Oklahoma: Lawmaker targets misclassified independent contractors

An Oklahoma lawmaker is taking aim at employers who improperly misclassify employees as independent contractors in order to avoid paying workers' compensation and other taxes.

Sen. Andrew Rice, D-Oklahoma City, recently filed legislation that would allow the Oklahoma Tax Commission, Oklahoma Workers' Compensation Court, and Oklahoma Employment Security Commission to share information and coordinate investigative and enforcement efforts in order to find employers who intentionally misclassify individuals as independent contractors rather than employees.

"This is an employer and worker fairness issue," Rice said. "The overwhelming majority of Oklahoma businesses properly classify workers, but the few who do not play by the rules are cheating their employees and fellow taxpayers. This bill would discourage further employee misclassification, protect employee benefits, and would increase state revenue by recovering those payroll taxes that currently aren't being paid, and should be."

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Senate Bill 1384 would also allow a database of information to be created, which would be accessible by agency representatives responsible for enforcement.

In addition to Rice's legislation, Senate President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, said the 2010 legislative agenda will focus on economic development, energy and government reform.

Read more at the WORKERSCOMP Forum^TM homepage.

February 8, 2010

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