Okla. lawmakers consider switch to administrative workers comp system

Oklahoma legislators are set to consider a bill that would create an administrative authority over the state's workers compensation system.

The Oklahoma House of Representatives is expected to have a first reading of H.B. 1362 on Feb. 4, according to the Oklahoma Legislature website. The bill was authored by Republican state Rep. Arthur Hulbert.

The bill would establish a new Division of Workers' Compensation within the Oklahoma Insurance Department that would oversee the state's comp system. It also would appoint a workers comp commissioner who would be responsible for administering Oklahoma's workers comp laws.

The state currently uses a court-based system to resolve workers comp-related disputes. Insurance industry observers say switching from a judicial process to an administrative system could help lower workers comp system costs for Oklahoma.