Oklahoma Updates License, CE Requirements for Work Comp Adjusters

The Oklahoma Department of Insurance issued a bulletin reminding workers’ compensation insurance adjusters they must be licensed to operate in the state. Licensed workers’ comp claims adjusters also must complete six hours of ethics continuing education as part of the 24 hours of CE requirement. Both requirements are effective Nov. 1, 2010.

Insurers are required to verify that their resident or non-resident adjusters have satisfied the requirements.

Self insured organizations are exempt from the new requirement because self insurance does not involve a contract between an insurance company and an employer, it is not subject to state insurance regulation; therefore, an adjuster employed by a self-insured corporation is not required to be licensed by the Oklahoma Insurance Department.

More information on the new requirements may be accessed online.

The department also outlined recent state legislation related to workers’ compensation:

2009 Legislation

• House Bill 1003-family business’ organized as a corporation would allow exemption from workers’ compensation coverage.

2010 Legislation

• Senate Bill 1973-Effective 11/1/2010-Adds new specific authorities of Supreme Court in workers’ compensation cases.
• House Bill 1611-Effective 11/1/2010-Requires workers’ compensation adjusters to be licensed and, annually complete six hours of continuing education relating to the Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation Act as part of the required twenty four hours of continuing education.
• House Bill 2650-Effective 11/1/2010Reduces the number of W/C Court Judges from ten to eight.
• House Bill 2652-Effective 11/1/2010-Senate confirmation of judicial appointments to the Workers’ Compensation Court.
• House Bill 2911 – Effective 5/10/10-Prohibits creation of a new business entity for the purpose of avoiding payment of a workers’ compensation judgment.
• House Bill 3169 – Effective 11/1/10-Expands the exemption from the Workers’ Compensation Act for an employer with five or less total employees, all of whom are related by blood or marriage, to include the spouse of the exempt employer.
• Senate Bill 2054 – Effective 11/1/10-Eliminates the Insurance Commissioner’s duty to mail a form Affidavit of Exempt Status to requesters since posted on the insurance departments Web site.

Source: Oklahoma Department of Insurance