WEST virginia Legislature

2016 regular session

Introduced

Senate Bill 621

By Senators Palumbo, Ashley, Gaunch, Karnes, Mullins, Walters and Ferns

[Introduced February 17, 2016;
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §24A-2-7, relating to exempting taxicab companies whose drivers are independent contractors from providing workers' compensation coverage for the drivers.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated §24A-2-7, to read as follows:

ARTICLE 2. COMMON CARRIERS BY MOTOR VEHICLES.

§24A-2-7. Workers' compensation coverage.

A taxicab company operating under this chapter is not required to provide workers' compensation coverage to a driver who provides taxicab service pursuant to a written or electronic agreement that identifies the taxicab driver as an independent contractor.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to exempt taxicab companies, whose drivers are independent contractors, from providing workers' compensation coverage for the drivers.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.