members of the public in Michigan will be able to sign up to receive e-mail notifications of when a registered sex offender moves into their ZIP code.
- Michigan residents will be able to use the Internet to find out the locations of illegal methamphetamine laboratories after the new year. Michigan law enforcement officials must work with the Department of Community Health to maintain the status of each lab and whether the property has been remediated or not.
- Anyone arrested in New Mexico for a felony will be required to provide a DNA sample to law enforcement officials. The act is intended to create a DNA identification system to help solve crimes, track sex offenders and identify missing persons.
- As of January 1, 2007 it will be illegal in Arkansas to publicly post or display an individual's Social Security number or to require an individual to transmit their Social Security number via the Internet unless the information is encrypted.
- Employers in Maryland are no longer allowed to print an employee's Social Security number on their paycheck or any part of the pay stub.
- Victims of identity theft in Hawaii, Kansas, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Wisconsin will be able to place a security freeze on their credit reports. The security freeze will prevent credit reporting agencies from releasing information to unauthorized parties without the consumer's authorization preventing perpetrators of the identity theft from obtaining additional credit.
- Under a new law going into effect January 1, Illinois state agencies that use automated answering systems must offer an option to speak with a live operator.
- The state of North Carolina becomes the sole video franchising authority after the new year. Cable and video services companies wishing to do business in the state will no longer have to seek approval from the myriad of local authorities. The legislation was designed to increase competition among video service providers. The law also applies the states 7 percent sales tax to video programming regardless of the technology used.
- Virginia will begin the new year with a completely revamped telecommunications tax structure. The state modernized their telecommunications taxes such that a flat five percent tax on all telecommunications takes the place of four other taxes imposed on various telecommunications services.
