A. 1. a.Any person or entity who makes any material false statement or representation, who willfully and knowingly omits or conceals any material information, or who employs any device, scheme, or artifice, or who aids and abets any person for the purpose of:
2. Any person or entity with whom any person identified in division (1) of subparagraph a of paragraph 1 of this subsection has conspired to achieve the proscribed ends shall, by reason of such conspiracy, be guilty as a principal of a felony.
B. Except for forms submitted through the Electronic Data Interchange system employed by the Workers' Compensation Commission pursuant to Section 101 of this title, a copy of division (1) of subparagraph a of paragraph 1 of subsection A of this section shall be included on all forms prescribed by the Commission for the use of injured employees claiming benefits and for the use of employers in responding to employees' claims under this act.
C. While receiving temporary total disability benefits, failing to report any earned income to an employer, insurance carrier or third-party administrator shall be a felony punishable pursuant to Section 1663 of Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
D. If the Workers' Compensation Commission or the Attorney General finds that a violation of division (1) of subparagraph a of paragraph 1 of subsection A of this section has been committed, or that any other criminal violations in furtherance of this act were committed, the chair of the Commission or the Attorney General shall refer the matter for appropriate action to the prosecuting attorney having criminal jurisdiction over the matter.
2. The Attorney General and his or her deputies and assistants and the Director of the Workers' Compensation Fraud Investigation Unit and his or her deputies and assistants shall be vested with the power of enforcing the requirements of this section.
3. It shall be the duty of the Unit to assist the Attorney General in the performance of his or her duties. The Unit shall determine the identity of employees in this state who have violated division (1) of subparagraph a of paragraph 1 of subsection A of this section and report the violation to the Office of the Attorney General and the Commission. The Attorney General shall report the violation to the prosecuting attorney having jurisdiction over the matter.
4.a.In the course of any investigation being conducted by the Unit, the Attorney General and his or her deputies and assistants and the Director and his or her deputies and assistants shall have the power of subpoena and may:
5. Fees and mileage of the officers serving the subpoenas and of the witnesses in answer to subpoenas shall be as provided by law.
6.a.Every carrier or employer who has reason to suspect that a violation of division (1) of subparagraph a of paragraph 1 of subsection A of this section has occurred shall be required to report all pertinent matters to the Unit.
F. 1. For the purpose of imposing criminal sanctions or a fine for violation of the duties of this act, the prosecuting attorney shall have the right and discretion to proceed against any person or organization responsible for such violations, both corporate and individual liability being intended by this act.
2. The prosecuting attorney of the district to whom a suspected violation of subsection A of this section, or any other criminal violations that may be related thereto, have been referred shall, for the purpose of assisting him or her in such prosecutions, have the authority to appoint as special deputy prosecuting attorneys licensed attorneys-at-law in the employment of the Unit or any other designated insurance fraud investigation division within the Attorney General's office. Such special deputy prosecuting attorneys shall, for the purpose of the prosecutions to which they are assigned, be responsible to and report to the prosecuting attorney.
G. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, investigatory files as maintained by the Attorney General's office and by the Unit shall be deemed confidential and privileged. The files may be made open to the public once the investigation is closed by the Director of the Workers' Compensation Fraud Investigation Unit with the consent of the Attorney General.
H. The Attorney General, with the cooperation and assistance of the Commission, is authorized to establish rules as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.
I. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to create a civil cause of action.
J. Except for forms submitted through the Electronic Data Interchange system employed by the Commission pursuant to Section 101 of this title, the Commission shall include a statement on all forms for notices and instructions to employees, employers, carriers and third-party administrators that any person who commits workers' compensation fraud, upon conviction, shall be guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment, a fine or both.
K. If an injured employee is charged with workers' compensation fraud, any pending workers' compensation proceeding, including benefits, shall be stayed after the preliminary hearing is concluded and the claimant is bound over and shall remain stayed until the final disposition of the criminal case. All notice requirements shall continue during the stay.
L. If the Attorney General's Office is in compliance with the discovery provisions of Section 258 of Title 22 of the Oklahoma Statutes, medical records created for the purpose of treatment and medical opinions obtained during the investigation shall be admissible at the preliminary hearing without the appearance of the medical professional creating such records or opinions. However, when material evidence dispositive to the issues of whether there was probable cause the crime was committed and whether the defendant committed the crime, was not included in a report or opinion admitted at preliminary hearing, but might be presented at a pretrial hearing by a medical professional who created such report or opinion, the judge may, upon the motion of either party, order the appearance of the medical professional creating such report or opinion. Questions of fact regarding the conduct of the defendant that conflict with the findings of the medical professional evaluating the defendant shall not constitute material evidence. In the event of such motion, notice shall be given to the Attorney General's Workers' Compensation Fraud and Investigation and Prosecution Unit. A hearing shall be held and, if the motion is granted, the evidence shall not be presented fewer than five (5) days later.
M. Any person or entity who, in good faith and exercising due care, reports suspected workers' compensation fraud or insurance fraud, or who allows access to medical records or other information pertaining to suspected workers' compensation or insurance fraud, by persons authorized to investigate a report concerning the workers' compensation and insurance fraud, shall have immunity from any civil or criminal liability for such report or access. Any such person or entity shall have the same immunity with respect to participation in any judicial proceeding resulting from such reports. For purposes of any civil or criminal proceeding, there shall be a presumption of good faith of any person making a report, providing medical records or providing information pertaining to a workers' compensation or insurance fraud investigation by the Attorney General, and participating in a judicial proceeding resulting from a subpoena or a report.
Added by Laws 2013, c. 208, § 6, eff. Feb. 1, 2014. Amended by Laws 2015, c. 390, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2015; Laws 2019, c. 476, § 4, emerg. eff. May 28, 2019; Laws 2021, c. 431, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2021.