Determination of joint employers -- Franchisors excluded

(1) (a) For purposes of determining whether two or more persons are considered joint employers under this chapter, an administrative ruling of a federal executive agency may not be considered a generally applicable law unless that administrative ruling is determined to be generally applicable by a court of law, or adopted by statute or rule. (b) Nothing in this Subsection (1) prohibits the commissioner, in making policy decisions and taking enforcement action, from applying an administrative ruling or opinion issued by the United States Department of Labor that decides or opines on whether an employee welfare benefit plan is established and maintained for a single employer, multiple employer, or co-employer under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, 29 U.S.C. Sec. 1001 et seq. (2) (a) For purposes of this chapter, a franchisor is not considered to be an employer of: (i) a franchisee; or (ii) a franchisee's employee. (b) With respect to a specific claim for relief under this chapter made by a franchisee or a franchisee's employee, this Subsection (2) does not apply to a franchisor under a franchise that exercises a type or degree of control over the franchisee or the franchisee's employee not customarily exercised by a franchisor for the purpose of protecting the franchisor's trademarks and brand.