§ 8-206. Specific exemptions from covered employment

   (a) Certain barbers and cosmetologists. -- Work is not covered employment when performed by a licensed barber or licensed cosmetologist who leases a chair or booth from a holder of a barbershop permit, a beauty salon permit, or an owner-manager permit who operates a barbershop or beauty salon, if the Secretary is satisfied that:

   (1) the barber or cosmetologist as lessee and the permit holder have entered into a written lease that is in effect;

   (2) the lessee pays a stipulated amount for use of the chair or booth and is not required to make any further accounting of income to the permit holder;

   (3) the lessee has access to the premises at all hours and may set personal work hours and prices; and

   (4) the lease expressly states that the lessee knows:

      (i) of the responsibility to pay State and federal income taxes and make contributions to Social Security for self-employment; and

      (ii) that the work is not covered employment.

(b) Direct sellers. -- Work that a direct seller performs is not covered employment if the Secretary is satisfied that:

   (1) the direct seller is engaged in the trade or business of selling consumer products:

      (i) in the home or at any other location outside of a permanent retail establishment; or

      (ii) to a buyer on a buy-sell basis, a deposit-commission basis, or any similar basis for resale by the buyer or any other person in the home or at any other location outside of a permanent retail establishment;

   (2) the direct seller and the person for whom the work is performed have entered into a written agreement that is currently in effect;

   (3) substantially all of the compensation for the employment is related directly to sales or other output, including the performance of a service, rather than to the number of hours worked; and

   (4) the written agreement states that the direct seller will not be treated as an employee for the purpose of State and federal income taxes with respect to the employment performed under the agreement.

(c) Newspaper delivery. -- Work that an individual performs is not covered employment if the Secretary is satisfied that the individual:

   (1) is engaged in the trade or business of delivering or distributing newspapers or shopping news, including any services directly related to the delivery or distribution of newspapers or shopping news; and

   (2) meets the requirements for a direct seller under subsection (b)(2), (3), and (4) of this section.

(d) Messenger service business. --

   (1) In this subsection, "messenger service business" means a business that:

      (i) principally and primarily offers and provides to the public or commercial establishments expedited, time critical, and same day as requested delivery service;

      (ii) does not make, produce, sell, or distribute what it delivers; and

      (iii) does not have an exclusive contractual delivery arrangement with an individual or a commercial establishment.

   (2) Work that a messenger service driver performs for a person who is engaged in the messenger service business is not covered employment if the Secretary is satisfied that:

      (i) the driver and the person who is engaged in the messenger service business have entered into a written agreement that is currently in effect;

      (ii) the written agreement under item (i) of this paragraph does not prohibit the driver from performing for more than one person who is engaged in the messenger service business;

      (iii) the driver is free to accept or reject delivery jobs from the person who is engaged in the messenger service business;

      (iv) the driver personally provides the vehicle;

      (v) compensation is by commission only;

      (vi) the driver may set personal work hours; and

      (vii) the written agreement states expressly and prominently that the driver knows:

         1. of the responsibility to pay estimated Social Security taxes and State and federal income taxes;

         2. that the Social Security tax the driver must pay is higher than the Social Security tax the driver would pay otherwise; and

         3. that the work is not covered employment.

   (3) A messenger service driver for a messenger service business whose work is not covered employment under paragraph (2) of this subsection may deliver to the public or commercial establishments on foot, by bicycle, or by motor vehicle:

      (i) individually addressed mail, messages, and documents in paper or magnetic format; and

      (ii) emergency medical supplies, records, parcels, or similar items if the messenger service business provides to the Secretary evidence of a worker status determination from the Internal Revenue Service or other evidence that the messenger service driver is excluded from coverage under the Federal Unemployment Tax Act.

(e) Taxicab drivers. -- Work is not covered employment when performed by a taxicab driver who uses a taxicab or taxicab equipment of a taxicab business that is carried on by the holder of a taxicab permit if the Secretary is satisfied that:

   (1) the driver and permit holder have entered into a written agreement that is currently in effect for the use of the taxicab or taxicab equipment;

   (2) the driver pays a stipulated amount for the use of the taxicab or taxicab equipment and is not required to make any further accounting to the permit holder;

   (3) the driver has access to the taxicab or taxicab equipment at all hours and, subject to the Public Utilities Article, may set personal work hours and places; and

   (4) the agreement states expressly that the driver knows:

      (i) of the responsibility to pay State and federal income taxes; and

      (ii) that the work is not covered employment.

(f) Owner operator of certain vehicles. --

   (1) (i) This subsection applies to an individual who is an owner operator of:

         1. a Class F (tractor) vehicle, described in § 13-923 of the Transportation Article; or

         2. except as provided in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, a Class E (truck) vehicle, as described in § 13-916 of the Transportation Article, including a Class E (truck) vehicle described in § 13-919 of the Transportation Article.

      (ii) This subsection does not apply to an individual who is an owner operator of a vehicle registered as a Class T (tow truck) vehicle under § 13-920 of the Transportation Article.

   (2) Work is not covered employment when performed by an owner operator if the Secretary is satisfied that:

      (i) the owner operator and a motor carrier have entered into a written agreement that is currently in effect for permanent or trip leasing;

      (ii) under the agreement:

         1. there is no intent to create an employer-employee relationship; and

         2. the owner operator is paid rental compensation;

      (iii) for federal tax purposes, the owner operator qualifies as an independent contractor; and

      (iv) the owner operator:

         1. owns the vehicle or holds it under a bona fide lease arrangement;

         2. is responsible for the maintenance of the vehicle;

         3. bears the principal burden of the operating costs of the vehicle, including fuel, repairs, supplies, vehicle insurance, and personal expenses while the vehicle is on the road;

         4. is responsible for supplying the necessary personnel in connection with the operation of the vehicle; and

         5. generally determines the details and means of performing the services under the agreement, in conformance with regulatory requirements, operating procedures of the motor carrier, and specifications of the shipper.

(g) Home worker. -- Work is not covered employment when performed by a home worker if the Secretary is satisfied that:

   (1) the work is performed according to specifications furnished by the person for whom the services are performed;

   (2) the work is performed on textiles furnished by the person for whom the services are performed; and

   (3) the textiles must be returned to the person for whom the services are performed or that person's designee.

(h) Officiating services by recreational sports official. --

   (1) (i) In this subsection the following words have the meanings indicated.

      (ii) "Officiating services" means:

         1. overseeing the play of a sports event;

         2. judging whether the rules of the event are being followed; and

         3. penalizing participants for fouls or infringements of the rules.

      (iii) 1. "Recreational sports official" means an umpire, a referee, or a judge who contracts with a governmental or nongovernmental entity to perform officiating services at amateur sports events sponsored by:

            A. a unit of county government;

            B. a unit of a municipal corporation; or

            C. an entity associated with a county government or a municipal corporation.

         2. "Recreational sports official" does not include any individual who performs officiating services in covered employment under § 8-208(a) or § 8-212(c) of this subtitle.

   (2) Work that consists of officiating services performed by a recreational sports official is not covered employment.

HISTORY: An. Code 1957, art. 95A, § 20; 1991, ch. 8, § 2; 1997, chs. 202, 203; 1998, ch. 653; 2005, ch. 506; 2009, chs. 468, 548; 2010, ch. 52; 2011, ch. 65, § 5; ch. 625.