HB 569: Labor and industrial relations; employment security; benefits and appeals; revise certain notice provisions

Georgia's unemployment insurance system (administered under Chapter 8 of Title 34) gives workers and employers a set number of days to appeal decisions about benefits eligibility. Currently, that clock starts when a notice was mailed or delivered. This bill would replace that standard with a new, printed 'issue date' on each determination or decision, defined as the date the Department of Labor releases the decision by mail, hand delivery, or electronically with consent. The bill adds a new Code section defining 'issue date' and letting the Commissioner set administrative rules for waiving or adjusting time limits, as long as they remain consistent with due process. It then updates several existing Code sections, covering initial determinations, hearing officer decisions, board of review decisions, and judicial review, so that the 15 day appeal windows all run from the issue date instead of the mailing date. The changes would take effect January 1, 2026.

• Creates a new Code section (34-8-53) defining 'issue date' as the date the Department of Labor releases a determination or decision by mail, hand delivery, or electronic means.
• Requires the issue date to be printed directly on determinations and decisions issued by the department.
• Lets the Commissioner adopt administrative rules to waive, alter, extend, or set aside appeal time limits, as long as the rules stay consistent with due process.
• Changes the 15 day deadline to apply for reconsideration or appeal an initial benefits determination so it runs from the printed issue date instead of the mailing date (O.C.G.A. § 34-8-192).
• Changes the 15 day deadline to appeal a hearing officer's decision so it runs from the printed issue date instead of the notification or mailing date (O.C.G.A. § 34-8-220).
• Changes when board of review decisions become final and when they can be reconsidered, tying both to the printed issue date instead of the mailing date (O.C.G.A. §§ 34-8-221, 34-8-223).

Georgians who apply for unemployment benefits, employers involved in unemployment claims, the Georgia Department of Labor, administrative hearing officers, the board of review, and anyone pursuing judicial review of a benefits decision.

Because appeal deadlines currently depend on mailing dates, disputes can arise over when a notice actually went out. Tying the clock to a printed issue date could make deadlines clearer and easier to verify for workers and employers navigating unemployment benefit appeals.

• Section 1 adds Code Section 34-8-53, defining 'issue date' and authorizing the Commissioner to adjust time limits by rule, subject to due process.
• Section 2 revises O.C.G.A. § 34-8-192(c) so the 15 day window to seek reconsideration or appeal an initial determination starts from the issue date printed on the determination.
• Section 3 revises O.C.G.A. § 34-8-220(b) so the 15 day window to appeal a hearing officer's decision starts from the issue date printed on the decision.
• Section 4 revises O.C.G.A. § 34-8-221(a) and (b) so board of review decisions become final, and can be reconsidered, based on the printed issue date rather than the mailing date.
• Section 5 revises O.C.G.A. § 34-8-223(a) so judicial review timing is based on the issue date printed on the board's decision.
• Section 6 sets the effective date as January 1, 2026.

1. 2025-03-06Senate Read and Referred (Senado)
2. 2025-03-04House Passed/Adopted (Cámara de Representantes)
3. 2025-03-04House Third Readers (Cámara de Representantes)
4. 2025-02-27House Committee Favorably Reported (Cámara de Representantes)
5. 2025-02-26House Second Readers (Cámara de Representantes)
6. 2025-02-24House First Readers (Cámara de Representantes)
7. 2025-02-21House Hopper (Cámara de Representantes)

• Jutt Howard (R, HD-071)Patrocinador principal
• William Werkheiser (R, HD-157)

1. AprobadaVotación: Cámara de Representantes4 de marzo de 2025

   170 a favor, 0 en contra (3 sin votar, 7 ausentes)

   Passage: House Vote #190

• unemployment benefits
• employment security
• appeals deadlines
• labor law