SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2333        FILED ON: 2/19/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1201

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Barry R. Finegold

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to emergency unemployment insurance for gig economy workers.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2333        FILED ON: 2/19/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1201

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)

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An Act relative to emergency unemployment insurance for gig economy workers.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 151A of the General Laws to require companies that contract services from no less than 100 independent contractors to contribute to the Massachusetts Unemployment Insurance fund.

SECTION 2. The contribution must be deposited directly to the Massachusetts Unemployment Insurance Fund and must be equivalent to no less than 6% of the initial $7,000 in wages paid to eligible independent contractors who claimed no less than 75% of their income from the contracting company in the previous fiscal year.

SECTION 3. Unemployed independent contractors who claimed no less than 75% of their income from the contracting company in the previous fiscal year will be eligible for the duration of a State of Emergency to receive weekly unemployment insurance benefits, including up to 50% of their average weekly wage, and will cease to be eligible when the Governor suspends or terminates the State of Emergency.

SECTION 4. In order to be eligible for unemployment benefits during a State of Emergency, independent contractors must also be physically able to work, available to work and actively seeking work with no less than three work search attempts. Otherwise eligible independent contractors who were refused, quit or were fired are not eligible for weekly unemployment insurance benefits during a State of Emergency.

SECTION 5. If the State of Emergency continues for no less than 6 weeks, contracting companies are required to make an additional contribution, equal to the first and deposited directly to the Massachusetts Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund. Additional equivalent contributions are required every 6 weeks for the duration of the State of Emergency.