Oklahoma 2022 Regular Session

Oklahoma House Bill HB2236 Compare Versions

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Version 2 (New)

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1		-	An Act
2		-	ENROLLED HOUSE
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	3	+	ENGR. S. A. TO ENGR. H. B . NO. 2236 Page 1 1
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	28	+	ENGROSSED SENATE AMENDMENT
	29	+	TO
	30	+	ENGROSSED HOUSE
	31	+	BILL NO. 2236 By: May of the House
	32	+
	33	+	and
	34	+
	35	+	Weaver of the Senate
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	37	+
	38	+
	39	+
	40	+	An Act relating to workers' compensation; amending
	41	+	Section 6, Chapter 208, O.S.L. 2013, as last amended
	42	+	by Section 4, Chapter 476, O.S.L. 2 019 (85A O.S.
	43	+	Supp. 2020, Section 6), which relates to fraud;
	44	+	providing that failure to report material change in
	45	+	income is a felony; prescribing punishment; modifying
	46	+	provisions related to certain law enforcement
	47	+	officers; and providing an effective date.
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	54	+	AMENDMENT NO. 1. Page 3, line 2, delete after the word “report” and
	55	+	before the word “income”, the words “a material
	56	+	change in” and insert the words “ any earned”
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	86	+	Passed the Senate the 21st day of April, 2021.
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	90	+	Presiding Officer of the Senate
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	93	+	Passed the House of Representatives the ____ day of __________,
	94	+	2021.
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	98	+	Presiding Officer of the House
	99	+	of Representatives
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	101	+	ENGR. H. B. NO. 2236 Page 1 1
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3	127		BILL NO. 2236 By: May of the House
4	128
5	129		and
6	130
7	131		Weaver of the Senate
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13	137
14	138		An Act relating to workers' compens ation; amending
15	139		Section 6, Chapter 208, O.S.L. 2013, as last amended
16	140		by Section 4, Chapter 476, O.S.L. 2019 (85A O.S.
17	141		Supp. 2020, Section 6), which relates to fraud;
18	142		providing that failure to report material change in
19	143		income is a felony; prescribing punish ment; modifying
20	144		provisions related to certain law enforcement
21	145		officers; and providing an effective date.
22	146
23	147
24	148
25		-	SUBJECT: Workers' compensation
26	149
27	150		BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
28		-
29	151		SECTION 1. AMENDATORY Section 6, Chapter 208, O.S.L.
30	152		2013, as last amended by Section 4, Chapter 476, O.S.L. 2019 (85A
31	153		O.S. Supp. 2020, Section 6), is amended to read as follows:
	154	+	Section 6.
	155	+	A. 1. a. Any person or entity who makes any material false
	156	+	statement or representation, who willfully and knowingly omits or
	157	+	conceals any material information, or who employs any device,
	158	+	scheme, or artifice, or who aids and abets any person for the
	159	+	purpose of:
	160	+	(1) obtaining any benefit or payment,
	161	+	(2) increasing any claim for benefit or payment, or
32	162
33		-	Section 6.
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34	187
35		-	A. 1. a. Any person or entity who makes any material false
36		-	statement or representation, who willfully and
37		-	knowingly omits or conceals any material information,
38		-	or who employs any device, scheme, or artifice, or who
39		-	aids and abets any person for the purpose of:
40		-
41		-	(1) obtaining any benefit or payment,
42		-
43		-	(2) increasing any claim for benefit or payment, or
44		-	ENR. H. B. NO. 2236 Page 2
45	188		(3) obtaining workers' compensation c overage under
46	189		this act the Administrative Workers' Compensation
47	190		Act,
48		-
49	191		shall be guilty of a felony punishable pursuant to
50	192		Section 1663 of Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
51		-
52	193		b. A material false statement or representation includes,
53	194		but is not limited to, atte mpting to obtain treatment
54	195		or compensation for body parts that were not injured
55	196		in the course and scope of employment.
56		-
57	197		c. Fifty percent (50%) of any criminal fine imposed and
58	198		collected under this section shall be paid and
59	199		allocated in accordance with appli cable law to the
60	200		Workers' Compensation Commission Revolving Fund.
61		-
62	201		2. Any person or entity with whom any person identified in
63	202		division (1) of subparagraph a of paragraph 1 of this subsection has
64	203		conspired to achieve the proscribed ends shall, by reason of such
65	204		conspiracy, be guilty as a principal of a felony.
