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OLR Bill Analysis
HB 6344 (as amended by House "A")*
AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE OFFICE OF THE UNEMPLOYED
WORKERS' ADVOCATE.
SUMMARY
This bill requires the labor commissioner, within available
appropriations, to establish the Office of the Unemployed Workers’
Advocate within the Department of Labor (DOL) to assist unemployed
people.
The bill requires the commissioner, by October 1, 2021, to designate
an “unemployed workers’ advocate,” who serves at the pleasure of the
commissioner, to manage the office’s daily activities and duties. The
advocate must have the qualifications needed to perform the office’s
duties, including expertise in unemployment benefits and advocacy
for unemployed people’s rights. The advocate must, within available
appropriations, appoint and employ the assistants, employees, and
personnel needed to effectively and efficiently administer the office’s
activities.
*House Amendment “A” requires that the unemployed workers’
advocate be designated by October 1, 2021, rather than by July 1, 2021.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage
OFFICE POWERS
The bill allows the Office of the Unemployed Workers’ Advocate to:
1. help unemployed people seeking unemployment benefits;
2. help unemployed people understand their rights and
responsibilities related to unemployment benefits;
3. provide information to the public, agencies, legislators, and
others about unemployed people’s problems and concerns, and 2021HB-06344-R01-BA.DOCX
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make recommendations for resolving them;
4. help unemployed people file unemployment benefit appeals;
5. analyze and monitor the development and implementation of
federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and policies related to
unemployed people, and recommend changes the office deems
necessary to the appropriate governmental entity;
6. receive and review unemployed people’s complaints and make
recommendations to the labor commissioner for resolving them;
7. access an unemployed person’s prior employment records to
the extent that state and federal law allows;
8. establish and maintain an Internet website and a toll-free
number, or any other free calling option, that allows
unemployed people to access the office’s services and
information; and
9. take any other actions needed to fulfill the bill’s purposes.
COMMITTEE ACTION
Labor and Public Employees Committee
Joint Favorable
Yea 9 Nay 4 (03/25/2021)
Appropriations Committee
Joint Favorable
Yea 48 Nay 0 (05/03/2021)