ASTA applauded a bill introduced in Congress that would
harmonize federal laws used to classify workers as independent contractors
(ICs).
The bill's introduction comes in the midst of travel agents'
battle to get an exemption from more stringent requirements for IC designation
in California.
The bill was introduced before Congress' August recess.
Called the Modern Worker Empowerment Act, it was introduced by Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.). The bill is cosponsored by
Reps. Bradley Byrne (R-Ala.), Phil Roe (R-Tenn.) and Ron Wright (R-Texas).
The bill would apply common law rules to determine a worker's status.
According to ASTA, if passed, the bill "would fix the
current patchwork system of multiple federal tests, providing clear and
consistent rules of the road in terms of who is an employee and who is an
independent contractor."
ASTA this month wrote a letter the Society and its members discussed
with legislators earlier this year during Legislative Day.