Section 3-904 - Knowing failure to properly classify employee.
§ 3-904. Knowing failure to properly classify employee.
(a) Prohibition.- An employer may not knowingly fail to properly classify an individual who performs work for remuneration paid by the employer.
(b) What constitutes knowing failure to classify.- An employer has knowingly failed to properly classify an individual when:
(1) an employer-employee relationship exists as determined under § 3-903(c) of this subtitle; and
(2) the employer has knowingly failed to properly classify the individual as an employee.
(c) Evidence.- The Commissioner shall consider, as strong evidence that the employer did not knowingly fail to properly classify an individual, whether:
(1) before a complaint was filed against the employer or the Commissioner began an investigation of the employer, the employer:
(i) sought and obtained evidence that the individual:
1. is an exempt person; or
2. as an independent contractor:
A. withholds, reports, and remits payroll taxes on behalf of all individuals working for the independent contractor;
B. pays unemployment insurance taxes for all individuals working for the independent contractor; and
C. maintains workers' compensation insurance; and
(ii) provided to the exempt person or independent contractor a written notice as required by § 3-914 of this subtitle; or
(2) the employer:
(i) 1. classifies all workers who perform the same or substantially the same tasks for the employer as independent contractors; and
2. reports the income of the workers to the Internal Revenue Service as required by federal law; and
(ii) has received a determination from the Internal Revenue Service that the individual or a worker who performs the same or substantially the same task as the individual is an independent contractor.
(d) Regulations.- The Commissioner shall adopt regulations to provide guidance as to what constitutes the evidence relevant to the determination of whether an employer knowingly failed to properly classify an employee.
[2009, ch. 188.]