Sunday marks the new fiscal year in 46 states
Lots of changes will take place across the country beginning Sunday, which marks the beginning of the fiscal year in 46 states. While most of our Acts without an emergency clause here in Arkansas go into effect 90 days after sine die adjournment (July 31st this year), our tax cuts will go into effect Sunday. This includes the tax cut on groceries (Act 110), the reduction of sales tax on energy usage for manufacturers (Act 185), and the exemption for off-road diesel fuel (Act 87). I wonder how many families across the state are waiting until Sunday to head over to the grocery store.
Also here in Arkansas, an administrative decision to end peer-to-peer software on the Arkansas Public School Computer Network beginning July 1 will take place after programs designed to share music, videos and other software slowed a state public school computer network. Here's today's Associated Press story, and here's a link to the ADE memo.
Here are some new laws of interest in other states that will take effect on Sunday:
Smokers will pay more in Alaska (another 20 cents per pack), Connecticut, Indiana (44 cents), New Hampshire (28 cents) and Tennessee (42 cents) -- all will raise their levies Sunday. The tax rises in Delaware on July 31 and in Hawaii on Sept. 30.
USA Today reports that Florida will punish adults by up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine for leaving young children unsupervised in a car for more than 15 minutes. Tennessee will require that kids wear helmets when riding off-road vehicles until they're 18 and bar them from buying fireworks until they're 16. California will ban junk food in schools.
Stateline.org provides an extensive list of new laws that will take effect on Sunday.
Iowa. It now will be a felony to dismember or hide a body to conceal a crime. That law was prompted by a recent police investigation of a woman who helped her boyfriend cut up and hide the body of his murdered roommate. She could only be charged with lying to investigators.
Indiana. Widows suspected of causing a spouse’s death no longer can be in charge of the funeral arrangements. Coroners in that state will now be required to use one of four methods to identify a body -- fingerprints, DNA, dental records or positive identification by a family member -- after the case involving two female car accident victims whose identities were switched. About a month after one was buried, her family learned that she was actually the survivor who had been in a coma.
Tennessee. If you want to purchase alcohol, you'll have to show identification no matter how old you are (the same bill was proposed in Arkansas this session). This law expires after a year and doesn't apply to purchases made in restaurants and bars.
Georgia. A new law requires residents who seek public benefits such as Medicaid to bring a passport or birth certificate to prove their citizenship. That state joins 11 others in requiring that women seeking abortions be offered a chance to see the ultrasound of the fetus.
Iowa. Researchers in Iowa now can conduct embryonic stem cell research.
Massachusetts. Residents in Massachusetts will be required to purchase health insurance beginning Sunday.
Illinois. Class-skipping students under 18 in that state won’t be allowed to get their learner’s permit or driver’s license.
Arizona. Every public classroom in Arizona will have to display an American-made U.S. flag. Also, every classroom from 7th grade up must post a copy of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
Virginia. It'll be a felony beginning Sunday in Virginia for anyone other than police to purchase a gun for someone who’s not allowed to buy one. Also in Virginia, parents will have to put their kids in booster seats until they’re 7 instead of 5 years old. It now will be a misdemeanor in Virginia to smoke within 20 feet of a gasoline pump — and if that pump catches fire, violators could face a year in jail. Finally in Virginia, if you want to go to a tanning booth in that state, you have to get parental permission if you're 14 or younger.
Maryland. Ex-criminals in that state will be able to register to vote again once they complete their sentences.
Also here in Arkansas, an administrative decision to end peer-to-peer software on the Arkansas Public School Computer Network beginning July 1 will take place after programs designed to share music, videos and other software slowed a state public school computer network. Here's today's Associated Press story, and here's a link to the ADE memo.
Here are some new laws of interest in other states that will take effect on Sunday:
Smokers will pay more in Alaska (another 20 cents per pack), Connecticut, Indiana (44 cents), New Hampshire (28 cents) and Tennessee (42 cents) -- all will raise their levies Sunday. The tax rises in Delaware on July 31 and in Hawaii on Sept. 30.
USA Today reports that Florida will punish adults by up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine for leaving young children unsupervised in a car for more than 15 minutes. Tennessee will require that kids wear helmets when riding off-road vehicles until they're 18 and bar them from buying fireworks until they're 16. California will ban junk food in schools.
Stateline.org provides an extensive list of new laws that will take effect on Sunday.
Iowa. It now will be a felony to dismember or hide a body to conceal a crime. That law was prompted by a recent police investigation of a woman who helped her boyfriend cut up and hide the body of his murdered roommate. She could only be charged with lying to investigators.
Indiana. Widows suspected of causing a spouse’s death no longer can be in charge of the funeral arrangements. Coroners in that state will now be required to use one of four methods to identify a body -- fingerprints, DNA, dental records or positive identification by a family member -- after the case involving two female car accident victims whose identities were switched. About a month after one was buried, her family learned that she was actually the survivor who had been in a coma.
Tennessee. If you want to purchase alcohol, you'll have to show identification no matter how old you are (the same bill was proposed in Arkansas this session). This law expires after a year and doesn't apply to purchases made in restaurants and bars.
Georgia. A new law requires residents who seek public benefits such as Medicaid to bring a passport or birth certificate to prove their citizenship. That state joins 11 others in requiring that women seeking abortions be offered a chance to see the ultrasound of the fetus.
Iowa. Researchers in Iowa now can conduct embryonic stem cell research.
Massachusetts. Residents in Massachusetts will be required to purchase health insurance beginning Sunday.
Illinois. Class-skipping students under 18 in that state won’t be allowed to get their learner’s permit or driver’s license.
Arizona. Every public classroom in Arizona will have to display an American-made U.S. flag. Also, every classroom from 7th grade up must post a copy of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
Virginia. It'll be a felony beginning Sunday in Virginia for anyone other than police to purchase a gun for someone who’s not allowed to buy one. Also in Virginia, parents will have to put their kids in booster seats until they’re 7 instead of 5 years old. It now will be a misdemeanor in Virginia to smoke within 20 feet of a gasoline pump — and if that pump catches fire, violators could face a year in jail. Finally in Virginia, if you want to go to a tanning booth in that state, you have to get parental permission if you're 14 or younger.
Maryland. Ex-criminals in that state will be able to register to vote again once they complete their sentences.
posted by Steve Harrelson @ 6/29/2007 04:40:00 AM | Permalink |
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