New State Laws Take Effect

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Credit Laura Leslie

Susie, the burned dog who inspired Susie's Law

New state laws take effect today on issues ranging from video gambling and Medicaid fraud to animal abuse.

The video sweepstakes ban takes effect today, though its status in the courts is still unclear.  Susie's Law also goes into effect, raising animal abuse, torture, or intentional neglect to a Class H felony that can carry jail time at a judge's discretion.  Lawmakers have also made it illegal for anyone to accept kickbacks for referrals of Medicaid patients.

Former state employees will now have to wait six months before they can register to lobby the agency where they used to work.  Public employees are also officially banned from seeking a promise of future employment in return for helping a company win a state contract.  And trying to evade campaign donation limits by giving money to other people to donate to a candidate is now a felony if the total exceeds $10,000.