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As evidenced by the communications we have provided to our policyholders, the 2010 legislative session was an active one for CompSource Oklahoma. The 52nd session of the Oklahoma Legislature ended on May 28 with no bills signed into law that would change the structure or operations of CompSource Oklahoma.
The CompSource Board of Managers and staff appreciates your continued support and are honored to be your source for workers’ compensation insurance. Your participation in the process educated many members of the legislature on the needs of businesses throughout the State of Oklahoma. The voice of Oklahoma employers, both large and small, had a significant impact on the legislature’s understanding of the role CompSource serves in the workers’ compensation market.
Many policyholders shared their positive experiences with CompSource and their thoughts on the proposed legislation. These comments are a compliment to CompSource and the service we strive to provide every day.
We remain committed to communicating issues impacting CompSource Oklahoma to our policyholders. If you would like to receive news, events and future legislative updates relating to CompSource by email, please click HERE and we will add you to the communications and media news distribution list.
Below is a brief summary of a few of the bills relating to workers’ compensation introduced during the 2010 legislative session and their outcome.
House Bill 2880 - This measure would have directed that CompSource be a mutual insurance company designated the Oklahoma Mutual Insurance Company.
Bill History: 02/25/2010, Failed to meet legislative deadline.
House Bill 2662 - This bill would have directed CompSource Oklahoma to be sold to the highest bidder by Dec. 31, 2011, with all proceeds to be retained as an asset of the state.
Bill History: 03/11/2010, Failed to meet legislative deadline.
House Bill 2659 - This measure would have made CompSource subject to the Property and Casualty Competitive Loss Cost Rating Act.
Bill History: 05/26/2010, House members rejected the measure by a vote of 69-21.
House Bill 2658 - The bill would have allowed for state agencies to seek carriers other than CompSource for their workers’ compensation insurance and extended the Legislative Task Force until Dec. 31, 2012.
Bill History: 06/11/2010, Governor action – veto.
House Bill 2652 - This measure reduces the number of workers’ compensation court judges from 10 to eight, requires Senate confirmation on any workers’ compensation judge, requires five judges to permanently be assigned to Oklahoma City and three to Tulsa, restricts judges to one eight-year term and allows a former judge to reapply after three years off the court, requires workers’ compensation judges to have at least five years of workers’ compensation experience.
Bill History: 06/11/2010, Governor action – signed into law.
House Bill 2650 - This bill further defines of “major cause” and “objective medical evidence”, and what is a work-related activity for purposes of being covered under the Workers’ Compensation Act and clarifies light-duty work and the employee’s refusal to participate.
Bill History: 06/11/2010, Governor action – signed into law.
House Bill 1611 - The bill requires all claims adjusters to have six hours of continuing education on the Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation Act as part of the required 24 hours of continuing education.
Bill History: 06/08/2010, Governor action – signed into law.
Senate Bill 2232 - This bill would have required that CompSource Oklahoma, including all buildings and assets, be sold to the highest bidder by Dec. 31, 2011.
Bill History: 03/11/2010, Failed to meet legislative deadline.
Senate Bill 1996 - This bill would have required CompSource to enter into a public-private partnership with a private enterprise company to transition CompSource into a privately owned company within five years.
Bill History: 04/22/2010, Failed to meet legislative deadline.
Senate Bill 1973 - This bill allows the state Supreme Court to review workers’ compensation claims as they do any other civil case. Would require that the claimant shall be in attendance unless all parties agree, and all parties shall be represented during the entire mediation by a person with full settlement authority to settle any issue of the claim.
Bill History: 06/08/2010, Governor action – signed into law.
For more information, contact Stephanie Elwood, Communications Director, at 405-962-3813.
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