Purpose of the Bill

The purpose of this bill is to modify existing employment laws in Minnesota to exempt specific workers, particularly those regulated by the United States Department of Transportation (DOT), from mandates that require the provision of earned sick and safe time.

Main Provisions

• The bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 181.9445, subdivision 5, to exclude certain categories of workers from the definition of "employee" for the purposes of sick and safe time benefits.
• Specifically, the new exemption applies to individuals working in positions regulated by the United States DOT under title 49, section 31502 of the United States Code. This primarily includes positions involving transportation, where qualifications and maximum hours of service are federally established.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Prior to this amendment, all employees anticipated to work at least 80 hours annually for an employer in Minnesota were potentially eligible for earned sick and safe time benefits.
• The amendment adds a new category of exemptions to the statute, enumerating individuals under the jurisdiction of the United States DOT as not being entitled to earned sick and safe time.
• This adjustment aligns state law with federal regulations concerning employment and hours of service in transportation-related positions, potentially limiting state-mandated benefits for these federally regulated workers.

Relevant Terms

• Earned sick and safe time
• United States Department of Transportation (DOT)
• Maximum hours of service
• Employee exemptions
• Title 49, section 31502, United States Code