Commission Drafting Emergency Rule for Coverage Exemption Affidavits

The Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation Commission said Wednesday that it is drafting emergency rules and forms to implement legislation passed this year that allows independent contractors to exempt themselves from workers’ compensation coverage by filing an affidavit. Under Senate Bill 1249, workers can declare that they are exempt from the Administrative Workers’ Compensation Act by filing an Affidavit of Exempt Status. By filing the form, the worker will create a rebuttable presumption that he is not an employee and is not eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. T...