Franchise business protection.

(a) This section shall be known as the Franchise Business Protection Act.

(b) For purposes of this section, the terms franchisee and franchisor have the same meaning as defined in 16 C.F.R. § 436.1.

(c) Except as provided in a voluntary agreement entered into between the United States Department of Labor and a franchisor, the following persons may not be deemed or construed to be employees of a franchisor:

(1) A franchisee.

(2) An employee of a franchisee.

(3) An independent contractor working for a franchisee.

(d) To the extent that this section does not conflict with federal law, this section shall only apply to the following:

(1) The enforcement or enactment of rules or ordinances by state agencies or local governmental bodies.

(2) Labor relations and collective bargaining.

(Act 2017-391, §1.)