diff --git a/Connections/database_functions.php b/Connections/database_functions.php
index 01bdb0a..e045faa 100644
--- a/Connections/database_functions.php
+++ b/Connections/database_functions.php
@@ -477,6 +477,17 @@ function currency_format($value, $places = 2){
 	echo "$ "; 
 	if(is_null($value)) echo number_format(0,$places); 
 	else echo number_format($value,$places);
+}
+
+// function to set time zone in mysql.  
+// Time zones must be setup in mysql for this to work:  mysql_tzinfo_to_sql /usr/share/zoneinfo | mysql -u root mysql
+set_time_zone();
+function set_time_zone() {
+	global $database_YBDB, $YBDB;	
+    
+	mysql_select_db($database_YBDB, $YBDB);
+	$query = "SET time_zone='" . TIMEZONE  . "';";
+	$Recordset1 = mysql_query($query, $YBDB) or die(mysql_error());
 }
 
 //function to convert server time to local time.  To be used by all other current date / time requests.