SB487 Alabama 2010 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Zeb Little

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2010

Title

Workers' compensation, owner-operator defined, Sec. 25-5-1 am'd.

Summary

Defines owner-operators for workers' compensation and says common carriers are not the employers of leased-operators or owner-operators under contract.

What This Bill Does

If enacted, the bill defines owner-operator for workers' compensation purposes. It also clarifies that a common carrier by motor vehicle is not the employer of a leased-operator or owner-operator under contract, so the owner-operator and its driver are not considered employees of the carrier for workers' compensation coverage. This changes who is covered by workers' compensation in these arrangements and how benefits are determined.

Who It Affects

• Owner-operators who lease equipment with drivers under contract to a common carrier (they would not be treated as employees of the carrier for workers' compensation).
• Common carriers by motor vehicle, which would not be deemed the employer of leased-operators or owner-operators under contract for workers' compensation purposes.

Key Provisions

• Define owner-operator for workers' compensation purposes as an equipment lessor providing vehicular equipment with a driver under contract with a common carrier, with the owner-operator and driver not being employees of the carrier for workers' compensation.
• Specify that, despite other definitions, a common carrier operating under its certificate is not the employer of leased-operators or owner-operators under contract for workers' compensation purposes.
• Amend Section 25-5-1 to include the owner-operator definition and related terms, and set the act to take effect immediately after passage.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Workers' Compensation