Oklahoma House defeats alternative workers compensation bill

OKLAHOMA CITY—The Oklahoma House of Representatives voted down a bill Wednesday night that would have established an alternative workers compensation system in the state.

The House voted 42-50 against H.B. 2155. The bill would have allowed certain employers to opt-out of the state workers comp system by implementing a substitute benefits package—including medical, disability and death benefits—for injured workers.

The Oklahoma Senate last week voted in favor of the measure.

A similar bill, S.B. 1378, was referred to the Oklahoma House judiciary committee in March, but no further action has been taken since then.

Oklahoma would have become the second state to adopt an alternative workers comp system if the bills were signed into law.