Relating to portable benefit plans

HB 5145 establishes a state-sponsored portable insurance benefit plan in West Virginia for independent contractors. Hiring parties (businesses engaging contractors) may voluntarily contribute to the plan, but these contributions cannot be used to determine employment classification or establish workers' compensation liability. Benefits remain tied to the individual contractor, not a specific hiring party, ensuring coverage continuity when switching between employers. The plan aims to provide consistent health insurance access for gig economy workers while legally protecting businesses from misclassification claims.