AN ACT CONCERNING THE STREAMLINING OF THE UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION APPEALS PROCESS.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. Section 31-248 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2010):

(a) Any decision of a referee, in the absence of a timely filed appeal from a party aggrieved thereby or a timely filed motion to reopen, vacate, set aside or modify such decision from a party aggrieved thereby, shall become final on the twenty-second calendar day after the date on which a copy of the decision is mailed to the party, provided (1) any such appeal or motion which is filed after such twenty-one-day period may be considered to be timely filed if the filing party shows good cause, as defined in regulations adopted pursuant to section 31-249h, for the late filing, (2) if the last day for filing an appeal or motion falls on any day when the offices of the Employment Security Division are not open for business, such last day shall be extended to the next business day, and (3) if any such appeal or motion is filed by mail, such appeal or motion shall be considered to be timely filed if it was received within such twenty-one-day period or bears a legible United States postal service postmark which indicates that within such twenty-one-day period, it was placed in the possession of such postal authorities for delivery to the appropriate office. Posting dates attributable to private postage meters shall not be considered in determining the timeliness of appeals or motions filed by mail.

(b) Any decision of a referee may be reopened, set aside, vacated or modified on the timely filed motion of a party aggrieved by such decision, or on the referee's own timely filed motion, on grounds of new evidence or if the ends of justice so require upon good cause shown. The appeal period shall run from the mailing of a copy of the decision entered after any such reopening, setting aside, vacation or modification, or a decision denying such motion, as the case may be, provided no such motion from any party may be accepted with regard to a decision denying a preceding motion to reopen, vacate, set aside or modify filed by the same party. An appeal [to the board] from a referee's decision may be processed by the referee as a motion for purposes of reopening, vacating, setting aside or modifying such decision, solely in order to grant the relief requested.

(c) Judicial review of any decision shall be permitted only after a party aggrieved thereby has exhausted his remedy before the [board] referee, as provided in this chapter. The administrator shall be deemed to be a party to any judicial proceeding involving any such decision and shall be represented in such proceeding by the Attorney General.

Sec. 2. Subdivision (2) of subsection (g) of section 31-225 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2010):

(2) Payments in lieu of contributions shall be made in accordance with the following provisions: (A) At the end of each calendar quarter, or at the end of any other period as determined by the administrator, the administrator shall bill each nonprofit organization or group of such organizations which has elected to make payments in lieu of contributions for an amount equal to the full amount of regular and additional benefits plus one-half of the amount of extended benefits paid during such quarter or other prescribed period that is attributable to service in the employ of such organization. (B) Payment of any bill rendered under this subsection shall be made not later than thirty days after such bill was mailed to the last-known address of the nonprofit organization or was otherwise delivered to it, unless there has been an application for review and redetermination in accordance with subparagraph (D) of this subdivision. (C) Payments made by any nonprofit organization under the provisions of this subsection shall not be deducted or deductible, in whole or in part, from the remuneration of individuals in the employ of the organization. (D) The amount due specified in any bill from the administrator shall be conclusive on the organization unless, within the time prescribed in section 31-241 after the bill was mailed to its last-known address or otherwise delivered to it, the organization files an application for redetermination by the administrator or an appeal in the manner provided in sections 31-241 and 31-242 setting forth the grounds for such application or appeal. The administrator or referee, as the case may be, shall promptly review and reconsider the amount due specified in the bill and shall thereafter issue a redetermination or decision, as applicable in any case in which such application for redetermination or appeal has been filed. Any redetermination by the administrator shall be conclusive on the organization unless, within the time prescribed in section 31-241 after the redetermination was mailed to its last-known address or otherwise delivered to it, the organization files an appeal in the manner prescribed in sections 31-241 and 31-242, setting forth the grounds for the appeal. The decision of the referee shall become final on the twenty-second day after the date of its rendition unless the party aggrieved thereby, including the administrator, files an appeal [in the manner provided in section 31-249] to the superior court for the judicial district of Hartford for the judicial district wherein the appellant lives, setting forth the grounds for the appeal. Redeterminations by the administrator shall be governed by the provisions of section 31-243, as amended by this act. Proceedings on appeal to the unemployment compensation referee from the amount of a bill rendered under this subsection or a redetermination of such amount shall be in accordance with the provisions of section 31-242 and the decision of the referee shall be subject to the provisions of sections 31-248, as amended by this act. [and 31-249.] (E) Past due payments of amounts in lieu of contributions shall be subject to the same interest that, pursuant to section 31-265 applies to past due contributions; an employer electing reimbursement is subject to the same penalties provided under this chapter as employers paying contributions.

