Connecticut House Bill HB05481

Connecticut 2014 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/4/14
• Refer: 3/4/14

Caption

An Act Establishing The Central Office Of Administrative Hearings.

Impact

The proposed legislation will amend existing statutes to facilitate the transfer of contested cases to the COAH, where they will be overseen by administrative law judges who are tasked with issuing final decisions on these cases. This change is expected to eliminate inconsistencies in how different agencies handle similar cases and align the procedures used in these hearings with established standards for administrative law. Additionally, it may lead to more timely decisions, hence improving the experience for individuals navigating these processes.

Summary

House Bill 05481 seeks to establish the Central Office of Administrative Hearings (COAH) to streamline the process of handling contested cases that involve certain state agencies, such as the Department of Children and Families and the Department of Transportation. The bill aims to transfer the powers and functions related to conducting these hearings from various state agencies to the COAH, thereby promoting consistency and efficiency in administrative adjudications. By centralizing these hearings, the bill intends to enhance the due process rights of individuals who are parties to agency decisions, and provide clear guidelines for administrative law judges in issuing final decisions.

Contention

There are potential contentious points surrounding House Bill 05481, particularly from proponents who emphasize the need for impartiality and uniformity in administrative hearings, while opponents may express concerns regarding the potential for reduced oversight or changes in policies that protect individual rights. Stakeholders in various sectors, including legal professionals, governmental agencies, and advocacy groups may hold differing views on the bill's implications for administrative fairness and access to justice, particularly concerning how the centralization of hearings might affect local agency autonomy or specific legal rights within contested cases.