I was a 1099 contractor for several years and couldn't agree more. It drove me nuts when I'd read articles like this, since I had made a conscious choice not to be an employee, for all of the pros and cons that implies.
That option is still completely possible under this law. One of the provisions that allows you to remain a contractor is "The worker is customarily engaged in an independently established trade, occupation, or business of the same nature as that involved in the work performed."
I work as a 1099 contractor under my own LLC consulting business. This is valid under CA law. The law is meant to protect people who are unfairly classified as contractors outside of a trade.
The law at issue simply codifies (and adds some new exceptions to, allowing what otherwise would be employees to be contractors) the California Supreme Court’s interpretation of the law that existed before it was passed.
