SF 2065

2nd Engrossment - 88th Legislature (2013 - 2014) Posted on 05/16/2014 04:07pm

A bill for an act
relating to labor and industry; extending an independent contractor registration
pilot project; exempting certain sawmills from high pressure boiler attendance
requirements; amending Minnesota Statutes 2012, sections 181.723, subdivisions
4, 4a, 5, 7; 326B.988; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes,
chapter 326B.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 181.723, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Independent contractor.

(a) An individual is an independent contractor
and not an employee of the person for whom the individual is performing services in the
course of the person's trade, business, profession, or occupation only if the individual deleted text begin is
registered with the Department of Labor and Industry, if required under subdivision 4a,
and the individual deleted text end :

(1) maintains a separate business with the individual's own office, equipment,
materials, and other facilities;

(2)(i) holds or has applied for a federal employer identification number or (ii) has
filed business or self-employment income tax returns with the federal Internal Revenue
Service if the individual has performed services in the previous year;

(3) is operating under contract to perform the specific services for the person
for specific amounts of money and under which the individual controls the means of
performing the services;

(4) is incurring the main expenses related to the services that the individual is
performing for the person under the contract;

(5) is responsible for the satisfactory completion of the services that the individual
has contracted to perform for the person and is liable for a failure to complete the services;

(6) receives compensation from the person for the services performed under the
contract on a commission or per-job or competitive bid basis and not on any other basis;

(7) may realize a profit or suffer a loss under the contract to perform services for
the person;

(8) has continuing or recurring business liabilities or obligations; and

(9) the success or failure of the individual's business depends on the relationship of
business receipts to expenditures.

new text begin An individual who is not registered, if required by section 326B.701, is presumed to
be an employee of a person for whom the individual performs services in the course of
the person's trade, business, profession, or occupation. The person for whom the services
were performed may rebut this presumption by showing that the unregistered individual
met all nine factors at the time the services were performed.
new text end

(b) If an individual is an owner or partial owner of a business entity, the individual is
an employee of the person for whom the individual is performing services in the course
of the person's trade, business, profession, or occupation, and is not an employee of the
business entity in which the individual has an ownership interest, unless:

(1) the business entity meets the nine factors in paragraph (a);

(2) invoices new text begin and payments new text end are deleted text begin submitted deleted text end in the name of the business entity; new text begin and
new text end

(3) the business entity is registered with the secretary of state, if required deleted text begin ; and deleted text end new text begin .
new text end

deleted text begin (4) the business entity is registered with the Department of Labor and Industry,
if required under subdivision 4a.
deleted text end

new text begin If the business entity in which the individual has an ownership interest is not
registered, if required by section 326B.701, the individual is presumed to be an employee
of a person for whom the individual performs services and not an employee of the business
entity in which the individual has an ownership interest. The person for whom the services
were performed may rebut the presumption by showing that the business entity met the
requirements of clauses (1) to (3) at the time the services were performed.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 181.723, subdivision 4a, is amended to read:

Subd. 4a.

new text begin Applicability; new text end registration pilot project new text begin requirement new text end .

(a) The
commissioner shall implement a pilot project, effective July 1, 2012, for the registration
of persons who perform public or private sector commercial or residential building
construction or improvement services as described in subdivision 2 new text begin must register with the
commissioner as provided in this section new text end . The purpose of the pilot project is to evaluate
whether the information obtained through registration assists the Department of Labor
and Industry, the Department of Employment and Economic Development, and the
Department of Revenue to enforce laws related to misclassification of employees. The
commissioner shall issue a report to the legislature no later than January 1, deleted text begin 2014 deleted text end new text begin 2016 new text end ,
on recommendations for amendments to the registration program, including reasonable
registration fees to be used to aid in enforcing misclassification laws. The commissioner
must not charge a fee for registration under the pilot project, but may take the enforcement
action specified in subdivision 8a. The pilot project shall expire on June 30, deleted text begin 2014 deleted text end new text begin 2016 new text end ,
unless extended by the legislature.

