Workers' compensation; expanding certain rights and remedies. Effective date.

SB 1013 expands workers' compensation rights in Oklahoma by clarifying when injured workers can sue employers outside the standard compensation system. It allows workers to pursue court claims if their employer fails to pay required compensation or if the injury results from an intentional tort (defined as deliberate harm with specific intent, not just negligence). The bill also clarifies contractor responsibilities, specifying that general contractors must provide workers' compensation coverage for subcontractors and defining terms like "general contractor" and "subcontractor" to prevent disputes over insurance coverage. This directly affects injured workers, employers (particularly in construction), and contractors who must now meet clearer insurance requirements. The changes aim to balance employer liability while ensuring workers have legal recourse in specific, documented cases of non-payment or intentional harm.