WEST virginia legislature

2016 regular session

Committee Substitute

for

Senate Bill 621

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

[Originating in the Committee on the Judiciary; reported on February 20, 2016]

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 and any such taxi driver identified as an independent contractor pursuant to this section shall not be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits under chapter twenty-three of this code as an employee of the taxicab company.