(b) Except as provided in paragraph (c), any person who performs construction
services in the state on or after September 15, 2012, must register with the commissioner
as provided in deleted text begin subdivision 5 deleted text end new text begin section 326B.701 new text end before performing construction services for
another person. The requirements for registration under deleted text begin this subdivision deleted text end new text begin section 326B.701
new text end are not a substitute for, and do not relieve a person from complying with, any other law
requiring that the person be licensed, registered, or certified.

(c) The registration requirements in deleted text begin this subdivision deleted text end new text begin section 326B.701 new text end do not apply to:

(1) a person who, at the time the person is performing the construction services,
holds a current license, certificate, or registration under chapter 299M or 326B;

(2) a person who holds a current independent contractor exemption certificate
issued under this section that is in effect on September 15, 2012, except that the person
must register under deleted text begin this deleted text end section new text begin 326B.701 new text end no later than the date the exemption certificate
expires, is revoked, or is canceled;

(3) a person who has given a bond to the state under section 326B.197 or 326B.46;

(4) an employee of the person performing the construction services, if the person
was in compliance with laws related to employment of the individual at the time the
construction services were performed;

(5) an architect or professional engineer engaging in professional practice as defined
in section 326.02, subdivisions 2 and 3;

(6) a school district or technical college governed under chapter 136F;

(7) a person providing construction services on a volunteer basis, including but not
limited to Habitat for Humanity and Builders Outreach Foundation, and their individual
volunteers when engaged in activities on their behalf; or

(8) a person exempt from licensing under section 326B.805, subdivision 6, clause (5).

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 181.723, subdivision 5, is amended to read:

Subd. 5.

Registration application.

(a) Persons required to register under
deleted text begin subdivision 4a deleted text end new text begin section 326B.701 new text end must submit electronically, in the manner prescribed by
the commissioner, a complete application according to paragraphs (b) to (d).

(b) A complete application must include all of the following information about any
individual who is registering as an individual or a sole proprietor, or who owns 25 percent
or more of a business entity being registered:

(1) the individual's full legal name and title at the applicant's business;

(2) the individual's business address and telephone number;

(3) the percentage of the applicant's business owned by the individual; and

(4) the individual's Social Security number.

(c) A complete application must also include the following information:

(1) the applicant's legal name; assumed name filed with the secretary of state, if any;
designated business address; physical address; telephone number; and e-mail address;

(2) the applicant's Minnesota tax identification number, if one is required or has
been issued;

(3) the applicant's federal employer identification number, if one is required or
has been issued;

(4) evidence of the active status of the applicant's business filings with the secretary
of state, if one is required or has been issued;

(5) whether the applicant has any employees at the time the application is filed;

(6) the names of all other persons with an ownership interest in the business entity
who are not identified in paragraph (b), and the percentage of the interest owned by each
person, except that the names of shareholders with less than ten percent ownership in a
publicly traded corporation need not be provided;

(7) information documenting compliance with workers' compensation and
unemployment insurance laws;

(8) a certification that the person signing the application has: reviewed it; determined
that the information provided is true and accurate; and determined that the person signing
is authorized to sign and file the application as an agent of the applicant. The name of the
person signing, entered on an electronic application, shall constitute a valid signature of
the agent on behalf of the applicant; and

(9) a signed authorization for the Department of Labor and Industry to verify the
information provided on or with the application.

(d) A registered person must notify the commissioner within 15 days after there is a
change in any of the information on the application as approved. This notification must
be provided electronically in the manner prescribed by the commissioner. However, if
the business entity structure, legal form of the business entity, or business ownership has
changed, the person must submit a new registration application and registration fee, if
any, for the new business entity.

(e) The registered person must remain registered while providing construction
services for another person. The provisions of sections 326B.091 deleted text begin and deleted text end new text begin , new text end 326B.094 deleted text begin to deleted text end new text begin ,
326B.095, and new text end 326B.097 apply to deleted text begin this deleted text end section new text begin 326B.701 new text end .

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 181.723, subdivision 7, is amended to read:

Subd. 7.

Prohibited activities new text begin related to independent contractor status new text end .

(a) The
prohibited activities in this subdivision are in addition to those prohibited in sections
326B.081 to 326B.085.

(b) An individual shall not hold himself or herself out as an independent contractor
unless the individual meets the requirements of subdivision 4.

