Oklahoma House Passes Workers' Comp. Bill

Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Oklahoma House has given final passage to legislation that makes sweeping changes to the state's Workers' Compensation Court.

The House voted 71-22 Thursday for the Senate-passed bill and sent it to the governor for his signature.

Among other things, the bill reduces the number of Workers' Compensation Court judges from 10 to eight and requires that five judges be permanently assigned to Oklahoma City and three to Tulsa. The reduction will occur by not replacing the first two judgeships that become vacant.

The bill requires Senate confirmation of any prospective Workers' Compensation Court judge nominated by the governor and it restricts judges to one eight-year term.

It also requires that any judge have at least five years of experience in the workers' compensation field.