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Representative Todd Jones’ portable benefits bill wins unanimous committee approval
Summary
The Insurance and Labor Committee advanced HB 9987 (LC520908), the Portable Health Care Benefits Act, after sponsor Representative Todd Jones described a voluntary mechanism for independent contractors to set aside part of pay for benefits; the committee approved the bill by unanimous voice vote following brief Q&A and public support.
Representative Todd Jones presented House Bill 9987 (LC520908), the Portable Health Care Benefits Act, to the Insurance and Labor Committee and the panel approved the measure by unanimous voice vote.
"This is the portable health care benefits act," Jones told the committee, describing a 52-line bill that would let independent contractors voluntarily allocate a portion of their pay into a dedicated account for health, dental and disability benefits while preserving their 1099 classification. "It keeps the independent contractor an independent contractor," he said, and provides the hiring entity assurance that participation will not reclassify the worker as a W-2 employee.
The bill, Jones said, creates what he described as a "Staples easy button" for contractors and…
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