URGENT: CONTACT YOUR SENATOR, HOUSE SPEAKER, SENATE PRESIDENT, AND THE GOVERNOR TO SUPPORT HB4944 AND TO AMEND S678 WITH THE LANGUAGE FROM HB4944

In addition to contacting your Representative to show your support for HB 4944, please contact the Governor, your State Senator, the Senate President, and the Speaker of the House to ask them to support HB4944. Please also ask them to amend S678(see below) with the language from HB 4944, as the language of S678 does not completely fix the issues that impact us.

To Contact the Governor:
Phone: 617.725.4005 or 888.870.7770 (in state)
Fax: 617.727.9725

To contact the Senate President Therese Murray:
Phone: 617-722-1500
Email: Therese.Murray@state.ma.us"

To contact the Speaker of the House Robert A. DeLeo:
Phone: 617-722-2500
Email: Robert.DeLeo@state.ma.us

We have just over 24 hours to do this. Both the House and Senate will be in session tonight, tomorrow, and probably into tomorrow night- so you can call their offices and send emails urging them to do the above.

To watch them on your computer:

Senate: http://masslegislature.tv/?l=sen_video
House: http://masslegislature.tv/?l=hse_video

The following is Information on S678 amendment by Senator McGee:

On July 28th, Senator McGee amended S678 with the basic language from HB 4748 with some additions. This language, like HB 4748, falls short of fixing the unintended consequences befalling many freelancers in all disciplines. (Basically the new redraft is MCGee's Senate Budget Amendment #260). A call of the yeas and nays was ordered on the adoption of the amendment. This means they did not record how the Senators voted- who voted or how many voted for this amendment. WE HAVE NO PUBLIC RECORD ON THEIR VOTES.

The new language (and the above info is from http://www.mass.gov/legis/senate/calendar.htm SECTION[S. 678]
Bill relative to uniform wage compliance and recordkeeping (Senate, No. 678). [Question on engrossment.] [McGee.] 147I INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS
[Mr. McGee moved to amend the pending amendment (Tisei) by striking out the text and inserting in place thereof the following text:-By striking inserting before section 1 the following section:-

“SECTION 1A. Chapter 149 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 147H the following section:-

Section 147I. (a) An individual whose work is performed solely in the individual’s place of residence shall be exempt from the requirements of clause (2) of subsection
(a) of section 148B of chapter 149, but not clause (1) or clause (3) of said subsection (a) of said section 148B of said chapter 149. This section does not apply to other persons who work with or for the individual.

(b) The exception provided in paragraph (a) of this section shall not apply to an individual who has been coerced, threatened or intimidated into establishing an independent business nor shall it apply to individuals who telecommute or work remotely from home.

(c) Each individual seeking this exemption shall register with the state secretary and such registration shall be issued without a fee. The registration shall include, but not be limited to, the following information:(i) name of the individual seeking the exemption; (ii) the nature of the independently established business; (iii) the address of the residence at which the work is performed; and (iv) proof that the address listed is the applicant's legal residence.The state secretary shall issue regulations necessary to ensure registration under this section. The application for registration shall be typewritten, printed or in such other form as the state secretary shall prescribe. The application for registration shall be executed by the individual seeking the exemption. The registration shall be renewed every 3 years.”