Sec. 3. Section 31-243 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2010):

Jurisdiction over benefits shall be continuous but the initiating of a valid appeal under section 31-242 or the pendency of valid [appellate proceedings under section 31-249] appeal to superior court shall, if the appellate tribunal has taken jurisdiction, stay any proceeding hereunder, but only in respect to the same period and the same parties, but shall not cause the cessation of payment of benefits as provided by section 31-242. Where the appellate tribunal has not taken jurisdiction, upon his own initiative, or upon application of any party in interest, the administrator, or the examiner designated by him, may, at any time within six months after the date of the original decision, or within such other time limits as may be applicable under section 31-273, as amended by this act, review an award of benefits or the denial of a claim therefor, in accordance with the procedure prescribed in respect to claims, and may issue a new decision, which may award, terminate, continue, increase or decrease such benefits. Such new decision shall be appealable under the provisions of section 31-242 within the time prescribed in section 31-241, and where the claimant has been free from fault, a redetermination or new decision shall not affect benefits paid under a prior order. Any decision to review an award of benefits or the denial of a claim under this section shall be solely within the discretion of the administrator and shall not be appealable under the provisions of section 31-242.

Sec. 4. Subsection (a) of section 31-273 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2010):

(a) Any person who, through error, has received any sum as benefits under this chapter while any condition for the receipt of benefits imposed by this chapter was not fulfilled in his case, or has received a greater amount of benefits than was due him under this chapter, shall be charged with an overpayment of a sum equal to the amount so overpaid to him, provided such error has been discovered and brought to his attention within one year of the date of receipt of such benefits. A person whose receipt of such a sum was not due to fraud, wilful misrepresentation or wilful nondisclosure by himself or another shall be entitled to a hearing before an examiner designated by the administrator. Such examiner shall determine whether: (A) Such person shall repay such sum to the administrator for the Unemployment Compensation Fund, (B) such sum shall be recouped by offset from such person's unemployment benefits, or (C) repayment or recoupment of such sum would defeat the purpose of the benefits or be against equity and good conscience and should be waived. In any case where the examiner determines that such sum shall be recouped by offset from a person's unemployment benefits, the deduction from benefits shall not exceed fifty per cent of the person's weekly benefit amount. Where such offset is insufficient to recoup the full amount of the overpayment, the claimant shall repay the remaining amount in accordance with a repayment schedule as determined by the examiner. If the claimant fails to repay according to the schedule, the administrator may recover such overpayment through a wage execution against the claimant's earnings upon his return to work in accordance with the provisions of section 52-361a. Any person with respect to whom a determination of overpayment has been made, according to the provisions of this subsection, shall be given notice of such determination and the provisions for repayment or recoupment of the amount overpaid. No repayment shall be required and no deduction from benefits shall be made until the determination of overpayment has become final. The determination of overpayment shall be final unless the claimant, within twenty-one days after notice of such determination was mailed to him at his last-known address, files an appeal from such determination to a referee. If the last day for filing an appeal falls on any day when the offices of the Employment Security Division are not open for business, such last day shall be extended to the next business day. The appeal shall be heard in the same manner provided in section 31-242 for an appeal from the decision of an examiner on a claim for benefits. Any party aggrieved by the decision of the referee, including the administrator, may appeal [to the Employment Security Board of Review in the manner provided in section 31-249. Decisions of the board may be appealed] to the Superior Court. [in the manner provided in section 31-249b.] The administrator is authorized, eight years after the payment of any benefits described in this subsection, to cancel any claim for such repayment or recoupment which in his opinion is uncollectible. Effective January 1, 1996, and annually thereafter, the administrator shall report to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to finance, revenue and bonding and the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to labor and public employees, the aggregate number and value of all such claims deemed uncollectible and therefore cancelled during the previous calendar year. Any determination of overpayment made under this section which becomes final may be enforced by a wage execution in the same manner as a judgment of the Superior Court when the claimant fails to pay according to his repayment schedule. The court may issue a wage execution upon any final determination of overpayment in the same manner as in cases of judgments rendered in the Superior Court, and upon the filing of an application to the court for an execution, the administrator shall send to the clerk of the court a certified copy of such determination.

