S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
3701
2011-2012 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
March 2, 2011
___________
Introduced by Sen. ADAMS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Labor
AN ACT to amend the workers' compensation law, in relation to exclusions
to the definition of employee for workers' compensation purposes
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Subdivision 4 of section 2 of the workers' compensation law
is amended by adding five new undesignated paragraphs to read as
follows:
NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF THIS CHAPTER, THE TERM "EMPLOY-
EE" SHALL NOT INCLUDE THE SERVICES OF A HARNESS RACE DRIVER IF IT BE
PROVEN THAT:
(A) SUBSTANTIALLY ALL OF THE COMPENSATION (WHETHER OR NOT PAID IN
CASH) FOR THE SERVICES PERFORMED BY SUCH HARNESS RACE DRIVER IS RELATED
TO HIS OR HER PERFORMANCE IN THE HARNESS RACE RATHER THAN THE NUMBER OF
HOURS WORKED;
(B) THE HARNESS RACE DRIVER IS FREE TO ACCEPT OR DECLINE ANY REQUEST
TO DRIVE HORSES;
(C) THE HARNESS RACE DRIVER IS FREE TO DRIVE HORSES FOR THE OWNER
AND/OR TRAINERS OF HIS OR HER CHOOSING AND/OR ENGAGE IN OTHER EMPLOY-
MENT;
(D) THE HARNESS RACE DRIVER MAY UNILATERALLY DETERMINE WHEN AND WHERE
HE OR SHE WILL WORK;
(E) THE HARNESS RACE DRIVER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS OR HER OWN
EXPENSES;
(F) THE HARNESS RACE DRIVER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR FURNISHING HIS OR HER
OWN VEST, HELMET AND WHIP;
(G) THE HARNESS RACE DRIVER IS FREE TO TERMINATE HIS OR HER SERVICES
AT ANY TIME; AND
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07646-01-1
S. 3701 2
(H) THE PERSON OR ENTITY THAT RETAINS THE HARNESS RACE DRIVER TO
PROVIDE SERVICES IS NOT TREATED BY SUCH PERSON OR ENTITY AS AN EMPLOYEE
WITH RESPECT TO SUCH SERVICES FOR FEDERAL OR STATE TAX PURPOSES.
NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF THIS CHAPTER, A GROOM AND/OR
CARETAKER OF A HARNESS RACE HORSE SHALL NOT BE DEEMED AN "EMPLOYEE" OF A
DESIGNATED TRAINER AND/OR SUBSTITUTE TRAINER OF THE HARNESS RACE HORSE
IF IT BE PROVEN THAT:
(A) THE COMPENSATION (WHETHER OR NOT PAID IN CASH) FOR THE SERVICES
PERFORMED BY SUCH GROOM AND/OR CARETAKER RELATING TO THE HARNESS RACE
HORSE IS NOT PAID BY THE DESIGNATED TRAINER AND/OR SUBSTITUTE TRAINER OF
SUCH HARNESS RACE HORSE;
(B) THE DESIGNATED TRAINER AND/OR SUBSTITUTE TRAINER OF THE HARNESS
RACE HORSE DOES NOT CONTROL THE WORKING HOURS OF THE GROOM AND/OR CARE-
TAKER;
(C) THE GROOM AND/OR CARETAKER PROVIDING SERVICES TO THE DESIGNATED
TRAINER AND/OR SUBSTITUTE TRAINER OF THE HARNESS RACE HORSE IS FREE TO
PROVIDE HIS OR HER SERVICES TO OTHER TRAINERS (INCLUDING OTHER DESIG-
NATED TRAINERS AND/OR SUBSTITUTE TRAINERS) OF HARNESS RACE HORSES;
(D) THE DESIGNATED TRAINER AND/OR SUBSTITUTE TRAINER OF THE HARNESS
RACE HORSE PROVIDES NO EQUIPMENT OR SUPPLIES TO THE GROOM AND/OR CARE-
TAKER PROVIDING SERVICES TO THAT DESIGNATED TRAINER AND/OR SUBSTITUTE
TRAINER;
(E) THE DESIGNATED TRAINER AND/OR SUBSTITUTE TRAINER OF THE HARNESS
RACE HORSE IS NOT RESPONSIBLE AND DOES NOT REIMBURSE THE GROOM AND/OR
CARETAKER FOR HIS OR HER EXPENSES; AND
(F) THE GROOM AND/OR CARETAKER PROVIDING SERVICES TO THE DESIGNATED
TRAINER AND/OR SUBSTITUTE TRAINER OF THE HARNESS RACE HORSE IS NOT
TREATED AS AN EMPLOYEE WITH RESPECT TO SUCH SERVICES FOR FEDERAL OR
STATE TAX PURPOSES BY THE DESIGNATED TRAINER AND/OR SUBSTITUTE TRAINER.
NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF THIS CHAPTER, THE SERVICES OF A
SHIPPER OR TRANSPORTER OF A HARNESS RACE HORSE SHALL NOT BE DEEMED AN
"EMPLOYEE" OF A DESIGNATED TRAINER AND/OR SUBSTITUTE TRAINER OF THE
HARNESS RACE HORSE IF IT BE PROVEN THAT:
(A) SUBSTANTIALLY ALL OF COMPENSATION (WHETHER OR NOT PAID IN CASH)
FOR THE SERVICES PERFORMED BY THE SHIPPER OR TRANSPORTER OF THE HARNESS
RACE HORSE IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO MILEAGE OR SOME OTHER TYPE OF AGREED-
UPON RATE THAT IS NOT RELATED TO ACTUAL HOURS WORKED;
(B) THE SHIPPER OR TRANSPORTER OF THE HARNESS RACE HORSE IS FREE TO
PROVIDE SERVICES TO CUSTOMERS OF ITS CHOOSING AND/OR TO ENTER INTO OTHER
EMPLOYMENT RELATIONSHIPS;
(C) THE SHIPPER OR TRANSPORTER OF THE HARNESS RACE HORSE MAY UNILATER-
ALLY DETERMINE WHEN AND WHERE IT WILL WORK;
(D) THE SHIPPER OR TRANSPORTER OF THE HARNESS RACE HORSE IS RESPONSI-
BLE FOR ITS OWN EXPENSES;
(E) THE SHIPPER OR TRANSPORTER OF THE HARNESS RACE HORSE IS RESPONSI-
BLE FOR FURNISHING ITS OWN EQUIPMENT AND/OR VEHICLE;
(F) THE SHIPPER OR TRANSPORTER OF THE HARNESS RACE HORSE IS FREE TO
TERMINATE ITS SERVICES AT ANY TIME; AND
(G) THE PARTY THAT RETAINS THE SERVICES OF THE SHIPPER OR TRANSPORTER
OF THE HARNESS RACE HORSE DOES NOT TREAT SUCH SHIPPER OR TRANSPORTER AS
AN EMPLOYEE WITH RESPECT TO SUCH SERVICE FOR FEDERAL AND STATE TAX
PURPOSES.
NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF THIS CHAPTER, THE SERVICES OF A
FARRIER WHOSE SERVICES ARE RENDERED TO A HARNESS RACE HORSE SHALL NOT BE
DEEMED AN "EMPLOYEE" OF A DESIGNATED TRAINER AND/OR SUBSTITUTE TRAINER
OF THE HARNESS RACE HORSE IF IT BE PROVEN THAT:
S. 3701 3
(A) SUBSTANTIALLY ALL OF COMPENSATION (WHETHER OR NOT PAID IN CASH)
FOR THE SERVICES RENDERED BY THE FARRIER TO THE HARNESS RACE HORSE IS
RELATED TO A NEGOTIATED FEE OR ONE SET BY THE FARRIER AND IS NOT RELATED
TO ACTUAL HOURS WORKED;
(B) THE FARRIER RETAINED TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR THE HARNESS RACE
HORSE IF FREE TO PROVIDE HIS OR HER SERVICES TO CUSTOMERS OF HIS OR HER
CHOOSING, INCLUDING PROVIDING FARRIER SERVICES TO ANY OTHER HARNESS RACE
HORSE AND/OR TO ENTER INTO OTHER EMPLOYMENT RELATIONSHIPS;
(C) THE FARRIER RETAINED TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR THE HARNESS RACE
HORSE MAY UNILATERALLY DETERMINE WHERE AND WHEN HE OR SHE WILL WORK;
(D) THE FARRIER RETAINED TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR THE HARNESS RACE
HORSE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS OR HER EXPENSES;
(E) THE FARRIER RETAINED TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR THE HARNESS RACE
HORSE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR FURNISHING HIS OR HER OWN EQUIPMENT;
(F) THE FARRIER RETAINED TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR THE HARNESS RACE
HORSE IS FREE TO TERMINATE OR DECLINE TO PROVIDE HIS OR HER SERVICES AT
ANY TIME; AND
(G) THE PARTY THAT RETAINS THE SERVICES OF THE FARRIER DOES NOT TREAT
HIM OR HER AS AN EMPLOYEE FOR FEDERAL AND STATE TAX PURPOSES WITH
RESPECT TO HIS OR HER SERVICES PROVIDED TO THE HARNESS RACE HORSE.
NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF THIS CHAPTER, THE SERVICES OF A
VETERINARIAN RETAINED TO TREAT A HARNESS RACE HORSE SHALL NOT BE DEEMED
AN "EMPLOYEE" OF A DESIGNATED TRAINER AND/OR SUBSTITUTE TRAINER OF THE
HARNESS RACE HORSE IF IT BE PROVEN THAT:
(A) SUBSTANTIALLY ALL OF COMPENSATION (WHETHER OR NOT PAID IN CASH)
FOR THE SERVICES RENDERED BY THE VETERINARIAN TO THE HARNESS RACE HORSE
IS RELATED TO A FEE NEGOTIATED OR SOME OTHER TYPE OF AGREED-UPON RATE
AND IS NOT RELATED TO ACTUAL HOURS WORKED;
(B) THE VETERINARIAN RETAINED TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO THE HARNESS RACE
HORSE IS FREE TO PROVIDE HIS OR HER SERVICES TO CUSTOMERS OF HIS OR HER
CHOOSING, INCLUDING PROVIDING VETERINARIAN SERVICES TO ANY OTHER HARNESS
RACE HORSE AND/OR TO ENTER INTO OTHER EMPLOYMENT RELATIONSHIPS;
(C) THE VETERINARIAN RETAINED TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR THE HARNESS RACE
HORSE MAY UNILATERALLY DETERMINE WHERE AND WHEN HE OR SHE WILL WORK;
(D) THE VETERINARIAN RETAINED TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO THE HARNESS RACE
HORSE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS OR HER EXPENSES;
(E) THE VETERINARIAN RETAINED TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO THE HARNESS RACE
HORSE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR FURNISHING HIS OR HER OWN EQUIPMENT;
(F) THE VETERINARIAN PROVIDING SERVICES TO THE HARNESS RACE HORSE IS
FREE TO TERMINATE PROVIDING HIS OR HER SERVICES AT ANY TIME; AND
(G) THE PARTY THAT RETAINS THE SERVICES OF THE VETERINARIAN DOES NOT
TREAT HIM OR HER AS AN EMPLOYEE FOR FEDERAL AND STATE TAX PURPOSES WITH
RESPECT TO HIS OR HER SERVICES PROVIDED TO THE HARNESS RACE HORSE.
S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.