(c) A person who provides construction services in the course of the person's trade,
business, occupation, or profession shall not:

(1) require an individual through coercion, misrepresentation, or fraudulent means to
adopt independent contractor status or form a business entity;

(2) knowingly misrepresent or misclassify an individual as an independent
contractor deleted text begin ; deleted text end new text begin .
new text end

new text begin Subd. 7a. new text end

new text begin Prohibited activities related to registration. new text end

new text begin (a) The prohibited activities
in this subdivision are in addition to those prohibited in sections 326B.081 to 326B.085.
new text end

new text begin (b) A person who provides construction services in the course of the person's trade,
business, occupation, or profession shall not:
new text end

deleted text begin (3) deleted text end new text begin (1) new text end contract with or perform construction services for another person without first
being registered if required by deleted text begin subdivision 4a deleted text end new text begin section 326B.701 new text end ;

deleted text begin (4) deleted text end new text begin (2) new text end contract with or pay another person to perform construction services if
the other person is not registered if required by subdivision 4a. All payments to an
unregistered person for construction services on a single project site shall be considered a
single violation. It is not a violation of this clause:

(i) for a person to contract with or pay an unregistered person if the unregistered
person was registered at the time the contract for construction services was entered into; or

(ii) for a homeowner or business to contract with or pay an unregistered person if
the homeowner or business is not in the trade, business, profession, or occupation of
performing building construction or improvement services; or

deleted text begin (5) deleted text end new text begin (3) new text end be penalized for violations of this subdivision that are committed by another
person. This clause applies only to violations of this paragraph.

Sec. 5.

new text begin [326B.701] CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTOR REGISTRATION.
new text end

new text begin The following definition applies to this section: "business entity" means a person
other than an individual or a sole proprietor.
new text end

Sec. 6.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 326B.988, is amended to read:

326B.988 EXCEPTIONS.

(a) The provisions of sections 326B.93 to 326B.998 shall not apply to:

(1) boilers and pressure vessels in buildings occupied solely for residence purposes
with accommodations for not more than five families;

(2) railroad locomotives operated by railroad companies for transportation purposes;

(3) air tanks installed on the right-of-way of railroads and used directly in the
operation of trains;

(4) boilers and pressure vessels under the direct jurisdiction of the United States;

(5) unfired pressure vessels having an internal or external working pressure not
exceeding 15 psig with no limit on size;

(6) pressure vessels used for storage of compressed air not exceeding five cubic feet
in volume and equipped with an ASME code stamped safety valve set at a maximum of
100 psig;

(7) pressure vessels having an inside diameter not exceeding six inches;

(8) every vessel that contains water under pressure, including those containing air
that serves only as a cushion, whose design pressure does not exceed 300 psig and whose
design temperature does not exceed 210 degrees Fahrenheit;

(9) boiler or pressure vessels located on farms used solely for agricultural or
horticultural purposes; for purposes of this section, boilers used for mint oil extraction
are considered used for agricultural or horticultural purposes, provided that the owner or
lessee complies with the inspection requirements contained in section 326B.958;

(10) tanks or cylinders used for storage or transfer of liquefied petroleum gases;

(11) unfired pressure vessels in petroleum refineries;

(12) an air tank or pressure vessel which is an integral part of a passenger motor
bus, truck, or trailer;

(13) hot water heating and other hot liquid boilers not exceeding a heat input of
750,000 BTU per hour;

(14) hot water supply boilers (water heaters) not exceeding a heat input of 500,000
BTU per hour, a water temperature of 210 degrees Fahrenheit, a nominal water capacity
of 120 gallons, or a pressure of 160 psig;

(15) a laundry and dry cleaning press not exceeding five cubic feet of steam volume;

(16) pressure vessels operated full of water or other liquid not materially more
hazardous than water, if the vessel's contents' temperature does not exceed 210 degrees
Fahrenheit or a pressure of 200 psig;

(17) steam-powered turbines at papermaking facilities which are powered by steam
generated by steam facilities at a remote location;

(18) manually fired boilers for model locomotive, boat, tractor, stationary engine,
or antique motor vehicles constructed or maintained only as a hobby for exhibition,
educational or historical purposes and not for commercial use, if the boilers have an
inside diameter of 12 inches or less, or a grate area of two square feet or less, and are
equipped with an ASME stamped safety valve of adequate size, a water level indicator,
and a pressure gauge;

