Workers’ Compensation Plan Coming Monday

Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman says a bill that would change Oklahoma’s system of taking care of injured workers will be unveiled Monday and heard in a committee the next day.
If you have heard any (and I mean “any”) of the legislative panels or discussions aired on KGOU, you’ll know this bill was expected. The contents aren’t yet known, but lawmakers say it will create an administrative system and get rid of the current court-based system.
Democrats, including House minority leader Rep. Scott Inman, say changing the system will require operation of the older one for at least a decade, at great expense.
With the business community in the state pushing for the change, and Republicans in control of both chambers and the governor’s office, Oklahoma is likely to end up with an administrative workers’ compensation system soon. My prediction is it will be law before the end of the current session.