Sec.31-237g-2. Appeals Division

(Statutory reference: 31-237b, 31-237c, 31-237e, 31-237f, 31- 237g, 31-249d)

(a) The Appeals Division controls the administrative appellate system for adjudicating appeals from determinations of the Administrator and consists of the Board of Review and the Referee Section. The Referee Section shall be subject to the Board’s administrative direction, supervision and control. Subject to the provisions of Chapter 67 of the Connecticut General Statutes, the Board may appoint such employees in the Appeals Division as it deems necessary to carry out the responsibilities of the Appeals Division provided the Board shall appoint a Counsel to the Board. In the performance of its duties the Appeals Division is autonomous and separate from the Administrator.

(b) The Board shall undertake such investigations as it deems necessary and consistent with the provisions of Chapter 567 of the Connecticut General Statutes. The Board shall consist of three members appointed by the Governor, one of which shall be designated as Chairperson of the Board of Review. Such Chairperson shall be in the classified service and devote full time to the duties of the office. The other two members appointed to serve during the appointing Governor’s term of office shall be a representative of employers and a representative of employees and shall devote full time to the duties of their offices. The members of the Board representing employers and employees shall be selected as representatives based upon previous vocation, employment or affiliation. A member of the Board may be removed by the Governor for cause pursuant to the Connecticut General Statutes. Any vacancy on the Board shall be filled by appointment by the Governor. In the case of a disqualification of a Board member, or at any time a member of the Board is incapacitated to serve, an alternate member appointed by the governor shall serve in place of the board member, provided that the alternate member so appointed shall represent the same interest as the board member in whose place he serves. The board may, at its option, require alternate members to sit with it in the fulfillment of any function of the board. The Counsel shall be qualified, by reason of such individual’s training, education and experience, to carry out the duties of the position, which include, but are not limited to, performing legal research for the Board, advising Referees on legal matters relating to procedural and substantive problems of hearings and appeals, assisting the Chairperson in preparing legislative amendments to unemployment compensation law pertaining to appellate matters, serving as Acting Chairperson of the Board in the Chairperson’s absence, and other related duties as required.

(c) No person serving as a Referee, Counsel, member of the Board, or legal staff to the board shall appear for or on behalf of any party, other than himself, before any other Referee or before the Board. No person serving as a Referee, Counsel, or member of the Board, or legal staff to the board shall appear in any court for or on behalf of any party, other than himself or the board, whose matter before the court consists of an appeal or other proceeding which commenced before one of the Referees or before the Board.

(Effective June 23, 1986; Amended October 27, 1997; Amended June 3, 2021)