66		-
67	205		B. Except for forms submitted through the Electronic Data
68	206		Interchange system employed by the Workers' Compensation Commission
69	207		pursuant to Section 101 of this title, a copy of division (1) of
70	208		subparagraph a of paragraph 1 of subsection A of this section shall
71	209		be included on all forms prescribed by the Commission for the use of
72	210		injured employees claiming benefits and for the use of employers in
73	211		responding to employees' claims under this act.
74	212
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75	238		C. While receiving temporary total disability benefits, failing
76		-	to report any earned income to an employer, insurance carrier or
77		-	third-party administrator shall be a felony punishable pursuant to
78		-	Section 1663 of Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
79		-
	239	+	to report a material change in income to an employer, insurance
	240	+	carrier or third-party administrator shall be a felony punishable
	241	+	pursuant to Section 1663 of Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
80	242		D. If the Workers' Compensation Commission or the Attorney
81	243		General finds that a violation of division (1) of subparagraph a of
82	244		paragraph 1 of subsection A of this section has been committed, or
83	245		that any other criminal violations in furtherance of this act were
84	246		committed, the chair of the Commission or the Attorney General shall
85	247		refer the matter for appropriate action to the prosecuting attorney
86	248		having criminal jurisdiction over the matter.
87		-
88	249		D.
89		-	ENR. H. B. NO. 2236 Page 3
90	250		E. 1. a. There shall be established within the Office of the
91	251		Attorney General a Workers' Compensation Fraud
92	252		Investigation Unit, funded by the Commission. The
93	253		Attorney General shall appoint a Director of the
94	254		Workers' Compensation Fraud Investigation Unit, who
95	255		may also serve as the director of any other designated
96	256		insurance fraud investigation division within the
97	257		Attorney General's office.
98		-
99	258		b. (1) The Unit shall investigate workers' compensation
100	259		fraud, any additional criminal violations that
101	260		may be related to workers' compensation fraud,
102	261		and any other insurance fraud matters as ma y be
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103	288		assigned at the discretion of the Attorney
104	289		General.
105		-
106	290		(2) The Attorney General shall designate the
107	291		personnel assigned to the Unit, who, on meeting
108	292		the qualifications established by the Oklahoma
109	293		Council on Law Enforcement Education and
110	294		Training, shall have the powers of specialized
111	295		law enforcement officers of the State of Oklahoma
112	296		for the purpose of conducting investigations
113	297		under this subparagraph. Personnel hired as
114	298		specialized law enforcement officers shall have a
115	299		minimum of three (3) years of certifi ed law
116	300		enforcement experience or its equivalent in
117	301		national or military law enforcement experience
118	302		as approved be certified as a peace officer by
119	303		the Oklahoma Council on Law Enforcement Education
120	304		and Training.
121		-
122	305		2. The Attorney General and his or her deputi es and assistants
123	306		and the Director of the Workers' Compensation Fraud Investigation
124	307		Unit and his or her deputies and assistants shall be vested with the
125	308		power of enforcing the requirements of this section.
126		-
127	309		3. It shall be the duty of the Unit to assist the Attorney
128	310		General in the performance of his or her duties. The Unit shall
129	311		determine the identity of employees in this state who have violated
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130	338		division (1) of subparagraph a of paragraph 1 of subsection A of
131	339		this section and report the violation to the Off ice of the Attorney
132	340		General and the Commission. The Attorney General shall report the
133	341		violation to the prosecuting attorney having jurisdiction over the
134		-	matter. ENR. H. B. NO. 2236 Page 4
135		-
	342	+	matter.
136	343		4. a. In the course of any investigation being conducted by
137	344		the Unit, the Attorney General and his or her deputies
138	345		and assistants and the Director and his or her
139	346		deputies and assistants shall have the power of
140	347		subpoena and may:
141		-
142	348		(1) subpoena witnesses,
143		-
144	349		(2) administer oaths or affirmations and examine any
145	350		individual under oath, and
146		-
147	351		(3) require and compel the production of records,
148	352		books, papers, contracts, and other documents.
149		-
150	353		b. The issuance of subpoenas for witnesses shall be
151	354		served in the same manner as if issued by a district
152	355		court.
