SB 527: Worker classification: employees and independent contractors: athletic coaches.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

Existing law, as established in the case of Dynamex Operations W. v. Superior Court (2018) 4 Cal.5th 903 (Dynamex), creates a presumption that a worker who performs services for a hirer is an employee for purposes of claims for wages and benefits arising under wage orders issued by the Industrial Welfare Commission. Existing law requires a 3-part test, commonly known as the “ABC” test, to determine if workers are employees or independent contractors for those purposes.

Existing law establishes that, for purposes of the Labor Code, the Unemployment Insurance Code, and the wage orders of the Industrial Welfare Commission, a person providing labor or services for remuneration is considered an employee rather than an independent contractor unless the hiring entity demonstrates that the person is free from the control and direction of the hiring entity in connection with the performance of the work, the person performs work that is outside the usual course of the hiring entity’s business, and the person is customarily engaged in an independently established trade, occupation, or business. This test is known as the “ABC” test, as described above. Existing law charges the Labor Commissioner with the enforcement of labor laws, including worker classification.

Existing law exempts specified occupations and business relationships from the application of the ABC test described above. Existing law, instead, provides that these exempt relationships are governed by the multifactor test previously adopted in the case of S. G. Borello & Sons, Inc. v. Department of Industrial Relations (1989) 48 Cal.3d.

This bill would extend the above-specified exemption to a sports coach for an elementary or secondary private school or local educational agency, as prescribed, and would define terms, including “sports coach,” for these purposes.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Republican 7

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. February 2, 2026Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
2. January 13, 2026January 14 set for second hearing canceled at the request of author.
3. January 6, 2026Set for hearing January 14.
4. January 5, 2026From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on L., P.E. & R.
5. April 29, 2025April 30 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author.
6. April 11, 2025Set for hearing April 30.
7. April 7, 2025From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on L., P.E. & R.
8. March 5, 2025Referred to Com. on L., P.E. & R.
9. February 21, 2025From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 23.
10. February 20, 2025Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.