Workers’ Comp Reform Bill Passes Oklahoma House Committee

Legislation reforming the Oklahoma’s workers’ compensation court and system has passed a state House of Representatives committee. Reform of the state’s workers’ compensation has been a priority for the state’s lawmakers, especially the Republicans.

Senate Bill 1973, by Rep. Dan Sullivan, would reduce the number in the Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation Court from 10 to eight and requires five of the judges to be permanently assigned to the court in Oklahoma City and three to the court in Tulsa.

The bill also increases workers’ compensation judges’ terms from six to eight years, and imposes a single-term limit on any new judges. Senate confirmation would be required to fill any new vacancies on the worker’s compensation court. Finally, judges must have at least five years of workers’ compensation experience prior to appointment, among other reforms.

Sullivan says the changes “would add more accountability” to the workers’ comp court.

The legislation also addresses issues with how cases are handled and how to provide a savings in the cost of the system all while maintaining the best medical care for workers.

The Workers’ Compensation Court has been under fire during this legislative session. Saying the state’s Workers’ Compensation Court has for years stonewalled legislative records requests, state Rep. Mike Reynolds recently called for the dismissal of the court’s administrator, Marcia Davis, and legal counsel, Tish Sommer.

The bill passed the House Economic Development and Financial Services Committee with a vote of 9-5 and will next be heard in the full House.

Source: Oklahoma Legislature