Handgun open-carry, booster seats, LGBT rights, online privacy, child abuse, social media, identity theft, criminal records, Internet sales tax, employment credit checks, human trafficking and slavery are all in the mix of 2012 California laws.

What are the most controversial new California laws that everyone’s buzzing about?  Let’s look at some of the things Californians can and cannot do in 2012:

Child Booster Seat Law

The new California Booster Seat Law outlaws parents, guardians, or drivers from transporting on a highway in a motor vehicle any child under 8 years old without securing that child in an appropriate child restraint meeting federal motor vehicle safety standards.

The new California law does contain a provision, however, that a child under 8 years of age who is 4’9″ inches in height or taller may use a safety belt rather than a child safety seat or booster seat.  Law effectiveJanuary 1, 2012.

Employment Credit Check Law

Employers can no longer request credit reports for Californians unless they are working or seeking work in a financial institution, law enforcement or the state Justice Department.

The law also exempts anyone who
(1) has access to people’s bank or credit card account information, SSN number and date of birth,
(2) has access to an employer’s proprietary information or trade secrets, (3) signs a check, credit card, financial contract, or transfers money for an employer,
(4) has access to more than $10,000 cash, or (5) is a manager in ‘certain industries’.

Law effective January 1, 2012.

California Handgun Open Carry Law 

Open-carry citizen handgun ban.  Supported by cops who cannot tell whether openly carried weapons are loaded or not.  Violators pay $1,000 plus 6 months in jail (misdemeanor). Gun rights advocates vow to carry rifles and shotguns instead.  Californians can still get permits forconcealed weapons, though it is increasingly difficult.  Law effectiveJanuary 1, 2012.

California Human Trafficking Law

Enforces mandatory disclosure of efforts that companies take to eradicate slavery and human trafficking from their entire supply chains.  Being watched as a prototype of future legislation in other states and nations.  Law effective January 1, 2012.

California Gay Bullying Law (Seth’s Law)

Combats bullying of gay and lesbian students in public schools by requiring school districts to have a uniform process for dealing with gay bullying complaints. Mandates that school personnel intervene if they witness gay bullying.  Law effective July 1, 2012.

LGBT Equality and Equal Access in Higher Education Law

State universities and colleges must create and enforce campus policies protecting LGBTs from harassment and appoint employee contact persons to address on-campus LGBT matters. The law includes community colleges statewide.  Law effective 2012.

Domestic Partnership Equality Law

Corrects inequalities between domestic partnerships and heterosexual marriages, including domestic partner health benefits sharing.  Law effective 2012.

Protection of Parent-Child Relationships Law

Allows courts to consider the relationship between a child and a non-biological parent when considering child rights cases involving birth parents, adoptive parents, and gay or lesbian guardians.  Law effective 2012.

Transgender Non-Discrimination Law

Provides public accommodation and protection in education, housing and employment for gender identity and expression.  Law effective 2012.

Transgender Vital Statistics Law

Makes it easier for transgender Californians to get a court petition to change their gender on official documents.  Law effective 2012.

LGBT Equal Benefits Law

Requires an employer with a state contract worth more than $100,000 to have non-discrimination policies in place for LGBT workers and their partners.  Law effective 2012.

Judicial Applicant and Appointment Demographics Inclusion Law

Includes gender identity and sexual orientation of potential judges into the state’s Judicial Applicant Data Report to ensure that state courts are diverse.  Law effective 2012.

Gay Divorce Law

Provides that if a gay couple got married in California but lives in a state that won’t grant them a divorce, the California court will have jurisdiction to grant them a legal divorce. The case will be filed in the county where the gay couple got married.  Law effective January 1, 2012.

California Gay History Law

Governor Jerry Brown signed the Gay History Law, which mandates that school textbooks and social studies include gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender accomplishments.  Law effective January 1, 2012. 

Internet Sales Tax

Governor Brown signed into law that out-of-state Internet retailers must collect California sales tax on transactions if the retailer has a presence in the state.  Law effective Summer 2012.

California Renters Right to Recycling Law

Apartment building landlords will have to start providing recycling services for 7 million California tenants.  Law effective 2012.  Read “California Renters Recycling Law”.

California Reader Privacy Law

Government and third-party snoops can no longer gather information on Internet users’ reading, book shopping or ebook using habits without a legal court order.  Read “California Reader Privacy Law”.

California Male Circumcision Law

Local governments, such as cities and counties, can no longer ban infant male circumcision.  Law effective immediately.  Read “California Circumcision Law.”

California Data Breach Notification Law

When consumer data has been breached, the holder of the data must notify the affected consumers of the occurrence in order to halt identity theft.  Read “California Data Breach Notification Law”.

California Presidential Primary Law

The presidential primary has officially been moved from February back to June.  Read “California Presidential Primary June 5, 2012″.

California National Popular Vote Law

All of California’s 55 electoral votes will ultimately go to the winner of the popular vote in U.S. presidential elections.  Read “California National Popular Vote Law”.

Mandatory DMV Organ Donation Answer

The State of California now requires all driver’s license and ID applicants to answer YES or NO to whether they want their organs donated.  Read“CA Law Forces DMV Organ Donation Answer”.

There were more than 700 new California laws in effect just for 2011 and many more new laws than that become effective in 2012.  Try to keep up, California.