Substitute Senate Bill No. 220, Public Act No. 24-102, is an act that revises the appeals process under the Paid Family and Medical Leave statutes, specifically amending Section 31-49p of the general statutes, effective July 1, 2024. The bill clarifies that covered employees or aggrieved persons can appeal a denial of compensation or a penalty under the Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program to the Labor Commissioner within twenty-one calendar days of the decision, with provisions for late filing if there is good cause. The commissioner or their designee has the authority to decide the appeal based on the file record, conduct hearings, require witness attendance, and issue subpoenas. The bill also defines the term "file record" and outlines the process for the commissioner or designee to send a written decision to each party and award appropriate relief, including compensation or benefits.

The bill introduces new legal language detailing the procedure for appealing the commissioner's decision to the Superior Court, including the finality of the decision if not appealed in time, the filing process, the certification of the record to the court, and the limitations on the court's review. The court's review is limited to determining whether the findings should be corrected or if there is evidence to support the conclusions, without retrying facts or hearing new evidence. The bill specifies the conditions under which the court may correct the commissioner's findings and the process for requesting such corrections. It also outlines the process for further proceedings if the case is remanded to the commissioner or designee, the retention of jurisdiction by the court, and the process for appealing to the Appellate Court. Lastly, the bill requires the Labor Department to adopt regulations concerning the rules of procedure for the disposition of appeals under this section. The bill was approved on June 4, 2024.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 31-49p
LAB Joint Favorable Substitute: 31-49p
File No. 304: 31-49p
JUD Joint Favorable: 31-49p
Public Act No. 24-102: 31-49p