Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Protections for Socially Good Activities Act”.
Protections for Socially Good Activities Act
A BILL
To ensure that an employment relationship is not established between a franchisor and a franchisee if the franchisor engages in certain activities, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Definitions
In this Act:
Employment relationship— The term employment relationship means any type of joint employer relationship, single employer relationship, or other employment-related status or relationship under any of the laws described in section 3(b).
Franchisee— The term franchisee means a franchisee, as defined—
in section 436.1(i) of title 16, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this Act; or
under an applicable State franchise law.
Franchisor— The term franchisor means a franchisor, as defined—
in section 436.1(k) of title 16, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this Act; or
under an applicable State franchise law.
Sec. 3 Safe harbor
In general— For the purposes of each law described in subsection (b), none of the following may be construed, alone or in combination with any other factor, as establishing an employment relationship between a franchisor (or any employee of the franchisor) and a franchisee (or any employee of the franchisee):
The franchisor (or any employee of the franchisor) provides the franchisee (or any employee of the franchisee) with, or requires the franchisee (or any employee of the franchisee) to use, a handbook, or other training, on sexual harassment, human trafficking, workplace violence, discrimination, or opportunities for apprenticeships or scholarships.
The franchisor (or any employee of the franchisor) requires the franchisee (or any employee of the franchisee) to adopt a policy on sexual harassment, human trafficking, workplace violence, discrimination, opportunities for apprenticeships or scholarships, childcare, or paid leave, including a requirement for the franchisee (or any employee of the franchisee) to report to the franchisor (or any employee of the franchisor) any violations or suspected violations of such policy.
The franchisor (or any employee of the franchisor) requires the franchisee (or any employee of the franchisee) to adopt a policy based on the novel coronavirus (referred to in this paragraph as “COVID–19”) pandemic such as the use of personal protective equipment or other policies, or the franchisor (or any employee of the franchisor) provides the franchisee (or any employee of the franchisee) with personal protective equipment or other material goods or compensation to help the franchisee (or any employee of the franchisee) during or due to the COVID–19 pandemic.
Laws— The laws described in this subsection are each of the following:
The National Labor Relations Act (29 U.S.C. 151 et seq.).
The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 201 et seq.).
The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 651 et seq.).
Sec. 4 Preemption
Except with respect to the definitions of the terms franchisee and franchisor under section 2, this Act shall preempt any State law to the extent that such State law is inconsistent with the provisions of this Act.