153		-
154	356		c. (1) Upon application by the commissioner or the
155	357		Director of the Unit, the district court located
156	358		in the county where a subpoena was served may
157	359		issue an order compelling an individual to comply
158	360		with the subpoena to testify.
159	361
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160	387		(2) Any failure to obey the order of the court may be
161	388		punished as contempt.
162		-
163	389		d. If any person has refused in connection with an
164	390		investigation by the Director to be examined under
165	391		oath concerning his or her affairs, then the Director
166	392		is authorized to conduct and enforce by all
167	393		appropriate and available means any examination under
168	394		oath in any state or territory of the United States in
169	395		which any officer, director, or manager may then
170	396		presently be to the full extent permitted by the laws
171	397		of the state or territory.
172		-
173	398		e. In addition to the punishments described in paragraph
174	399		1 of subsection A of this section, any person
175	400		providing false testimony under oath or affirmation in
176	401		this state as to any matter material to any
177	402		investigation or hearing conducted under this
178	403		subparagraph, or any workers' compensation hearing,
179		-	shall upon conviction be guilty of perjury. ENR. H. B. NO. 2236 Page 5
180		-
	404	+	shall upon conviction be guilty of perjury.
181	405		5. Fees and mileage of the officers serving the subpoenas and
182	406		of the witnesses in answer to subpoenas shall be as provided by law.
183		-
184	407		6. a. Every carrier or employer who has reason to suspect
185	408		that a violation of division (1) of subparagraph a of
186	409		paragraph 1 of subsection A of this section has
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187	436		occurred shall be required to report all pertinent
188	437		matters to the Unit.
189		-
190	438		b. No carrier or employer who makes a report for a
191	439		suspected violation of division (1) of subparagraph a
192	440		of paragraph 1 of subsection A of this section by an
193	441		employee shall be liable to the employee unless the
194	442		carrier or employer knowingly and intentionally
195	443		included false information in the report.
196		-
197	444		c. (1) Any carrier or employer who willfully and
198	445		knowingly fails to report a violation under
199	446		division (1) of subparagraph a of paragraph 1 of
200	447		subsection A of this section shall be guilty of a
201	448		misdemeanor and on conviction shall be punished
202	449		by a fine not to exceed One Thousand Dollars
203	450		($1,000.00).
204		-
205	451		(2) Fifty percent (50%) of any criminal fine imposed
206	452		and collected under this subparagraph shall be
207	453		paid and allocated in accordance with applicable
208	454		law to the fund administered by the Commission.
209		-
210	455		d. Any employee may report suspected violations of
211	456		division (1) of subparagraph a of paragraph 1 of
212	457		subsection A of this sect ion. No employee who makes a
213	458		report shall be liable to the employee whose suspected
214	459		violations have been reported.
215	460
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216	486		E. F. 1. For the purpose of imposing criminal sanctions or a
217	487		fine for violation of the duties of this act, the prosecuting
218	488		attorney shall have the right and discretion to proceed against any
219	489		person or organization responsible for such violations, both
220	490		corporate and individual liability being intended by this act.
221		-
222	491		2. The prosecuting attorney of the district to whom a suspected
223	492		violation of subsection A of this section, or any other criminal
224		-	violations that may ~~b e~~ related thereto, have been referred shall, ~~ENR. H. B. NO. 2236 Page 6~~
	493	+	violations that may be related thereto, have been referred shall,
225	494		for the purpose of assisting him or her in such prosecutions, have
226	495		the authority to appoint as special deputy prosecuting attorneys
227	496		licensed attorneys-at-law in the employment of the Unit or any other
228	497		designated insurance fraud investigation division within the
229	498		Attorney General's office. Such special deputy prosecuting
230	499		attorneys shall, for the purpose of the prosecutions to which they
231	500		are assigned, be responsible to and report to the prosecuting
232	501		attorney.
233		-
234	502		F. G. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, investigatory
235	503		files as maintained by the Attorney General's office and by the Unit
236	504		shall be deemed confidential and privileged. The files may be made
237	505		open to the public once the investigation is closed by the Director
238	506		of the Workers' Compensation Fraud Investigation Unit with the
239	507		consent of the Attorney General.
240	508
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241	534		G. H. The Attorney General, with the cooperation and assistance
242	535		of the Commission, is authorized to establish rules as may be
243	536		necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.
