Businesses hiring independent contractors during states of emergency would be protected from lawsuits related to employer-employee relationships, under a bill headed to Gov. Ron DeSantis.
The Senate voted 39-0 on Tuesday to give final approval to the measure (SB 542), which would prevent certain actions taken by businesses during public-health emergencies from being used as evidence in lawsuits seeking to establish employer-employee relationships. Those actions would include providing health training, cleaning supplies and personal protective equipment to workers based on state or federal health guidelines. The proposal is among a series of changes lawmakers have made this year in reaction to the coronavirus pandemic.
The House voted 115-2 to approve the bill last week.
