03/11/2008
House Bills 7907 and 7908 would eliminate independent contractor status in our state by making everyone an employee.
Business owners are already governed by IRS provisions in this area. A different and more onerous state definition would cause problems for business owners, as employees may be classified one way for federal purposes and another way for state purposes.
Under the proposed legislation, anyone doing work considered to be part of a company's services performed in the ordinary course of business would be considered an employee. Business owners would be on the hook for more taxes, unemployment compensation contributions and workers' compensation costs. H-7908 pertains to temporary employees, but would apply the same state definition of independent contractors and could make temporary employees and official employee of a business.
Committee hearings for the two pieces of legislation were scheduled quickly. We have little time to act!
- H-7908: House Labor Committee on Wednesday, March 12, at 4:30 p.m. in Room 201, State House.
- H-7907: House Labor Committee on Thursday, March 13, at 4:30 p.m. in Room 201, State House.
Don't delay! Call your elected official today to warn them of the costly effect this legislation would have on your business. For your reference, the members of the House Labor Committee are listed below.
- Rep. Arthur J. Corvese, chair
- Rep. Roger A. Picard
- Rep. Elaine A. Corderre
- Rep. Henry C. Rose
- Rep. Nicholas Gorham
- Rep. Steven F. Smith
- Rep. Peter F. Kilmartin
- Rep. Stephen R. Ucci
- Rep. Helio Melo
- Rep. Kenneth A. Vaudreuil
- Rep. Eileen S. Naughton
- Rep. Robert A. Watson
- Rep. Anastasia Williams
Address your letter to The Honorable (Representative's name), c/o Speaker of the House, 323 State House, Providence, RI 02903; and to the Honorable (Senator's name) c/o Senate President's Office, 318 State House, Providence, RI 02903. Also please send NFIB/Rhode Island a copy of your letter.
Find the representative and/or senator in your district.
If you need assistance crafting your message for your legislator, please contact us at NFIB/Rhode Island at 401-421-8676.
