New law gives businesses limited protections from lawsuits during emergencies.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed a bill that gives businesses limited protections from lawsuits, but only during a declared state of emergency.

SB 542 by Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez, R-Doral, is titled "Evidentiary Standards for Actions Arising During an Emergency."

Rep. Lauren Melo, R-Naples, sponsored the companion, HB 411. The legislation protects businesses that supply temporary or gig workers with such things as protective equipment, safety training, medical or cleaning supplies, or "any action related to health and safety."

Under the legislation, those actions taken by a business during a declared emergency could not be used by an "engaged individual" as evidence that an employer-employee relationship existed.

It defines "engaged individual" as "an individual who provides a good or service to a business or on behalf of a business and who is remunerated for the good or service, regardless of the individual's classification as an employee or independent contractor."

The measure applies to workplace actions related to workers'...