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Lorena Gonzalez Proposes Changes To California's New Gig Economy Law

Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez rallies workers for the passage of Assembly Bill 5 she authored that would limit when businesses and companies could classify employees as independent contractors, Aug. 29, 2019.
Nicholas McVicker
Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez rallies workers for the passage of Assembly Bill 5 she authored that would limit when businesses and companies could classify employees as independent contractors, Aug. 29, 2019.
After intense criticism, Asm. Lorena Gonzalez, D-San Diego, is seeking exemptions for certain freelance journalists, writers and musicians.

California's new labor law known as Assembly Bill 5 limits when businesses can classify workers as independent contractors.

The bill's author, Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, D-San Diego, said it was meant to rein in companies like Uber, and strengthen worker protections.

But the law received pushback from freelance journalists, musicians and a host of others who said the law would hurt their livelihoods.

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In response, Gonzalez has announced changes that will soon come before the legislature. She said exemptions are being made for certain freelance musicians, writers and journalists.

Gonzalez joined Midday Edition on Thursday to discuss the proposed changes.