California 2019-2020 Regular Session Status: In Committee 3 R cosponsors

SB 868 — Worker status: independent contractors: freelance journalists.

Last action — From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on L., P.E. & R.

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed Assembly
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 2019-2020 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

Existing law, as established in the case of Dynamex Operations W. v. Superior Court (2018) 4 Cal.5th 903 (Dynamex) , creates a presumption that a worker who performs services for a hirer is an employee for purposes of claims for wages and benefits arising under wage orders issued by the Industrial Welfare Commission. Existing law requires a 3-part test, commonly known as the "ABC" test, to determine if workers are employees or independent contractors for those purposes. Existing law establishes that, for purposes of the Labor Code, the Unemployment Insurance Code, and the wage orders of the Industrial Welfare Commission, a person providing labor or services for remuneration is considered an employee rather than an independent contractor unless the hiring entity demonstrates that the person is free from the control and direction of the hiring entity in connection with the performance of the work, the person performs work that is outside the usual course of the hiring entity's business, and the person is customarily engaged in an independently established trade, occupation, or business. This test is commonly known as the "ABC" test, as described above. Existing law charges the Labor Commissioner with the enforcement of labor laws, including worker classification. Existing law exempts specified occupations and business relationships from the application of Dynamex and the provisions described above, including various professional services provided by a freelance writer, editor, photographer, photojournalist, or newspaper cartoonist who does not provide content submissions to the putative employer more than 35 times per year. This bill would revise that exemption to instead exempt all freelance journalists, including photographers, photojournalists, and videographers, without regard to the number of content submissions per year, from the application of Dynamex and the above provisions.

Bill Text

Action History

  1. From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on L., P.E. & R.

  2. Referred to Com. on L., P.E. & R.

  3. From printer. May be acted upon on or after February 20.

  4. Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Sponsors

  • Bates · Primary
  • Borgeas · Cosponsor
  • Chang · Cosponsor
  • Shannon Grove · Cosponsor
  • Brian W. Jones · Cosponsor
  • Megan Dahle · Cosponsor
  • Moorlach · Cosponsor
  • Morrell · Cosponsor
  • Nielsen · Cosponsor
  • Wilk · Cosponsor

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 9 co-sponsors · 112 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

  • Bates

Co-sponsors (9)

Not signed on (112)

112 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

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Subjects

civil-rights labor
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Frequently asked questions

What does SB 868 do?
Existing law, as established in the case of Dynamex Operations W. v. Superior Court (2018) 4 Cal.5th 903 (Dynamex) , creates a presumption that a worker who performs services for a hirer is an employee for purposes of claims for wages and benefits arising under wage orders issued by the Industrial Welfare Commission. Existing law requires a 3-part test, commonly known as the "ABC" test, to determine if workers are employees or independent contractors for those purposes. Existing law establishes that, for purposes of the Labor Code, the Unemployment Insurance Code, and the wage orders of the Industrial Welfare Commission, a person providing labor or services for remuneration is considered an employee rather than an independent contractor unless the hiring entity demonstrates that the person is free from the control and direction of the hiring entity in connection with the performance of the work, the person performs work that is outside the usual course of the hiring entity's business, and the person is customarily engaged in an independently established trade, occupation, or business. This test is commonly known as the "ABC" test, as described above. Existing law charges the Labor Commissioner with the enforcement of labor laws, including worker classification. Existing law exempts specified occupations and business relationships from the application of Dynamex and the provisions described above, including various professional services provided by a freelance writer, editor, photographer, photojournalist, or newspaper cartoonist who does not provide content submissions to the putative employer more than 35 times per year. This bill would revise that exemption to instead exempt all freelance journalists, including photographers, photojournalists, and videographers, without regard to the number of content submissions per year, from the application of Dynamex and the above provisions.
Who sponsors SB 868?
SB 868 is sponsored by Bates, Borgeas, Chang, Grove, Shannon (Republican), Jones, Brian W. (Republican), Dahle, Megan (Republican), Moorlach, Morrell, Nielsen, and Wilk.
What is the current status of SB 868?
This bill died with 2019-2020 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track SB 868?
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