Committee Chairman: Lynette Parmley, Vice President, Human Resources - C.L. Frates & Company
Your Staff Specialist for Labor is Mike Seney.
Employment Law Subcommittee
Chair: Leonard Court, Attorney - Crowe & Dunlevy Professional Corp.
Unemployment Law Subcommittee
Chair: Bill Hanna, President - Bill Hanna & Associates, Inc.
Workers' Compensation Subcommittee
Chair: Becky Payton, Vice President - Mercy Health Center
ACTION ALERT!
Rebuilding America's Economy Takes Workplace Teamwork
IN THE NEWS
10-2-09 The Employee Free Choice Act... The Bill That Won’t Go Away – Although Congress is currently focused on health care reform, big labor bosses’ commitment to passing the job-killing Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), otherwise known as card check, remains strong. Labor is moving away from firmly supporting the EFCA in its current form to supporting a modified version based on the principles of the current legislation, including binding arbitration. Speaking to the AFL-CIO’s Annual Convention recently, Sen. Specter claimed that a deal had been “pounded out” on the EFCA that would be “totally satisfactory” to organized labor – a deal, he said, that could be passed by the Senate before the end of the year. However, recent indications from Senate leadership are that the Senate’s current calendar would prevent a vote in the coming weeks.
9-18-09 Senator Specter Claims Deal Reached on EFCA/AFL-CIO Leaders Say "Not So Fast" - Addressing the AFL-CIO's Annual Convention on September 15, Senator Arlen Specter (D-PA) said a deal has been “pounded out” on the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) that would be totally satisfactory to organized labor. The Senator said the framework of such a deal would include quick certification of labor unions (“ambush elections”) and some form of binding arbitration, which are key components of the original bill. Leaders of the AFL-CIO quickly dismissed Specter's assertions, noting that the original EFCA, including its card-check provisions, was still in play. The State Chamber and our national allies, including the National Association of Manufacturers and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, remain opposed to any proposal that may stem from the fundamentally flawed EFCA.
9-8-09 Oklahoma Considers Privatizing State-backed Workers' Comp Insurer
8-21-09 Workers’ Compensation Working Group Update – In February, The State Chamber put together a Working Group to look at restructuring Oklahoma’s broken workers’ compensation system. The catalyst of the effort was Representative Mark McCullough’s introduction of legislation to basically replace Oklahoma’s system with Arkansas’ system. For the last seven months, members of The State Chamber have met weekly with Representative McCullough, Representative Lewis Moore and others to pull together a restructuring bill. The initial phase of the work has been to review not just the Arkansas’ system, but other state’s systems and identify what may work in Oklahoma. That effort is just about completed and we will shortly begin reviewing a draft bill that we will present to the full Workers’ Compensation Committee this Fall.
7-30-09 Oklahoma Received Failing Grade on 2009 State Report Cards for Workers' Comp
2009 Legislative Wrap-Up
Workers comp coverage - HB 1003 - Expands the exception from mandatory compensation coverage for small employers who have five or fewer employees (all related by blood or marriage) to include corporations, limited partnerships, etc.
Increasing injured workers' awards - HB 1601 prohibited workers' comp attorneys and counselors from taking part of an injured workers settlement award to put into a political action committee. Status: Passed the House and Senate. Vetoed by Governor Henry.
Increasing lawsuit awards for the injured - HB 1602 let voters decide if more of a lawsuit's proceeds should go to the injured party. Current law limits attorney fees to 50 percent of a winning verdict. Under this bill, attorneys were limited to 33 percent of the first $1 million recovered and 20 percent of any amount over $1 million. Status: Passed the House of Representatives. Failed in the Senate on a tie vote 23 - 23.
Improving workers' compensation court operations - SB 609 reduced the Workers' Comp court from1 0 judges to eight. Four will be permanently assigned to the Oklahoma City Workers' Comp Court, with four permanently assigned to the Tulsa Workers' Comp Court.
Improving workers' compensation court operations - HJR 1041 lets voters decide if workers' compensation judges should be appointed by the Governor, after approval by the Senate.
Resolve workers' compensation disputes through mediation - SB 988 sent workers' compensation disputes to mediators for resolution. Prohibited mandatory requirements fro employer-paid health insurance coverage for employees' spouses and dependants. Status: Passed Judiciary Committee. Failed in the Senate.
Click here for the full 2009 Legislative Wrap Up.