2020 Oklahoma Statutes
Title 85A. Administrative Workers' Compensation System
§85A-3. Applicability of act.

A. Every employer and every employee, unless otherwise specifically provided in this act, shall be subject and bound to the provisions of the Administrative Workers' Compensation Act and every employer shall pay or provide benefits according to the provisions of this act for the accidental injury or death of an employee arising out of and in the course of his or her employment, without regard to fault for such injury, if the employee's contract of employment was made or if the injury occurred within this state. If an employee makes a claim for an injury in another jurisdiction, the employee is precluded from his or her right of action under the Administrative Workers' Compensation Act unless the Workers' Compensation Commission determines that there is a change in circumstances that creates a good cause to bring the claim under the Administrative Workers' Compensation Act; provided, however, that the employee may not receive duplicate benefits to those received in the foreign jurisdiction and the employee's right to bring a claim under this act shall be subject to the limitations period for bringing a claim pursuant to paragraph 1 of subsection A of Section 69 of this title. Nothing in this act shall be construed to conflict with any valid Act of Congress governing the liability of employers for injuries received by their employees.

B. The State of Oklahoma accepts the provisions of the Acts of Congress designated as 40 U.S.C., Section 3172, formerly 40 U.S.C., Section 290, and hereby extends the territorial jurisdiction of the Administrative Workers' Compensation Act of this state to all lands and premises within the exterior boundaries of this state which the Government of the United States of America owns or holds by deed or act of cession, and to all purchases, projects, buildings, constructions, improvements and property within the exterior boundaries of this state belonging to the Government of the United States of America, in the same manner and to the same extent as if the premises were under the exclusive jurisdiction of this state, subject only to the limitations placed thereon by the Acts of Congress.

C. The Administrative Workers' Compensation Act shall apply only to claims for injuries and death based on accidents which occur on or after February 1, 2014.

D. The Workers' Compensation Code in effect before February 1, 2014, shall govern all rights in respect to claims for injuries and death based on accidents occurring before February 1, 2014.

Added by Laws 2013, c. 208, § 3, eff. Feb. 1, 2014. Amended by Laws 2019, c. 476, § 2, emerg. eff. May 28, 2019.