Bill > SB1013

This bill amends Oklahoma's workers' compensation law to expand rights and remedies for workers, with a focus on clarifying relationships between general contractors and subcontractors. The bill defines a "general contractor" as a person who arranges work or services, including premises owners, and a "subcontractor" as someone who contracts with a general contractor to perform part of the work. It allows general contractors to provide workers' compensation insurance coverage for subcontractors through a written agreement, and in cases where a subcontractor has no employees, the general contractor can be treated as the subcontractor's employer. The bill permits general contractors to deduct actual insurance premium costs from the contract price paid to subcontractors. Importantly, the bill modifies existing law to include general contractors who provide workers' compensation insurance as part of the exclusive remedy provisions, which generally protect employers from additional lawsuits by injured workers. The bill also specifies that certain administrative discrepancies, like timing issues with insurance policies or documentation, do not invalidate workers' compensation coverage. With an effective date of November 1, 2025, the legislation aims to provide more clarity and flexibility in workers' compensation insurance arrangements between contractors and subcontractors.