Bill > HB987

This bill, known as the Voluntary Portable Benefit Plan Act, allows for the creation of portable benefit plans and accounts for independent contractors in Georgia. It defines key terms such as "hiring party" (the entity hiring the independent contractor), "independent contractor" (an individual performing services without direct control), "portable benefit account" (an account owned by the contractor to pay for benefits), and "portable benefit plan" (a plan offering benefits like health insurance, retirement, or disability). The bill permits any entity, including app-based companies, to voluntarily contribute to an independent contractor's portable benefit account. These contributions can be made through voluntary withholdings from the contractor's compensation, provided there's a clear written agreement where the contractor explicitly opts in and can opt out at any time. Crucially, these voluntary contributions will not change the contractor's status from independent to employee, nor will it make the hiring party an employer under Georgia's employment security laws.