Sec. 5. Subdivision (3) of subsection (b) of section 31-273 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2010):

(3) Any person charged with the fraudulent receipt of benefits or the making of a fraudulent claim, as provided in this subsection, shall be entitled to a hearing before the administrator, or a deputy or representative designated by the administrator. Notice of the time and place of such hearing, and the reasons for such hearing, shall be given to the person not less than five days prior to the date appointed for such hearing. The administrator shall determine, on the basis of facts found by the administrator, whether or not a fraudulent act subject to the penalties of this subsection has been committed and, upon such finding, shall fix the penalty for any such offense according to the provisions of this subsection. Any person determined by the administrator to have committed fraud under the provisions of this section shall be liable for repayment to the administrator of the Unemployment Compensation Fund for any benefits determined by the administrator to have been collected fraudulently, as well as any other penalties assessed by the administrator in accordance with the provisions of this subsection. Until such liabilities have been met to the satisfaction of the administrator, such person shall forfeit any right to receive benefits under the provisions of this chapter. Notification of such decision and penalty shall be mailed to such person's last known address and shall be final unless such person files an appeal not later than twenty-one days after the mailing date of such notification. If the last day for filing an appeal falls on any day when the offices of the Employment Security Division are not open for business, such last day shall be extended to the next business day. Such appeal shall be heard by a referee in the same manner provided in section 31-242 for an appeal from the decision of an examiner on a claim for benefits. The manner in which such appeals shall be heard and appeals taken therefrom to the [board of review and then to] the Superior Court, either by the administrator or the claimant, shall be in accordance with the provisions set forth in section [31-249 or 31-249b, as the case may be] 31-248, as amended by this act. Any determination of overpayment made under this subsection which becomes final on or after October 1, 1995, may be enforced in the same manner as a judgment of the Superior Court when the claimant fails to pay according to the claimant's repayment schedule. The court may issue execution upon any final determination of overpayment in the same manner as in cases of judgments rendered in the Superior Court; and upon the filing of an application to the court for an execution, the administrator shall send to the clerk of the court a certified copy of such determination.

Sec. 6. Section 1-2a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2010):

(a) For purposes of sections 1-206, 3-114e, 3-114f, 3-114i, 4-147, 9-23g, 9-65, 9-153b, 9-311, 9-608, 10-183g, 12-146, 20-429, 31-241, 31-248, as amended by this act, [31-249a,] 33-603, 33-663, 33-929, 33-1003, 33-1053, 33-1219, 38a-716 and 42-243 (1) any reference to the United States mail or a postmark shall be treated as including a reference to any delivery service designated by the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States pursuant to Section 7502 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent corresponding internal revenue code of the United States, as from time to time amended, (2) any reference to a postmark made by the United States Postal Service shall be treated as including a reference to any date recorded or marked in the manner described in said Section 7502 of said Internal Revenue Code by a designated delivery service, and (3) any equivalent of registered or certified mail designated by the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States pursuant to said Section 7502 of said Internal Revenue Code shall be included within the meaning of registered or certified mail.

(b) The Legislative Commissioners' Office shall, in codifying the provisions of this section, make such technical, grammatical and punctuation changes and statutory placements and classifications, including, but not limited to, the addition of newly enacted material to the sections listed in subsection (a) of this section as are necessary to carry out the purposes of this section.

Sec. 7. Section 31-249h of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2010):

On or before January 1, 1988, the Employment Security Board of Review shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, which establish a definition of "good cause" for the timeliness of filing motions or appeals pursuant to sections 31-241 [,] and 31-248, as amended by this act. [and 31-249a.] Such regulations may be adopted by the board prior to January 1, 1988, but may not take effect prior to that date.

Sec. 8. Section 51-197a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2010):

(a) Appeals from final judgments or actions of the Superior Court shall be taken to the Appellate Court in accordance with section 51-197c, except for small claims, which are not appealable, appeals within the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court as provided for in section 51-199, appeals as provided for in sections 8-8 and 8-9, and except as otherwise provided by statute.

(b) The Appellate Court may issue all writs necessary or appropriate in aid of its jurisdiction and agreeable to the usages and principles of law.

(c) All matters pending in the appellate session of the Superior Court on July 1, 1983, shall be construed as pending with the same status in the Appellate Court on said date.

(d) Notwithstanding subsection (c) of this section, the appellate session of the Superior Court shall continue to have jurisdiction over appeals which it heard prior to July 1, 1983, pursuant to the provisions which were applicable at such time.

