Calif. Bills Take Opposing Views of Gig Worker Classification

Companies trying to roll back a recent California court ruling making it harder for them to classify workers as independent contractors face a super-majority of Democrats in the state Legislature who may want to cement the ruling in state law.

Lawmakers from the two sides introduced competing bills Dec. 3—the first day of the new two-year California legislative session—staking out their opposing responses to the state Supreme Court’s April ruling in a case involving Dynamex Operations West.

Debate in earnest on the bills will begin in early 2019, continuing the push from both sides since April to establish clear rules ...