Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin signed a sweeping workers comp reform package into law in May. But now, two legislators are suing to have the law overturned, reports the Oklahoman ("Oklahoma workers' comp law challenged," by Nolan Clay).
The reform law "changes the workers' compensation system from a judicial system to an administrative one," the paper reports. "It also allows businesses to opt out of the workers' compensation system as long as they provide equivalent benefits to injured workers." But Republican State Sen. Harry Coates and Democratic state Rep. Emily Virgin, together with the Professional Fire Fighters of Oklahoma are suing to have the law revoked on constitutional grounds. One argument the challengers make: the law covers more than one subject, violating a provision in the Oklahoma constitution that requires laws to have only a single topic. "Justices repeatedly have tossed laws because of this issue," the Oklahoman reports.
