Governor Vetoes Accidental Double-Funding of Firefighters' Comp Coverage

Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin signed off on the state’s 2017 budget but vetoed one line item because it inadvertently double-funded workers’ compensation premiums for volunteer firefighters. Section 56 of the budget bill, Senate Bill 1616, would have set aside “an amount not to exceed $473,283” from the Office of Management and Enterprise Services for the yearly premium. Under section 380 of Title 85, the Oklahoma workers’ compensation statute that funds premiums for firefighters’ care, the state is not to pay more than $320,338 per year in&...