The bill amends section 48-604 of the Reissue Revised Statutes of Nebraska to redefine "employment" under the Employment Security Law, specifically excluding services performed by marketplace network contractors for marketplace network platforms. This change aims to clarify that individuals working in the gig economy are not classified as employees under Nebraska's unemployment compensation laws. The bill introduces a new category of service, designated as (w), which outlines the conditions under which marketplace network contractors are considered independent contractors rather than employees, including the necessity of a written agreement, lack of prescribed working hours, allowance for outside employment, and limitations on contract termination by the platform.

In addition to these key provisions, the bill includes definitions for relevant terms to enhance clarity and repeals the original section 48-604, indicating a comprehensive update to the legal framework surrounding employment definitions in Nebraska. It also specifies that the new provisions do not apply to services performed for certain employers or when specific federal tax obligations arise, while maintaining existing criteria for determining employment status based on the proportion of services performed during a pay period. This legislative change reflects an acknowledgment of the evolving nature of work and the need for legal definitions to adapt to contemporary employment practices, particularly in the gig economy.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 48-604
Final Reading: 48-604
Slip Law: 48-604