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General Assembly Committee Bill No. 6344
January Session, 2021
LCO No. 5726
Referred to Committee on LABOR AND PUBLIC EMPLOYEES
Introduced by:
(LAB)
AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE OFFICE OF THE UNEMPLOYED
WORKERS' ADVOCATE.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) The Labor Commissioner 1
shall, within available appropriations, establish the Office of the 2
Unemployed Workers' Advocate within the Labor Department to 3
provide assistance to individuals who are unemployed. 4
(b) The Office of the Unemployed Workers' Advocate may: 5
(1) Assist unemployed individuals seeking benefits administered by 6
the Labor Department under chapter 567 of the general statutes; 7
(2) Assist unemployed individuals to understand their rights and 8
responsibilities with respect to benefits administered by the department 9
under chapter 567 of the general statutes; 10
(3) Provide information to the public, state agencies, legislators and 11
others regarding the problems and concerns of unemployed individuals 12
and make recommendations for resolving such problems and concerns; 13 Committee Bill No. 6344
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(4) Assist unemployed individuals with the filing of appeals in 14
connection with the benefits administered by the department under 15
chapter 567 of the general statutes; 16
(5) Analyze and monitor the development and implementation of 17
federal, state and local laws, regulations and policies relating to 18
unemployed individuals and recommend changes the office deems 19
necessary to the appropriate federal, state or local governmental entity; 20
(6) Receive and review complaints of unemployed individuals and 21
make recommendations to the commissioner for resolving such 22
complaints; 23
(7) Access prior employment records of an unemployed individual to 24
the extent permitted under state and federal law; 25
(8) Establish and maintain an Internet web site and a toll-free number, 26
or any other free calling option, to allow unemployed individuals access 27
to the services and information provided by the Office of the 28
Unemployed Workers' Advocate; and 29
(9) Take any other actions necessary to fulfill the purposes of this 30
section. 31
(c) Not later than July 1, 2021, the Labor Commissioner shall 32
designate an Unemployed Workers' Advocate, who shall serve at the 33
pleasure of the commissioner, to manage the daily activities and duties 34
of the Office of the Unemployed Workers' Advocate. The Unemployed 35
Workers' Advocate shall have the necessary qualifications to perform 36
the duties of said office, including, but not limited to, having expertise 37
and experience in the fields of unemployment compensation benefits 38
and advocacy for the rights of unemployed individuals. Within 39
available appropriations, the Unemployed Workers' Advocate shall 40
appoint and employ such assistants, employees and personnel as 41
deemed necessary for the efficient and effective administration of the 42
activities of the office. 43 Committee Bill No. 6344
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This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 from passage New section
LAB Joint Favorable