Bill > S2451

This bill proposes to amend existing Massachusetts General Laws, specifically Section 148B of Chapter 149, which deals with employee classification. The key provision is the addition of a new subsection (a½) that presumes individuals working as artists, freelance writers, editors, proofreaders, or indexers in the publishing industry are employees under this chapter and Chapter 151 (which relates to minimum wage and overtime). This presumption can only be overcome if the individual freely and voluntarily identifies as a freelancer or independent business, controls and negotiates the use of their intellectual property, and meets federal standards for independent contractors, such as those established by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or Department of Labor. This change aims to provide greater clarity and potentially more protections for creative professionals in the publishing sector by shifting the default classification towards employment.