(Pictured Above)Untitled lobby artwork by Vincent J. Proby at the A.C. Bilbrew Library.
Over the past month, we have had a number of stakeholders get in touch with us regarding California Assembly Bill 5 (AB5). According to Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, AB5 codifies a widely used legal standard known as the 'ABC test' to determine employment status for the purposes of the California Labor and Unemployment Insurance Codes and clarifies the tests's application. In doing so, this bill seeks to end the harmful practice of worker misclassifications.
The Bill went into effect on January 1, 2020, and since it has there concerns from the Arts and Culture sector about potential consequences to the field. Below, you will find a short list of resources on this bill, as well as how arts and culture advocacy groups are responding.
Please keep in mind that the conversation around AB5 is ongoing. In the coming weeks, Arts and Culture will do our best to keep you up-to-date as events in Sacramento unfold.
Californians for the Arts has also recommended that the California Arts Council provide emergency grant funds in their existing grant season to aid in the process for artists and arts organizations to be in compliance with AB5. The Council’s Program Policy committee agreed to move forward with reviewing criteria for the funds proposed and will bring forward their recommendations at the next public meeting on April 1, 2020. If you agree that emergency grant funds would be beneficial to your organization, you can sign a petition created by Californians for the Arts.
This fact sheet is provided by Assemblywoman Lorenz Gonzalez, who authored AB5.
An FAQ page on AB5 created by the California Labor & Workforce Development Agency.
Californians for the Arts is currently advocating on behalf of arts organizations, and regularly maintains a page with updated information about the bill.
A short report by WolfBrown and the Brown Law Group on AB5.
A toolkit describing legal background and options for employers and the artists they work with.