Massachusetts Artists Leaders Coalition

Artists leaders and artist-run groups addressing policy issues that affect artists in Massachusetts

REMINDER: Call To Action: Written Testimony Needed Regarding The MA Independent Contractor Law

A Reminder: Important Call for Written Testimony Regarding the Independent Contractor Law

It is critical that the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development hear from our community.

The hearing date for these Bills is today, June 23rd, 1 p.m., in State House Hearing Room 437 at the State House. The hearing for the bills is free and open to the public. Members of the MALC Steering Committee will be testifying at the hearing.

(For directions and more info on the hearing: https://malegislature.gov/Events/EventDetail?eventId=2146&eventDataSource=Hearings)

We need as many people as possible to write in support of these two pieces of Legislation!

[note color=”#FFCC00″]Written testimony in support of these two bills is due by Thursday, June 25th at 5 p.m.[/note]

The 2004 Independent Contractor law change is negatively impacting the artists’ community and the creative economy. The law made it next to impossible for people to be classified as “independent contractors” in Massachusetts. Once you are classified as an “employee” you do not own or control your intellectual property*. It is the property of the employer.

There are two identical bills that fix this issue for our sector with an intellectual property carve out. They are both called “An Act Relative to the Creative Economy Bill” – Senate Bill 992 and House Bill 1776. The Senate Bill was filed by Senator Michael Moore and the House Bill was filed by Representative Chris Walsh. The bills are in the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development. (Note: there are several other bills filed that also try to “fix” the problem but fall short.)
[note color=”#eaf9c1″]

Background information about the Independent Contractor Law:
http://www.artistsunderthedome.org/MAindependent_contractor.html

How to write your testimony and where to send it:
http://www.artistsunderthedome.org/Call_For_Testimony.html

Link to S 992: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/Senate/S992
Link to H 1776: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/House/H1776[/note]

  [highlighter color=”green”]Please spread this call for written testimony![/highlighter]

Thank you in advance for taking the time to send in testimony and for helping MALC get the call out for written testimony.

Sincerely,

The MALC Steering Committee

*Intellectual property encompasses copyright, patents, trademarks, royalties, licensing rights, publishing rights, etc.