AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- PORTABLE BENEFIT PLAN

HB 5941 establishes a voluntary portable benefit plan for independent contractors, allowing them to access benefits like health insurance or retirement savings through a plan not tied to any single employer. The bill defines a "portable benefit plan" as an insurance product assigned to an individual, administered by either government or private entities, with contributions remaining voluntary and not affecting employment classification. Crucially, it prohibits using contributions to determine if a worker is an employee or to create employer liability for benefits like workers’ compensation. The plan aims to provide independent contractors - common in gig economy roles - with consistent access to benefits across different jobs, without altering their legal status.