(e) Except as otherwise provided in sections 2-40, 2-42, 7-143, 7-230, 8-8, 8-9, 8-132, 8-132a, 10-153e, 12-4, 13a-76, 31-63, 31-109, 31-118, [31-249b,] 31-248, as amended by this act, 31-272, 31-301b, 31-301c, 31-324, 31-491, 31-493, 38a-470, 46a-94, 46a-95, 46b-142, 46b-143, 46b-150c, 51-1a, 51-14, 51-49, 51-50j, 51-164x, 51-165, 51-197a, 51-197b, 51-197c, 51-197e, 51-197f, 51-199, 51-201, 51-202, 51-203, 51-209, 51-210, 51-211, 51-213, 51-215a, 51-216a, 52-235, 52-257, 52-259, 52-263, 52-267, 52-405, 52-434, 52-434a, 52-470, 52-476, 52-477, 52-592, 54-63g, 54-95, 54-96, 54-96a, 54-96b and 54-143, all jurisdiction conferred upon and exercised by the appellate session prior to July 1, 1983, of the Superior Court shall be transferred to the Appellate Court.

Sec. 9. Section 51-344a of the 2010 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2010):

(a) Whenever the term "judicial district of Hartford-New Britain" or "judicial district of Hartford-New Britain at Hartford" is used or referred to in the following sections of the general statutes, it shall be deemed to mean or refer to the judicial district of Hartford on and after September 1, 1998: Sections 1-205, 1-206, 2-48, 3-21a, 3-62d, 3-70a, 3-71a, 4-61, 4-160, 4-164, 4-177b, 4-180, 4-183, 4-197, 5-202, 5-276a, 8-30g, 9-7a, 9-7b, 9-369b, 10-153e, 12-208, 12-237, 12-268l, 12-312, 12-330m, 12-405k, 12-422, 12-448, 12-454, 12-456, 12-463, 12-489, 12-522, 12-554, 12-565, 12-572, 12-586f, 12-597, 12-730, 13b-34, 13b-235, 13b-315, 13b-375, 14-57, 14-66, 14-67u, 14-110, 14-195, 14-311, 14-311c, 14-324, 14-331, 15-125, 15-126, 16-41, 16a-5, 17b-60, 17b-100, 17b-238, 17b-531, 19a-85, 19a-86, 19a-123d, 19a-425, 19a-498, 19a-517, 19a-526, 19a-633, 20-12f, 20-13e, 20-29, 20-40, 20-45, 20-59, 20-73a, 20-86f, 20-99, 20-114, 20-133, 20-154, 20-156, 20-162p, 20-192, 20-195p, 20-202, 20-206c, 20-227, 20-238, 20-247, 20-263, 20-271, 20-307, 20-341f, 20-363, 20-373, 20-404, 20-414, 21a-55, 21a-190i, 22-7, 22-64, 22-228, 22-248, 22-254, 22-320d, 22-326a, 22-344b, 22-386, 22a-6b, 22a-7, 22a-16, 22a-30, 22a-34, 22a-53, 22a-60, 22a-62, 22a-63, 22a-66h, 22a-106a, 22a-119, 22a-167, 22a-180, 22a-182a, 22a-184, 22a-220a, 22a-220d, 22a-225, 22a-226, 22a-226c, 22a-227, 22a-250, 22a-255l, 22a-276, 22a-285a, 22a-285g, 22a-285j, 22a-310, 22a-342a, 22a-344, 22a-361a, 22a-374, 22a-376, 22a-408, 22a-430, 22a-432, 22a-438, 22a-449f, 22a-449g, 22a-459, 23-5e, 23-65m, 25-32e, 25-36, 28-5, 29-143j, 29-158, 29-161z, 29-317, 29-323, 29-329, 29-334, 29-340, 29-369, 30-8, 31-109, [31-249b,] 31-248, as amended by this act, 31-266, 31-266a, 31-270, 31-273, as amended by this act, 31-284, 31-285, 31-339, 31-355a, 31-379, 35-3c, 35-42, 36a-186, 36a-187, 36a-471a, 36a-494, 36a-587, 36a-647, 36a-684, 36a-718, 36a-807, 36b-26, 36b-27, 36b-30, 36b-50, 36b-71, 36b-72, 36b-74, 36b-76, 38a-41, 38a-52, 38a-134, 38a-139, 38a-140, 38a-147, 38a-150, 38a-185, 38a-209, 38a-225, 38a-226b, 38a-241, 38a-337, 38a-470, 38a-620, 38a-657, 38a-687, 38a-774, 38a-776, 38a-817, 38a-843, 38a-868, 38a-906, 38a-994, 42-103c, 42-110d, 42-110k, 42-110p, 42-182, 46a-5, 46a-56, 46a-100, 47a-21, 49-73, 51-44a, 51-81b, 51-194, 52-146j, 53-392d and 54-211a.

