1. A. There is hereby created an Advisory Council on Workers' Compensation.

2. B. The voting membership of the Advisory Council shall consist of nine (9) members. The Administrator and Presiding Judge of the Court shall be ex officio non-voting members.

   1. 1. The Governor shall appoint three (3) members representing employers in this state, one of whom shall be from a list of nominees provided by the predominant statewide broad-based business organization;
   2. 2. The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint three (3) members representing employees in this state, one of whom shall be from a list of nominees provided by the most representative labor organization in the state; and
   3. 3. The President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall appoint three (3) members who are attorneys representing the legal profession in this state, one of whom shall be an attorney who practices primarily in the area of defense of workers' compensation claims.

3. C.

   1. 1. The term of office for initial appointees shall be as follows:

      1. a. the term of office for three positions, one each appointed by the Governor, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall expire on March 1, 1992,
      2. b. the term of office for three positions, one each appointed by the Governor, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall expire on March 1, 1993, and
      3. c. the term of office for three positions, one each appointed by the Governor, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall expire on March 1, 1994;
   2. 2. Thereafter, successors in office shall be appointed for a three-year term. Members shall be eligible to succeed themselves in office; and
   3. 3. Any person appointed to fill a vacancy shall be appointed for the unexpired portion of the term.
4. D. The chairman and the vice-chairman of the Advisory Council, one of whom shall be an employee representative and one of whom shall be an employer representative, shall be elected by the Council from among its voting members.
5. E. Members shall receive their traveling and other necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as provided in the State Travel Reimbursement Act, Section 500.1 et seq. of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
6. F. Meetings of the Advisory Council shall be quarterly or as called by the chair or upon petition by a majority of the voting members. The presence of five (5) voting members constitutes a quorum. No action shall be taken by the Advisory Council without the affirmative vote of at least five (5) members.
7. G. The Administrator of the Court shall provide office supplies and personnel of the Workers' Compensation Court to carry out any of the duties that have been entrusted to the Council.
8. H. The Advisory Council shall analyze and review the workers' compensation system, the reports of the Administrator of the Workers' Compensation Court, and trends in the field of workers' compensation. The Council may recommend improvements and proper responses to developing trends. The Council shall report its findings annually to the Governor, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
9. I. In addition to other duties required by this section, the Advisory Council shall consult with the Workers' Compensation Court regarding oversight of independent medical examiners as provided in Section 17 of this title.

Added by Laws 1990, SB 830, c. 283, § 17, eff. September 1, 1990; Amended by Laws 1994, 2nd Extr. Sess., HB 1002, c. 1, § 37, emerg. eff. November 4, 1994.