New Okla. workers comp commission does not have jurisdiction before February

The new Oklahoma Workers' Compensation Commission does not have jurisdiction to resolve workers comp disputes regarding injuries that happened before February 2014, the Oklahoma Supreme Court has ruled.

S.B. 1062, a workers comp reform bill passed by Oklahoma legislators last year, established the Workers' Compensation Commission to administer Oklahoma's workers comp law. The three-member commission, which became active Feb. 1, was created as part of an administrative dispute resolution process for Oklahoma comp claims that's meant to replace the state's court-based adjudication system.

The Oklahoma Supreme Court unanimously ruled Thursday that the state workers comp commission does not have jurisdiction to consider comp claims for injuries occurring prior to the commission's effective date.

Such claims should continue to be considered by the Oklahoma Workers' Compensation Court of Existing Claims, the high court ruled.

“All aspects of the adjudication of claims for injuries occurring prior to Feb. 1, 2014 are governed by the law in effect at the time of the injury,” the court opinion reads.