(b) If the term "judicial district of Hartford-New Britain" or "judicial district of Hartford-New Britain at Hartford" is used or referred to in any public act of 1995, 1996, 1997 or 1998 or in any section of the general statutes which is amended in 1995, 1996, 1997 or 1998 it shall be deemed to mean or refer to the judicial district of Hartford on and after September 1, 1998.

(c) If the term "judicial district of Hartford-New Britain at New Britain" is used or referred to in any public act of 1995, 1996, 1997 or 1998 or in any section of the general statutes which is amended in 1995, 1996, 1997 or 1998 it shall be deemed to mean or refer to the judicial district of New Britain on and after September 1, 1998.

Sec. 10. Subsection (a) of section 51-344a of the general statutes, as amended by section 22 of public act 09-177, is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2011):

(a) Whenever the term "judicial district of Hartford-New Britain" or "judicial district of Hartford-New Britain at Hartford" is used or referred to in the following sections of the general statutes, it shall be deemed to mean or refer to the judicial district of Hartford on and after September 1, 1998: Sections 1-205, 1-206, 2-48, 3-21a, 3-62d, 3-70a, 3-71a, 4-61, 4-160, 4-164, 4-177b, 4-180, 4-183, 4-197, 5-202, 5-276a, 8-30g, 9-7a, 9-7b, 9-369b, 10-153e, 12-208, 12-237, 12-268l, 12-312, 12-330m, 12-405k, 12-422, 12-448, 12-454, 12-456, 12-463, 12-489, 12-522, 12-554, 12-565, 12-572, 12-586f, 12-597, 12-730, 13b-34, 13b-235, 13b-315, 13b-375, 14-57, 14-66, 14-67u, 14-110, 14-195, 14-311, 14-311c, 14-324, 14-331, 15-125, 15-126, 16-41, 16a-5, 17b-60, 17b-100, 17b-238, 17b-531, 19a-85, 19a-86, 19a-123d, 19a-425, 19a-498, 19a-517, 19a-526, 19a-633, 20-12f, 20-13e, 20-29, 20-40, 20-45, 20-59, 20-73a, 20-86f, 20-99, 20-114, 20-133, 20-154, 20-156, 20-162p, 20-192, 20-195p, 20-202, 20-206c, 20-227, 20-238, 20-247, 20-263, 20-271, 20-307, 20-341f, 20-363, 20-373, 20-404, 20-414, 21a-55, 21a-190i, 22-7, 22-64, 22-228, 22-248, 22-254, 22-320d, 22-326a, 22-344b, 22-386, 22a-6b, 22a-7, 22a-16, 22a-30, 22a-34, 22a-53, 22a-60, 22a-62, 22a-63, 22a-66h, 22a-106a, 22a-119, 22a-167, 22a-180, 22a-182a, 22a-184, 22a-220a, 22a-220d, 22a-225, 22a-226, 22a-226c, 22a-227, 22a-250, 22a-255l, 22a-276, 22a-285a, 22a-285g, 22a-285j, 22a-310, 22a-342a, 22a-344, 22a-361a, 22a-374, 22a-376, 22a-408, 22a-430, 22a-432, 22a-438, 22a-449f, 22a-449g, 22a-459, 23-5e, 23-65m, 25-32e, 25-36, 28-5, 29-143j, 29-158, 29-161z, 29-323, 30-8, 31-109, [31-249b,] 31-248, as amended by this act, 31-266, 31-266a, 31-270, 31-273, as amended by this act, 31-284, 31-285, 31-339, 31-355a, 31-379, 35-3c, 35-42, 36a-186, 36a-187, 36a-471a, 36a-494, 36a-587, 36a-647, 36a-684, 36a-718, 36a-807, 36b-26, 36b-27, 36b-30, 36b-50, 36b-71, 36b-72, 36b-74, 36b-76, 38a-41, 38a-52, 38a-134, 38a-139, 38a-140, 38a-147, 38a-150, 38a-185, 38a-209, 38a-225, 38a-226b, 38a-241, 38a-337, 38a-470, 38a-620, 38a-657, 38a-687, 38a-774, 38a-776, 38a-817, 38a-843, 38a-868, 38a-906, 38a-994, 42-103c, 42-110d, 42-110k, 42-110p, 42-182, 46a-5, 46a-56, 46a-100, 47a-21, 49-73, 51-44a, 51-81b, 51-194, 52-146j, 53-392d and 54-211a.

Sec. 11. Sections 31-249, 31-249a and 31-249b of the general statutes are repealed. (Effective October 1, 2010)

Statement of Purpose:

To reduce the number of appeals in the unemployment compensation system by one level to streamline the process and provide a quicker final determination for both the claimant and employer.

[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]