244		-
245	537		H. I. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to create a civil
246	538		cause of action.
247		-
248	539		I. J. Except for forms submitted through the Electronic Data
249	540		Interchange system employed by the Commission pursuant to Section
250	541		101 of this title, the Commission shall include a statement on all
251	542		forms for notices and instructions to employees, employers, carriers
252	543		and third-party administrators that any person who commits worke rs'
253	544		compensation fraud, upon conviction, shall be guilty of a felony
254	545		punishable by imprisonment, a fine or both.
255		-
256	546		J. K. If an injured employee is charged with workers'
257	547		compensation fraud, any pending workers' compensation proceeding,
258	548		including benefits, sh all be stayed after the preliminary hearing is
259	549		concluded and the claimant is bound over and shall remain stayed
260	550		until the final disposition of the criminal case. All notice
261	551		requirements shall continue during the stay.
262		-
263	552		K. L. If the Attorney General's Offi ce is in compliance with
264	553		the discovery provisions of Section 258 of Title 22 of the Oklahoma
265	554		Statutes, medical records created for the purpose of treatment and
266	555		medical opinions obtained during the investigation shall be
267	556		admissible at the preliminary hearin g without the appearance of the
268	557		medical professional creating such records or opinions. However,
269		-	when material evidence dispositive to the issues of whether there ENR. H. B. NO. 2236 Page 7
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	584	+	when material evidence dispositive to the issues of whether there
270	585		was probable cause the crime was committed and whether the defendant
271	586		committed the crime, wa s not included in a report or opinion
272	587		admitted at preliminary hearing, but might be presented at a
273	588		pretrial hearing by a medical professional who created such report
274	589		or opinion, the judge may, upon the motion of either party, order
275	590		the appearance of the me dical professional creating such report or
276	591		opinion. Questions of fact regarding the conduct of the defendant
277	592		that conflict with the findings of the medical professional
278	593		evaluating the defendant shall not constitute material evidence. In
279	594		the event of such motion, notice shall be given to the Attorney
280	595		General's Workers' Compensation Fraud and Investigation and
281	596		Prosecution Unit. A hearing shall be held and, if the motion is
282	597		granted, the evidence shall not be presented fewer than five (5)
283	598		days later.
284		-
285	599		L. M. Any person or entity who, in good faith and exercising
286	600		due care, reports suspected workers' compensation fraud or insurance
287	601		fraud, or who allows access to medical records or other information
288	602		pertaining to suspected workers' compensation or insurance fraud , by
289	603		persons authorized to investigate a report concerning the workers'
290	604		compensation and insurance fraud, shall have immunity from any civil
291	605		or criminal liability for such report or access. Any such person or
292	606		entity shall have the same immunity with respe ct to participation in
293	607		any judicial proceeding resulting from such reports. For purposes
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	627	+	19
	628	+	20
	629	+	21
	630	+	22
	631	+	23
	632	+	24
	633	+
294	634		of any civil or criminal proceeding, there shall be a presumption of
295	635		good faith of any person making a report, providing medical records
296	636		or providing information pert aining to a workers' compensation or
297	637		insurance fraud investigation by the Attorney General, and
298	638		participating in a judicial proceeding resulting from a subpoena or
299	639		a report.
300		-
301	640		SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 2021.
302		-	ENR. H. B. NO. 2236 Page 8
303		-	Passed the House of Representatives the 3rd day of May, 2021.
	641	+	Passed the House of Representatives the 9th day of March, 2021.
304	642
305	643
306	644
307	645
308	646		Presiding Officer of the House
309	647		of Representatives
310	648
311	649
312		-	Passed the Senate the ~~21st~~ day of ~~April~~, 2021.
	650	+	Passed the Senate the ___ day of __________, 2021.
313	651
314	652
315	653
316	654
317	655		Presiding Officer of the Senate
318	656
319	657
320	658
321		-	OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
322		-	Received by the Office of the Governor this ____________________
323		-	day of __________________ _, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
324		-	By: _________________________________
325		-	Approved by the Governor of the State of Oklahoma this _________
326		-	day of ___________________, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
327		-
328		-
329		-	_________________________________
330		-	Governor of the State of Oklahoma
331		-
332		-	OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE
333		-	Received by the Office of the Secretary of State this __________
334		-	day of ___________________, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
335		-	By: _________________________________
336		-