A.B. 12 - *AB12* ASSEMBLY BILL NO. 12–COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE AND LABOR (ON BEHALF OF THE EMPLOYMENT SECURITY DIVISION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT, TRAINING AND REHABILITATION) PREFILED OCTOBER 30, 2024 ____________ Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor SUMMARY—Revises requirements for obtaining judicial review of a decision of the Board of Review concerning a claim for unemployment benefits. (BDR 53-309) FISCAL NOTE: Effect on Local Government: No. Effect on the State: No. ~ EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted. AN ACT relating to unemployment compensation; revising requirements for obtaining judicial review of a decision of the Board of Review concerning a claim for unemployment benefits; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. Legislative Counsel’s Digest: Existing law authorizes any party aggrieved by a decision of the Board of 1 Review concerning a claim for unemployment benefits to obtain judicial review of 2 the decision by commencing an action in the district court of the county where the 3 employment which is the basis of the claim was performed. Existing law requires, 4 within 45 days after the commencement of the action, a petition to be served upon 5 the Administrator of the Employment Security Division of the Department of 6 Employment, Training and Rehabilitation at a designated office of the 7 Administrator, unless the Administrator is the appellant, or upon such person as the 8 Administrator may designate. (NRS 612.530) 9 The Nevada Supreme Court has determined that the requirement that a petition 10 be served within 45 days after the commencement of the action is mandatory and 11 requires strict enforcement. (Nokley v. Empl’t Sec. Div., No. 85045, 2023 WL 12 3441031, at **1 (Nev. May 12, 2023)) Section 1 of this bill codifies that 13 determination into statute by specifically requiring strict compliance with that 14 requirement and prohibiting its excusal by the court. Additionally, the Nevada 15 Supreme Court has declined to address whether the requirement that a petition must 16 be served within 45 days after the commencement of the action is a jurisdictional 17 – 2 – - *AB12* requirement. (Id.) Section 1 specifies that the requirement is jurisdictional by 18 providing that the failure to comply with that requirement deprives the court of 19 jurisdiction over the action. 20 Section 2 of this bill clarifies that the amendatory provisions of this bill apply 21 to a petition for judicial review that is filed on or after the effective date of this bill. 22 THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. NRS 612.530 is hereby amended to read as follows: 1 612.530 1. Within 11 days after the decision of the Board of 2 Review has become final, any party aggrieved thereby or the 3 Administrator may secure judicial review thereof by commencing 4 an action in the district court of the county where the employment 5 which is the basis of the claim was performed for the review of the 6 decision, in which action any other party to the proceedings before 7 the Board of Review must be made a defendant. 8 2. In such action, a petition which need not be verified, but 9 which must state the grounds upon which a review is sought, must, 10 within 45 days after the commencement of the action, be served 11 upon the Administrator at a designated office of the Administrator 12 in Carson City, unless the Administrator is the appellant, or upon 13 such person as the Administrator may designate, and such service 14 shall be deemed completed service on all parties, but there must be 15 left with the party so served as many copies of the petition as there 16 are defendants, and the Administrator shall forthwith mail one such 17 copy to each defendant. 18 3. The requirement set forth in subsection 2 that a petition 19 must be served upon the Administrator, or upon such person as 20 the Administrator may designate, within 45 days after the 21 commencement of the action must be strictly complied with and 22 may not be excused by the court. Failure to comply with that 23 requirement deprives the court of jurisdiction over the action. 24 4. The Administrator shall file with the court an answer within 25 45 days after being served with a petition pursuant to subsection 2 26 or, if the Administrator is the appellant, the Administrator shall 27 serve the petition upon each other party within 45 days after 28 commencement of the action. With the Administrator’s answer or 29 petition, the Administrator shall certify and file with the court 30 originals or true copies of all documents and papers and a transcript 31 of all testimony taken in the matter, together with the Board of 32 Review’s findings of fact and decision therein. The Administrator 33 may certify to the court questions of law involved in any decision. 34 [4.] 5. In any judicial proceedings under this section, the 35 finding of the Board of Review as to the facts, if supported by 36 – 3 – - *AB12* evidence and in the absence of fraud, is conclusive, and the 1 jurisdiction of the court is confined to questions of law. 2 [5.] 6. Such actions, and the questions so certified, must be 3 heard in a summary manner and must be given precedence over all 4 other civil cases except cases arising under chapters 616A to 616D, 5 inclusive, or chapter 617 of NRS. 6 [6.] 7. An appeal may be taken from the decision of the district 7 court to the appellate court of competent jurisdiction pursuant to the 8 rules fixed by the Supreme Court of Nevada pursuant to Section 4 of 9 Article 6 of the Nevada Constitution in the same manner, but not 10 inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter, as is provided in 11 civil cases. 12 [7.] 8. It is not necessary, in any judicial proceeding under this 13 section, to enter exceptions to the rulings of the Board of Review, 14 and no bond may be required for entering the appeal. 15 [8.] 9. Upon the final determination of the judicial proceeding, 16 the Board of Review shall enter an order in accordance with the 17 determination. 18 [9.] 10. A petition for judicial review does not act as a 19 supersedeas or stay unless the Board of Review so orders. 20 Sec. 2. The amendatory provisions of this act apply to a 21 petition for judicial review that is filed on or after the effective date 22 of this act. 23 Sec. 3. This act becomes effective upon passage and approval. 24 H