Firefighters exempt from the Minnesota Paid Leave Law

A bill for an act

relating to employment; exempting firefighters from the Minnesota Paid Leave

Law; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 268B.01, subdivisions 15, 17.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 268B.01, subdivision 15, is amended to read:

Subd. 15.

Covered employment.

(a) "Covered employment" means performing services

of whatever nature, unlimited by the relationship of master and servant as known to the

common law, or any other legal relationship performed for wages or under any contract

calling for the performance of services, written or oral, express or implied.

(b) For the purposes of this chapter, covered employment means an employee's entire

employment during a calendar year if:

(1) 50 percent or more of the employment during the calendar year is performed in

Minnesota; or

(2) 50 percent or more of the employment during the calendar year is not performed in

Minnesota or any other single state within the United States, or United States territory or

foreign nation, but some of the employment is performed in Minnesota and the employee's

residence is in Minnesota during 50 percent or more of the calendar year.

(c) "Covered employment" does not include:

(1) a self-employed individual;

(2) an independent contractor;
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or
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(3) employment by a seasonal employee, as defined in subdivision 35
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.
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; or
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(4) employment as a paid on-call firefighter.

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(d) Entities that are excluded under this section may opt in to coverage following a

procedure determined by the commissioner. In such cases, services provided by employees

are considered covered employment under subdivision 15.

(e) The commissioner may adopt rules in accordance with chapter 14 to:

(1) further define the application of this subdivision; and

(2) establish the criteria for covered employment for individuals that do not meet the

criteria in paragraphs (a) and (b), but that perform services as an employee to a Minnesota

employer.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 268B.01, subdivision 17, is amended to read:

Subd. 17.

Employee.

(a) "Employee" means an individual who performs services of

whatever nature for an employer.

(b) Employee does not include
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:
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(1)
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employees of the United States of America
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,
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;
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(2)
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self-employed individuals
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, or
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;
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(3)
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independent contractors
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.
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;
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(c) Employee does not include
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(4)
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seasonal employees as defined in subdivision 35
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.
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;
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or
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(5) paid on-call firefighters.

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