ASTA Needs Advisor Support for California IC Bill
by Daniel McCarthy
The California Senate could vote on the IC bill as soon as July 3. Photo: Shutterstock.com.
The American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) is requesting all advisors help with its grassroots campaign in California to stop proposed legislation that could potentially disrupt the independent advisor model.
The proposed bill, California AB5, would require California travel agencies to convert their independent contractors (ICs) into full-time employees. Workers would then be eligible for benefits such as unemployment insurance, paid parental leave, overtime pay, and workers’ compensation, driving up expenses for travel agencies.
ASTA is hoping to spread the word and generate support for its campaign against the bill’s passing through its Advocacy Portal, which generates an easy-to-send message to an advisor’s respective state senator telling him or her to vote against the bill.
“It is critical that this legislation be amended to protect the independent advisor model that has existed in our industry for decades and provides opportunities for thousands of small business owners,” ASTA writes on its advocacy page.
The California Senate could be voting on the bill as soon as July 3, making it imperative for advisors to support the campaign at the earliest opportunity, ASTA said.
