This legislative session, Assembly Republicans launched a new effort to overturn California’s labor law that classifies workers and independent contractors.
Usually simply called AB 5, the controversial law essentially codified a 2018 state Supreme Court ruling that designated when workers should be classified as employees and entitled to health benefits, minimum wage and other protections through the use of a three-pronged, ABC litmus test. The law was revised in 2020 to include certain exceptions, including some involving the news industry.
But Republicans say the labor law severely limits independent contractors in California and places unfair restrictions on certain jobs.
Standing in front of the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency in Sacramento last week, Republicans announced a new legislative effort, spearheaded by Assemblymember Kate Sanchez, R-Rancho Santa Margarita, that would repeal that three-pronged litmus test and nullify the Supreme Court’s decision in that 2018 Dynamex case.
“There are few things more representative of the American Dream than starting your own business or working for yourself. For far too many Californians, that dream was ripped away by the implementation of AB 5,” Sanchez said.
Her bill, AB 1928, was only just introduced last week and hasn’t been referred to a committee yet. Still, a full-on repeal of the labor law is considered to be a longshot, especially with a Democratic supermajority.
“The Democratic supermajority in the two houses are not going to approve such a measure,” said Chris Micheli, a veteran lobbyist in Sacramento. “With victory in the courts and the codification of the Dynamex decision and the so-called ABC test that was a top…
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