SENATE FLOOR VERSION – SB413 SFLR Page 1 (Bold face denotes Committee Amendments) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 SENATE FLOOR VERSION February 7, 2023 SENATE BILL NO. 413 By: Daniels An Act relating to workers’ compensation; amending 85A O.S. 2021, Section 69, which relates to statute of limitations; defining term; and providing an effective date. BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 85A O.S. 2021, Section 69, is amended to read as follows: Section 69. A. Time for Filing. 1. A claim for benefits under this act, other than a n occupational disease, shall be barred unless it is filed with the Workers’ Compensation Commissi on within one (1) year from the date of the injury or, if the employee ha s received benefits under this title for the injury, six (6) months from the date of the last issuance of such benefits. For purposes of this section, the date of the injury shall be defined as means the date an injury is caused by an accident as set forth in paragraph 9 of Section 2 of this title, and date of issuance of medical benefits means the date of service of the medical bene fit. SENATE FLOOR VERSION – SB413 SFLR Page 2 (Bold face denotes Committee Amendments) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 2. a. A claim for compensation for disability on accoun t of injury which is either an occupational disease or occupational infection shall be barred unless filed with the Commission within two (2) years from the date of the last injurious exposure to the hazards of the disease or infection. b. A claim for compensation for disability on account of silicosis or asbestosis s hall be filed with the Commission within one (1) year after the time of disablement, and the disablement shall occur within three (3) years from the date of the last injurious exposure to the hazard of silicosis or asbestosis. c. A claim for compensation f or disability on account of a disease condition caused by exposure to X -rays, radioactive substances, or ionizing radiation only shall be filed with the Commission within two (2) years from the date the condition is made known to an employee following exam ination and diagnosis by a medical doctor. 3. A claim for compensation on account of death shall be barred unless filed with the Commission within two (2) years of the date of such a death. 4. If a claim for benefits has been timely filed under paragraph 1 of this subsection and the employee does not: SENATE FLOOR VERSION – SB413 SFLR Page 3 (Bold face denotes Committee Amendments) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 a. make a good-faith request for a hearing to resolve a dispute regarding the right to receive benefits, including medical treatment, under this title within six (6) months of the date the claim is filed, or b. receive or seek benefits, including medical treatment, under this title for a period of six (6) months, then on motion by the employer, the claim shall be dismissed with prejudice. B. Failure to File. Failure to file a claim within the period prescribed in subsection A of this section shall not be a bar to the right to benefits hereunder unless objection to the failure is made at the first hearing on the claim in which all parties in inter est have been given a reasonable notice and opportunity to be h eard by the Commission. C. Persons under Disability. 1. Notwithstanding a ny statute of limitation provided for in this act, when it is established that failure to file a claim by an injured employee or his or her dependents was induced by fraud, the claim may be filed within one (1) year from the time of the discovery of the fraud. 2. Subsection A of this section shall not apply to a mental incompetent or minor so long as the person has no gu ardian or similar legal representative. The limitations prescr ibed in subsection A of this section shall apply to the mental incompetent SENATE FLOOR VERSION – SB413 SFLR Page 4 (Bold face denotes Committee Amendments) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 or minor from the date of the appointment of a guardian or similar legal representative for that person, and when no g uardian or similar representative has been appointed, to a mino r on reaching the age of majority. D. A latent injury or condition shall n ot delay or toll the limitation periods specified in this section. This subsection shall not apply to the limitation period for occupational diseases specified in paragraph 2 of su bsection A of this section. SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 2023. COMMITTEE REPORT BY: COMMITTEE ON RETIREMENT AND INSURANCE February 7, 2023 - DO PASS