The Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation Commission (WCC) announced that Executive Director Kim Bailey has resigned and Administrative Law Judge Patricia Sommer has been appointed to lead the agency in the interim. Bailey will be leaving her position to accept a critical role elsewhere in state government, to be announced at a later date.
The WCC is an administrative agency responsible for handling claims of injured workers. The administrative system took effect Feb. 1, 2014.
Bailey started as the general counsel to the Workers’ Compensation Commission in 2014; in June 2015 she accepted the additional role of executive director. During her tenure, Bailey oversaw development of a streamlined management structure, initiated electronic data interchange which will greatly reduce paper forms, and replacement of an antiquated case management system.
Since the legislative reforms implementing the commission, filing of claims has dropped almost 50 percent, more cases are handled without costly trials, and premiums for state employers have dropped more than 30 percent.
Sommer will temporarily step aside from her position as an ALJ in order to take on the responsibilities of the interim appointment.
interim executive director, Sommer will supervise the various offices and divisions of the commission, including administrative and support staff. In addition to nearly four years on the bench, Sommer brings to the position over 20 years of experience in workers’ compensation law and administration.
Source: Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation Commission
Topics Workers' Compensation Oklahoma
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