Bingman’s Workers Comp Bill Coming Monday
Capitol Report Capitol Notebook: Bingman’s workers comp plan coming soon
BY RANDY KREHBIEL World Staff Writer
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Senate President Pro Tem Brian Bingman, R-Sapulpa, is expected to unveil his workers compensation reform program on Monday.
Bingman is pursuing two radical changes: Replacing the current workers compensation court with an administrative system, and allowing employers to offer a benefit package to cover on-the-job injuries in lieu of workers compensation insurance.
Bingman also has a bill to mutualize CompSource, which means the policy holders would own the state insurance fund.
Business leaders say replacing the workers comp courts with an administrative system will save employers millions of dollars a year by reducing litigation. Arkansas, which has much lower workers compensation costs, is the model, they say.