“Employment” does not include professional services performed by a consultant working as an independent contractor.

For the purpose of this section, there shall be a rebuttable presumption that services provided by an individual engaged in work requiring specialized knowledge and skills attained through completion of recognized courses of instruction or experience are rendered as an independent contractor. These services shall be limited to those provided by attorneys, physicians, dentists, engineers, architects, accountants, chiropractors, and the various types of physical, chemical, natural, and biological scientists. Professional services shall not include services generally provided by persons who do not have a degree from a four-year institution of higher learning relating to the specialized knowledge and skills of the professional service being provided.

For the purposes of this section, the rebuttable presumption shall not apply to an individual who enters into a contract agreement with the recipient of the professional services which establishes an employer-employee relationship. However, the existence of a contract between a nonprofit, licensed, primary care clinic, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 1204 of the Health and Safety Code, and a health care practitioner who is licensed as a physician and surgeon, osteopathic physician and surgeon, podiatrist, optometrist, chiropractor, or psychologist shall not constitute an employer-employee relationship if the contract stipulates that the professional services rendered to the clinic are by an independent contractor, not an employee. Independent contractors who conform to the provisions of this section or primary care clinics that contract with these individuals or organizations shall not be liable for any payments that may be required under an employer-employee relationship pursuant to this code.

(Amended by Stats. 1997, Ch. 39, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1998.)