Oklahoma House Passes Workers’ Compensation Reform Measure

Legislation aimed at improving the state’s workers’ compensation system for injured workers and reducing costs for Oklahoma employers has passed the House of Representatives.

Senate Bill 1973, by Rep. Dan Sullivan, makes a number of changes to the state’s workers’ comp system, including:

• Decreases the number of Workers’ Comp Court judges from 10 to 8;
• Increases terms of judges from six years to eight years, limiting to one term;
• Qualifies current judges for reappointment to one eight-year term;
• Defines “major cause”;
• Exempts employers from liability for injuries arising outside the course of employment.

Workers’ compensation reform has been one of the top priorities this legislative session for House and Senate Republicans.

The bill passed the House with a vote of 64-33 and now goes to a conference committee for further consideration. It did not include an amendment proposed by Rep. Ken Luttrell that would have would have sent contested workers’ compensation claims to district civil courts.

Source: Oklahoma Legislature