(19) any pressure vessel used as an integral part of an electrical circuit breaker;

(20) pressure vessels used for the storage of refrigerant if they are built to ASME
code specifications, registered with the national board, and equipped with an ASME
code-stamped pressure-relieving device set no higher than the maximum allowable
working pressure of the vessel. This does not include pressure vessels used in ammonia
refrigeration systems;

(21) pressure vessels used for the storage of oxygen, nitrogen, helium, carbon dioxide,
argon, nitrous oxide, or other medical gas, provided the vessel is constructed to ASME
or Minnesota Department of Transportation specifications and equipped with an ASME
code-stamped pressure-relieving device. The owner of the vessels shall perform annual
visual inspections and planned maintenance on these vessels to ensure vessel integrity;

(22) pressure vessels used for the storage of compressed air for self-contained
breathing apparatuses;

(23) hot water heating or other hot liquid boilers vented directly to the atmosphere;
and

(24) pressure vessels used for the storage of compressed air not exceeding 1.5 cubic
feet (11.22 gallons) in volume with a maximum allowable working pressure of 600 psi or
less.

(b) An engineer's license is not required for hot water supply boilers.

(c) An engineer's license and annual inspection by the department is not required
for boilers, steam cookers, steam kettles, steam sterilizers or other steam generators not
exceeding 100,000 BTU per hour input, 25 kilowatt, and a pressure of 15 psig.

(d) Electric boilers not exceeding a maximum working pressure of 50 psig,
maximum of 30 kilowatt input or three horsepower rating shall be inspected as pressure
vessels and shall not require an engineer license to operate.

new text begin (e) Sawmills, located in a county with a population of less than 8,000 according to
the last federal census and that utilize steam for the drying of lumber, are not required to
meet the high pressure boiler attendance requirements set forth in Minnesota Rules, part
5225.1180, only if all of the following conditions are met:
new text end

new text begin (1) the owner complies with the inspection requirements under section 326B.958,
and the licensing requirements under section 326B.972; and
new text end

new text begin (2) the boiler:
new text end

new text begin (i) is equipped with electronic control systems that are remotely operated but which
require on site manual reset of system faults;
new text end

new text begin (ii) is remotely monitored for log water levels, boiler pressure, and steam flow;
new text end

new text begin (iii) has automatic safety mechanisms built into the remote monitoring systems that
send an alarm upon detection of a fault condition;
new text end

new text begin (iv) has a water treatment program that is supervised by a third party water treatment
company; and
new text end

new text begin (v) is attended on site by a licensed boiler operator at least two times in a 24-hour
period. If the boiler is not attended more than twice in a 24-hour period, the period
between checks must not be less than eight hours.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end

Sec. 7. new text begin REVISOR'S INSTRUCTION.
new text end

new text begin The revisor of statutes shall renumber the citations in column A with the citations
in column B. The revisor shall correct any cross-references required because of the
renumbering and may make necessary grammatical and technical changes, including
changes to sentence structure, to preserve the meaning of the text.
new text end

	new text begin Column A new text end	new text begin Column B new text end
	new text begin 326B.701, subd. 1 new text end	new text begin 326B.701, subd. 1, paragraphs (a) and (b) new text end
	new text begin 181.723, subd. 1, paragraph (g) new text end	new text begin 326B.701, subd. 1, paragraph (c) new text end
	new text begin 181.723, subd. 4a new text end	new text begin 326B.701, subd. 2 new text end
	new text begin 181.723, subd. 5 new text end	new text begin 326B.701, subd. 3 new text end
	new text begin 181.723, subd. 5a new text end	new text begin 326B.701, subd. 4 new text end
	new text begin 181.723, subd. 7a new text end	new text begin 326B.701, subd. 5 new text end
	new text begin 181.723, subd. 8a new text end	new text begin 326B.701, subd. 6 new text end
	new text begin 181.723, subd. 10a new text end	new text begin 326B.701, subd. 7 new text end
	new text begin 181.723, subd. 16 new text end	new text begin 326B.701, subd. 8 new text end

Sec. 8. new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE.
new text end

new text begin This act is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end