Bill > S992

This bill aims to clarify the classification of independent contractors, particularly those in creative fields who produce intellectual property, by amending existing labor laws. Specifically, it proposes an exemption from certain employment regulations for individuals who identify and operate as freelancers or independent businesses, control and negotiate the use of their intellectual property (which includes creations protected by copyright or patent law), and meet federal standards for independent contractors, such as those outlined by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) 20 Factor Test. The bill also includes a provision that prevents this exemption from being applied if an individual is forced into an independent contractor arrangement through coercion or threats. Furthermore, it mandates that employers must adhere to the work standards, pay rates, and agreements established by any union, guild, or professional organization an individual is a member of, with an exclusion for organizations created solely by a specific employer for its own workers.