Okla. Stat. tit. 85A, § 85A-19

A. There is hereby created the Oklahoma Workers' Compensation

Commission, an executive agency of the State of Oklahoma, which

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shall have the exclusive responsibility and duty to carry out the

provisions of the Administrative Workers' Compensation Act, except

as otherwise provided.

B. The Commission shall consist of three (3) full-time

commissioners, each of whom must have been involved in the workers'

compensation field for at least three (3) years, appointed by the

Governor: one of whom is chosen from a slate of three selected by

the Speaker of the House of Representatives, with all three

confirmed by the Senate. The term of each appointee shall be six

(6) years to administer the provisions of this act. The Governor

may request a subsequent slate of nominees from the Speaker of the

House of Representatives if a suitable nominee is not found. Any or

all of the commissioners may be reappointed for additional six-year

terms upon reconfirmation by the Senate. However, the initial

commissioners shall serve staggered terms of two (2), four (4), and

six (6) years, respectively, as determined by the Governor. If the

Legislature is not in session at the time of appointment, the

appointment shall be subject to confirmation by the Senate upon

convening of the next regular session of the Legislature.

Membership on the Commission shall be a full-time position and no

commissioner shall have any other employment, unless authorized or

excused by law. Each commissioner shall receive a salary equal to

that paid to a district judge of this state.

C. The Commission shall have the authority to adopt reasonable

rules within its respective areas of responsibility including the

rules of procedure for administrative hearings, after notice and

public hearing, for effecting the purposes of the Administrative

Workers' Compensation Act, in accordance with the Oklahoma

Administrative Procedures Act. All rules, upon adoption, shall be

published and be made available to the public and, if not

inconsistent with the law, shall be binding in the administration of

the Administrative Workers' Compensation Act.

D. The principal office of the Commission shall be situated in

the City of Oklahoma City in quarters assigned by the Office of

Management and Enterprise Services. The Commission shall maintain

and keep open, during reasonable business hours, the office in

Oklahoma City, for the transaction of business, at which office its

official records and papers shall be kept. The Commission or any

commissioner may hold hearings in any city of this state.

E. The Governor shall appoint one of the commissioners to be

chair of the Commission. In addition to other duties, the chair of

the Commission shall have the following powers and duties:

1. To organize, direct and develop the administrative work of

the administrative law judges, including but not limited to

docketing, clerical, technical and financial work and establishment

of hours of operation;

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2. To employ administrative staff for the Commission, within

budgetary limitation; and

3. Such other duties and responsibilities authorized by law or

as the Commission may prescribe.

F. All appeals or disputes arising from actions of the

Commission shall be governed by provisions of the Administrative

Workers' Compensation Act and the Commission shall not be subject to

the provisions of the Oklahoma Administrative Procedures Act, except

as provided in the Administrative Workers' Compensation Act.

G. When any commissioner of the Commission is disqualified for

any reason to hear and participate in the determination of any

matter pending before the Commission, the Governor shall appoint a

qualified person to hear and participate in the decision on the

particular matter. The special commissioner so appointed shall have
, except

as provided in the Administrative Workers' Compensation Act.

G. When any commissioner of the Commission is disqualified for

any reason to hear and participate in the determination of any

matter pending before the Commission, the Governor shall appoint a

qualified person to hear and participate in the decision on the

particular matter. The special commissioner so appointed shall have

all authority and responsibility with respect to the particular

matter before the Commission as if the person were a regular

commissioner of the Commission but shall have no authority or

responsibility with respect to any other matter before the

Commission. A person appointed as a special commissioner of the

Commission under the provisions of this subsection shall be entitled

to receive a per diem equal to the annual salary of the

commissioners prorated for the number of days he or she serves in

the capacity of a special commissioner of the Commission.

Furthermore, when a vacancy on the Commission occurs or is certain

to occur, the position shall be filled pursuant to the provisions of

this section.