HB 522 Summary

• Establishes a test to classify individuals providing services for motor transportation companies transporting property as independent contractors rather than employees if a majority of seven specified factors apply (vehicle ownership, maintenance responsibility, operating cost responsibility, personal service provision, compensation based on work performed, control over service means/manner, and written independent contractor agreement).

• Applies the independent contractor classification test across Ohio's Overtime (4111.03), Workers' Compensation (4121.01 and 4123.01), and Unemployment Compensation (4141.01) laws to create uniform treatment of motor transportation workers.

• Defines "motor transportation company" by reference to section 4921.02 of the Revised Code and specifies that individuals operating licensed cars, vans, trucks, tractors, or truck-tractors are subject to this employment classification test.

• Modifies the definition of "employee" in multiple statutory chapters to exclude motor transportation workers meeting the majority-of-factors test, allowing them to be classified as independent contractors for purposes of overtime, workers' compensation, and unemployment benefits.

• Includes provisions in section 119.14 establishing small business paperwork violation penalties and procedures, with exemptions for violations involving public health/safety risks, federal compliance requirements, and tax matters.