After receiving a travel industry exempted from California AB 5—a major win for the industry—the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) will be helping host agency owners and independent contractors become compliant with the new law. To make sure everyone is on the same page prior to 2020, ASTA will be hosting a webinar on Tuesday, December 3 at 3 p.m. E.T.
“While the final bill exempts our industry from the worst effects of the so-called 'ABC Test' when it comes to independent contractors, compliance challenges remain, both on the independent contractor (IC) side and with the state's Seller of Travel Law,” ASTA said in a statement.
In the webinar, ASTA will walk owners and ICs through the issues related to the engagement of ICs in California in 2020 and beyond; it will also provide agency owners with guidance on satisfying the statutory criteria necessary to claim the "travel agent services" exemption secured.
Bills similar to AB 5 were introduced in both New York and New Jersey. ASTA has created a portal for each, allowing for host agency owners and ICs to contact their State Senators in an attempt to receive a travel industry exemption, as they received in California. Fortunately for New York advisors, they already have some level of protection in the state’s Truth in Travel Act, which is similar to California’s Seller of Travel Law. Eben Peck, ASTA’s executive vice president, advocacy, says that Illinois, Oregon and Washington state could follow suit.
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