Laws Debut Today on DNA Samples in Md., Payday Loans in Va.

The new year brings a batch of new laws and regulations to the Washington region, including controversial police powers to collect DNA samples in Maryland, a crackdown on paycheck lending in Virginia and a measure protecting domestic workers in Montgomery County.

The DNA law that goes into effect today allows police to take genetic samples from suspects when they are charged with certain violent crimes instead of after they are convicted, which had been Maryland's policy.

The legislation was a priority for Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) during last year's legislative session. He had said that the samples would give investigators a chance to thaw out a number of cold cases. But the bill was opposed by many black lawmakers, who said it would be too intrusive and violate the civil liberties of people who might be exonerated.

In Virginia, the nation's most stringent effort to reform the payday lending industry will take effect today. It is designed to ease the cycle of debt endured by customers who repeatedly take out the high-interest, short-term loans offered by about 800 lending stores around the state.

The law limits borrowers to one loan at a time, restricts how many they can get in a year and provides them more time to repay the money. Borrowers who take out cash advances against their paychecks would not pay annual interest rates of more than 36 percent, although other fees would increase.

State lawmakers approved the changes to the restrictions on the payday lending industry last spring after years of contentious debate in the General Assembly and a fervent lobbying blitz by payday loan supporters and opponents.

Payday lenders have started offering another type of loan not covered by the new law. Called open-end credit, those loans operate like lines of credit and credit cards, requiring only minimum monthly payments.

In Montgomery, lawmakers will make the county's reputation as a nanny state more literal this year by taking a hand in the relationship between families and their child-care workers, cooks and other household employees.

A law that takes effect Jan. 18 will require employers to offer a contract spelling out wages and working conditions for domestic staffers who work at least 20 hours a week. Residents will also have to provide most live-in workers with a bedroom and "reasonable access" to a bathroom, kitchen and laundry room.

The law is meant to curtail reported cases of exploitation of vulnerable employees, who are often immigrant women. The county can impose a $1,000 fine on employers who fail to offer covered workers a detailed contract.

"It's really supposed to prompt a dialogue between a nanny and an employer," said Eric Friedman, director of the county's Office of Consumer Protection, the agency charged with enforcing the requirements. "Just so things are absolutely clear, how many kids she's going to be taking care of, whether or not she's allowed to open the refrigerator."

The law does not cover nurses, international au pairs or self-employed companions of elderly or disabled residents.

Montgomery is also ready to implement the second and final phase of its restaurant ban on trans fat. Last year, more than 2,400 food-service license holders in the county had to strip their kitchens of any margarine, spread or frying oil that contains more than half a gram of trans fat per serving. As of today, those spreads must contain zero grams of trans fat, and inspectors will be on the lookout for trans fat in baked goods and other prepared foods.

Manufacturers have responded to the demand for more healthful food with a growing line of trans-fat-free biscuits, pancakes and desserts, said Gene Wilkes, owner of Bethesda's Tastee Diner.

"We now have a lemon pie, and it even has meringue on it," Wilkes said. "It doesn't taste quite as good as the old one. We're doing okay with it, but they're catching up."

Staff writers Hamil R. Harris, Anita Kumar and Lisa Rein contributed to this report.