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Oklahoma Workers' Compensation Commission
The Oklahoma Workers' Compensation Commission provides a forum for workers' compensation hearings and appeals, ensures workers' compensation insurance compliance of employers, and regulates organizations who wish to self-fund theirs workers' Compensation obligations. Oklahoma's Workers' compensation system was reformed in 2013, establishing the Administrative Workers' Compensation Act (Act). The Act created the Workers' Compensation Commission which became fully operational effective February 1, 2014.

History
The Oklahoma Legislature enacted the state’s first law governing workers’ compensation over one hundred years ago in 1915. The law provides a substitute remedy to an employee for work-related injuries received during covered employment without the burden of proving negligence. The law is intended to provide workers who sustain a compensable injury with compensation for disability and health and rehabilitation benefits, regardless of who was at fault. In exchange for liability without fault, employers are provided with exclusive remedy protection. Exclusive remedy protects employers from liability to injured workers under laws outside the state’s workers’ compensation laws. Until 1959, the responsibility for administering the workers’ compensation law resided with the State Industrial Commission. In 1959, the Oklahoma Legislature created and transferred jurisdiction over workers’ compensation to the State Industrial Court. In 1978, the State Industrial Court was replaced by the Workers’ Compensation Court. In 2014, the Workers’ Compensation Court was renamed the Workers’ Compensation Court of Existing Claims (CEC) for the purpose of hearing disputed claims for injuries occurring before February 1, 2014. The CEC is a court of record, like its 1959 and 1978 predecessor entities. Unless otherwise provided by law, the CEC is to cease operations on July 1, 2020. Jurisdiction of adjudication of claims for work-related injuries occurring on or after February 1, 2014 was transferred by the Oklahoma Legislature from the CEC to a newly created state administrative agency known as the Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation Commission (WCC). The WCC administers the state’s workers’ compensation law found in Title 85A of the Oklahoma Statutes.

Mission
The Workers’ Compensation Commission dedicates itself to carry out its adjudicative, administrative and regulatory responsibility to serve the public promptly, courteously and impartially as set out in Title 85A of the Oklahoma Statutes.

Organization
The Workers’ Compensation Commission is composed of three members who are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the State Senate for staggered terms. Initial terms for the respective positions were for two, four and six years. Subsequent terms are for six years. One of the appointments must be from a list of three nominees selected by the Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives. The Chair of the Commission is appointed by the Governor from among the Commission members. The Chair organizes, directs and develops administrative work, employs administrative staff within budgetary limitations, and performs other duties authorized by law or prescribed by the Commission. The Commission may appoint as many Administrative Law Judges (ALJ) and other personnel as necessary within budgetary limitations to effectuate the Administrative Workers’ Compensation Act. As of September 6, 2018, five Administrative Law Judges had been appointed and one was designated as the Chief Administrative Law Judge. Three of the ALJ positions are located in Oklahoma City, and two are located in Tulsa. All Administrative Law Judges rotate between both venues. Administrative Law Judges must have been licensed to practice law in Oklahoma for not less than three years and have at least three years’ of workers’ compensation experience before appointment. They serve at the pleasure of the Commissioners.

Commission Divisions and Offices
Counseling Services is the Commission’s primary public information unit. It supports a toll-free information line, develops educational workshops and materials, and processes applications to serve as a mediator for the Commission’s mediation system. The Office of the Commission Clerk receives Commission filings, certifies documents, prepares and transmits records on appeal, accepts appeal bonds, serves as the Commission’s records custodian, and manages the Commission’s records retention schedule. Its Records Division maintains Commission files, processes the mail, responds to requests for access to prior claims records and information, and performs data entry functions. The Permitting Services Division maintains a workers’ compensation proof of insurance database for the state, and with the Executive Director’s supervision, regulates employers which self-insure either as an individual self-insurer or as part of an approved group self-insurance association. This division also regulates third party administrators. Self-insurance activities include reviewing applications for self-insurance and monitoring the financial status and claims records of self-insured employers. The Division’s Form 3 Processing Office processes claims for compensation and orders entered into by mutual agreement of the parties. Work includes creating Commission files, data entry, and mailing information to the parties. The Compliance Division enforces compliance with the state’s workers’ compensation insurance coverage requirements. This function was performed by the Oklahoma Department of Labor until February 1, 2014. The Docket Office dockets cases, schedules hearings and motions, notifies parties of hearing dates, and manages specialized dockets designed to resolve certain disputes without the need for a contested hearing. In addition to division employees, the Commission employs a Medical Director, General Counsel, Appellate Counsel, a legal assistant, two court reporters, and administrative personnel and support staff. Supplemental court reporting and information technology services are pursuant to contract. The Medical Director oversees all medical matters over which the Commission has responsibility and assists with the Commission’s biennial review of the medical fee schedule. The Commission Counsel and legal assistant assist the Commissioners, Executive Director, Administrative Law Judges and other Commission employees. Court reporters record and transcribe proceedings as necessary. Administrative staff, including an Administrative Director and Chief Financial Officer, are responsible for the business, financial and personnel functions of the Commission.