With the start of 2012, hundreds of new state laws are taking effect.

They include laws that toughen punishment for elder abuse, allow illegal immigrants to receive state college scholarships, move the presidential election primary from February to June and grant additional rights to victims of sexual abuse.

Assembly Bill 332 provides for courts to place a fine as high as $10,000 on identity thieves who steal more than $950 in cash, goods or services from an elderly or dependent adult. The offender could also face up to four years in state prison. The law previously did not specify a fine.

The first part of the so-called Dream Act goes into effect in 2011 and will provide access to private scholarships and financial aid to illegal immigrants to attend any school in the University of California or California State University systems.

To qualify, students must have attended high school for three years and have graduated from a state high school.

Assembly Bill 80 changes California’s presidential primary election from the first Tuesday in February to the first Tuesday after the first Monday in June. The law also consolidates the presidential and statewide primaries.

The law was intended to save the state from holding three separate statewide elections this year—one in February for the presidential primary, the usual June primary and the November election.

A change in an existing law now grants victims of sexual assault the right to request and receive a medical examination and forgo participating in criminal justice proceedings.

The new law also eliminates the right of law enforcement to determine whether the victim will be examined in a physician’s office. Payment for the victim’s medical examination remains the responsibility of the law enforcement agency.

Also in effect Jan. 1 are laws that:

Prohibit children under the age of 18 from using ultraviolet tanning facilities. Previously, children under 14 were prohibited from using tanning beds but children age 14 to 18 could use them with a parent’s consent.

Require community and state colleges to grant priority enrollment to current and former foster youths until Jan. 1, 2017.

Require public schools to include in social studies curriculum the contributions of people who are gay, bisexual and transgender and those with disabilities.

Require all children under 8 years old to be in a booster or car seat unless they are 4 feet 9 inches or taller. The law also requires children who are age 8 and too short for the seat belt to fit properly to be in a booster or car seat.

The law previously required children 6 years and younger weighing 60 pounds or less to be seated in a child safety seat.

Drivers caught breaking the booster seat law can face fines starting at $475.

For a list of the new state laws, go to www.leginfo.ca.gov.