Okla. Stat. tit. 85A, § 85A-22

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 85A. Workers' Compensation Page 46

A. 1. For the purpose of administering the provisions of this

title, the Workers' Compensation Commission is authorized:

a. to make rules necessary for the administration and

operation of the Commission,

b. to appoint and fix the compensation of temporary

technical assistants, medical and legal advisers,

clerical assistants and other officers and employees,

and

c. to make such expenditures, including those for

personal service, rent, books, periodicals, office

equipment, and supplies, and for printing and binding

as may be necessary.

2. a. The Commission shall vote on any substantive change to

any form and the effective date of such substantive

change.

b. The Commission shall comply with the provisions of the

Administrative Procedures Act applicable to the filing

and publication requirements for rules before the

adoption, prescription, amendment, modification, or

repeal of any rule.

B. 1. The Commission may appoint as many persons as may be

necessary to be administrative law judges and in addition may

appoint such examiners, investigators, medical examiners, clerks,

and other employees as it deems necessary to effectuate the

provisions of this title.

2. Employees appointed under this subsection shall receive an

annual salary to be fixed by the Commission.

C. Additionally, the Commission shall have the following powers

and duties:

1. To hear and approve compromise settlements;

2. To review and approve own-risk applications and group self-

insurance association applications;

3. To monitor own-risk, self-insurer and group self-insurance

programs, in accordance with the rules of the Commission;

4. To contract with an appropriate state governmental entity,

insurance carrier or approved service organization to process,

investigate and pay valid claims against an impaired self-insurer

which fails, due to insolvency or otherwise, to pay its workers'

compensation obligations, charges for which shall be paid from the

proceeds of security posted with the Commission as provided in

Section 38 of this title;

5. To establish a toll-free telephone number in order to

provide information and answer questions about the Commission;

6. To hear and determine claims concerning disputed medical

bills;

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 85A. Workers' Compensation Page 47

7. To promulgate necessary rules for administering this title

and develop uniform forms and procedures for use by administrative

law judges. Such rules shall be reviewable by the Legislature;

8. To invest funds on behalf of the Multiple Injury Trust Fund;

9. To appoint a Commission Mediator to conduct informal

sessions to attempt to resolve assigned disputes;

10. To establish a petty cash fund in an amount not to exceed

Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) to be used for the purpose of making

change for persons purchasing printed or electronic materials from

the Commission, paying fees and fines, and transacting other such

business with the Commission. The fund shall be established and

replenished from any monies available to the Commission for

operating expenses and it shall be administered pursuant to the

requirements of Section 195 of Title 62 of the Oklahoma Statutes;

and

11. Such other duties and responsibilities authorized by law.

D. Communications, whether in person, by electronic medium or

in writing, that reflect the pre-decisional deliberations of the

Commissioners among each other or with Commission staff, and which

occur while exercising their quasi-judicial duties such as reviewing

decisions or awards made by the administrative law judges of the

Commission pursuant to Section 78 of this title or reviewing

arbitration awards pursuant to Section 322 and Section 323 of this

title, shall not be subject to requirements of the Oklahoma Open

Meeting Act or Oklahoma Open Records Act, shall be confidential and
occur while exercising their quasi-judicial duties such as reviewing

decisions or awards made by the administrative law judges of the

Commission pursuant to Section 78 of this title or reviewing

arbitration awards pursuant to Section 322 and Section 323 of this

title, shall not be subject to requirements of the Oklahoma Open

Meeting Act or Oklahoma Open Records Act, shall be confidential and

shall be considered protected deliberative communications.

E. It shall be the duty of an administrative law judge, under

the rules adopted by the Commission, to hear and determine claims

for compensation and to conduct hearings and investigations and to

make such judgments, decisions, and determinations as may be

required by any rule or judgment of the Commission.