§ 85A-121. Advisory Council on Workers' Compensation.

A.  There is hereby created an Advisory Council on Workers' Compensation.

B.  The voting membership of the Advisory Council shall consist of nine (9) members.  Any member serving on the effective date of this section shall serve the remainder of his or her term.  The chair of the Workers' Compensation Commission shall be an ex officio nonvoting member.

1.  The Governor shall appoint three members representing employers in this state, one of whom shall be from a list of nominees provided by the predominant statewide broad-based business organization.

2.  The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint three members representing employees in this state, one of whom shall be from a list of nominees provided by the most representative labor organization in the state.

3.  The President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall appoint three members, two who are attorneys representing the legal profession in this state, one of whom shall be an attorney who practices primarily in the area of defense of workers' compensation claims, and one of whom shall be an attorney who primarily represents claimants, and a medical doctor or doctor of osteopathy actively engaged in the treatment of injured workers.

C.  The term of office for appointees shall be as follows:

1.  The term of office for three positions, one each appointed by the Governor, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall expire on January 1, 2015;

2.  The term of office for three positions, one each appointed by the Governor, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall expire on January 1, 2016; and

3.  The term of office for three positions, one each appointed by the Governor, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall expire on January 1, 2017.

D.  Thereafter, successors in office shall be appointed for a three-year term.  Members shall be eligible to succeed themselves in office.

E.  Any person appointed to fill a vacancy shall be appointed for the unexpired portion of the term.

F.  The chair and the vice-chair of the Advisory Council shall be appointed by the Governor.

G.  Members shall receive their traveling and other necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as provided in the State Travel Reimbursement Act.

H.  Meetings of the Advisory Council shall be quarterly or as called by the chair or upon petition by a majority of the voting members.  The presence of five voting members constitutes a quorum.  No action shall be taken by the Advisory Council without the affirmative vote of at least five members.

I.  The Commission shall provide office supplies and personnel of the Commission to carry out any of the duties that have been entrusted to the Advisory Council.

J.  The Advisory Council shall analyze and review the workers' compensation system, the reports of the Commission, and trends in the field of workers' compensation.  The Advisory Council may recommend improvements and proper responses to developing trends.  The Advisory Council shall report its findings annually to the Governor, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

K.  In addition to other duties required by this section, the Advisory Council shall consult with the Court regarding oversight of independent medical examiners as provided in Section 45 of this act.

L.  The Advisory Council shall review the Oklahoma Treatment Guidelines as provided in the Workers' Compensation Code, and report the findings of such review to the Commission as provided in this act.

Added by Laws 2013, c. 208, § 164, eff. Feb. 1, 2014.