Oklahoma Republicans praise workers' comp changes

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Even though it took the entire legislative session, Republican lawmakers praised the package of workers’ compensation reform measures that cleared both houses of the Oklahoma Legislature during the final week of the legislative session.

“Over the last three years, I have been active in the research efforts that ultimately underwrote many of the proposed reforms we have passed this week,” state Rep. Mark McCullough, R-Sapulpa, said. “Today’s action is the culmination of that work.”

McCullough said the four-bill package of workers’ compensation reform measures includes House Bills 2650, 2652, 1611 and Senate Bill 1973.

He estimated the bills would save businesses in the state at least $60.5 million.

“We simply cannot afford to continue with the status quo,” McCullough said. “Our workers’ comp rates are among the highest in the nation, yet workers seldom receive the benefits and the system’s cost is a huge job killer. While there is still much to be done that would improve our workers’ compensation system, these reforms are a serious, thoughtful effort at improving a troubled system in a way that benefits both injured workers and employers.”

State Chamber officials said bills would help attract new jobs.

“The State Chamber is pleased to see this package move forward to the governor,” said Mike Seney, senior vice president of operations. “Workers’ compensation costs in Oklahoma are among the highest in the nation. Anything we can do to reduce these costs is good for Oklahoma business and attracting new jobs. We encourage the governor to sign these bills.”

McCullough and Seney said the bills would make several changes in state law, including:

* Cap the Partial Payment Disability (PPD) rate at $323 per week for five years.

* Limit Permanent Total Disability to 100-percent Social Security retirement age or 15 years, whichever is longer.

* Increase the power of the Physician Advisory Council and require the court to follow its recommendations unless there is clear and convincing evidence to the contrary.

* Reduce the number of Workers’ Compensation Court judges from 10 to eight.

* Require five judges to be permanently assigned to Oklahoma City and three to Tulsa.

* Restrict judges to one eight-year term.

The measures are set to be reviewed by Gov. Brad Henry.

Editor’s note: This article first appeared in The (Oklahoma City) Journal Record, which The Dolan Company also owns.