Workers’ Compensation on Legislative Agenda for Oklahoma State Chamber

Taxation, workers’ compensation insurance and health care coverage top the State Chamber of Oklahoma’s agenda for the 2012 legislative session that kicks off on Feb. 6.

The State Chamber’s business agenda for the Oklahoma Legislature was released on Jan. 30. The chamber says it supports restructuring Oklahoma’s tax system to permit a gradual reduction of the state’s personal income tax. Chamber officials say they want assurances that the tax burden will not be shifted to businesses, including new taxes on services.

The chamber also supports legislation to allow Oklahoma employers to obtain alternate workers’ compensation coverage, providing the benefits are equivalent.

On health care, the chamber says it’s working to preserve the private sector health insurance market with a state-initiated, Internet-based health insurance delivery system rather than a federally mandated exchange.