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ment or facilities therefor, or in any of such activities.*

(b) The term "carrier" means an express company, sleeping-car company, or carrier by railroad, subject to part I of the Interstate Commerce Act.

(sec. 1, 52 Stat. 1094; 45 U.S.C.351)

[Board Order 40-368, 5 FR 2718, Aug. 1, 1940, as amended by Board Order 41-526, 7 FR 97, Jan. 6, 1942]

§ 301.4 Who are employers.

The provisions of § 201.1(k) and the provisions of §§ 202.2-202.15 of this chapter shall be applicable to the determination of who are employers under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act to the same extent and in the same manner as they are applicable to the determination of who are employers under the Railroad Retirement Act of 1937.

(Sec. 12, 52 stat. 1107, as amended; 45 U.S.C. 362. Interprets or applies sec. 1, 52 stat. 1094, as amended; 45 U.S.C. 351)

[Board Order 40-368, 5 FR 2718, Aug. 1, 1940]

PART 319-PROCEDURE FOR DETERMINING LIABILITY FOR CONTRIBUTIONS OR REPAYMENTS OF BENEFITS

Sec.

319.1 Statutory provisions. 319.2

Procedure for determining entitlement to benefits awarded where employer status is denied, and for determining liability for contributions.

§ 319.1 Statutory provisions.

In any case in which benefits are awarded to a claimant in whole or in part upon the basis of pay earned in the service of a person or company found by the Board to be an employer as defined in this Act but which denies that it is such an employer, such benefits awarded on such basis shall be paid to such claimant subject to a right of recovery of such benefits. The Board shall thereupon designate one of its officers or employees to receive evidence and to report to the Board on whether such benefits should be repaid. The Board may also designate one of its officers or employees to receive evidence and report to the Board whether or not any person or company is entitled to a refund of contributions or should be required to pay contributions under this Act, regardless of whether or not any claims for benefits will have been filed upon the basis of service in the employ of

such person or company, and shall follow such procedure if contributions are assessed and payment is refused or payment is made and a refund claimed upon the basis that such person or company is or will not have been liable for such contributions. Ir. any such case the Board or the person so desig nated shall, by publication or otherwise, notify all parties properly interested of their right to participate in the proceeding and, if a hearing is to be held, of the time and place of the hearing. At the request of any party properly interested the Board shall provide for a hearing, and may provide for a hearing on its own motion. The Board shall prescribe regulations governing the proceedings provided for in this paragraph and for decisions upon such proceedings.

Final decision of the Board in the cases provided for in the preceding two paragraphs shall be communicated to the claimant and to the other interested parties within fifteen days after it is made. Any properly interested party notified, as hereinabove provided, of his right to participate in the proceedings may obtain a review of any such decision by which he claims to be aggrieved or the determination of any issue therein in the manner provided in subsection (f) of this section with respect to the review of the Board's decisions upon claims for benefits and subject to all provisions of law applicable to the review of such decisions. Subject only to such review, the decision of the Board upon all issues determined in such decision shall be final and conclusive for all purposes and shall conclusively establish all rights and obligations, arising under this Act, of every party notified as hereinabove provided of his right to participate in the proceedings.

Any issue determinable pursuant to this subsection and subsection (f) of this section shall not be determined in any manner other than pursuant to this subsection and subsection (f). (Section 5(c), Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act.)

In any proceeding other than a court proceeding, the rules of evidence prevailing in courts of law or equity shall not be controlling, but a full and complete record shall be kept of all proceedings and testimony, and the Board's final determination, together with its findings of fact and conclusions of law in connection therewith, shall be communicated to the parties within fifteen days after the date of such final determinations. (Section 5(e), Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act.)

Any claimant, or any railway labor organization organized in accordance with the provisions of the Railway Labor Act, of which claimant is a member, or any other party aggrieved by a final decision under subsection (c) of this section, may, only after all administrative remedies within the Board

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will have been availed of and exhausted, obtain a review of any final decision of the Board by filing a petition for review within ninety days after the mailing of notice of such decision to the claimant or other party, or within such further time as the Board may allow, in the United States court of appeals for the circuit in which the claimant or other party resides or will have had his principal place of business or principal executive office, or in the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit or in the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. *** (Section 5(f), Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act.)

(Sec. 12, 52 Stat. 1107, as amended; 45 U.S.C. 362)

[Board Order 58-14@, 23 FR 9089, Nov. 22, 1958)

§ 319.2 Procedure for determining entitlement to benefits awarded where employer status is denied, and for determining liability for contributions.

(a) The Board may designate one of its officers or employees as examiner to receive evidence and report to the Board (1) whether or not a claimant should repay benefits awarded in whole or in part upon the basis of pay earned in the service of a person or company found by the Board to be an employer as defined in the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act, but which denies that it is such an employer, or (2) whether or not any person or company is entitled to a refund of contributions or should be required to pay contributions under the Act. Such procedure shall be followed if contributions are assessed and payment is refused or payment is made and a refund claimed upon the basis that such person or company is or will not have been liable for such contributions. The examiner shall have power to hold hearings, require and compel the attendance of witnesses, administer oaths, take testimony, and make all necessary investigations. At the request of any party properly interested, the Board shall provide for a hearing before such examiner, and may provide for a hearing on its own motion. The examiner shall, by publication or otherwise, notify all parties properly interested of their right to participate in the proceeding and if a hearing is to be held, of the time and place of the hearing.

(b) All evidence and argument presented by any party, and all evidence developed by the examiner, shall be preserved and shall constitute a part of the record. All oral evidence presented at any hearing, and all oral argument, shall be reduced to writing. The record at any time shall be available for examination by any properly interested party or his representative. (c) Upon the completion of any proceeding, the examiner shall upon the basis of the entire record, render a report to the Board as soon as practicable, and within five days after the making thereof shall send a copy of the report to each party appearing in the proceeding by mailing such copy to him at the address stated in his appearance. Such report shall contain a statement of (1) the issue or issues raised, (2) the evidence submitted, (3) findings of fact, (4) conclusions of law, and (5) a recommended determination.

(d) Any party to the proceeding may, within twenty days after the mailing to him of a copy of the examiner's report, file with the Board, and serve upon other parties by mailing to their addresses as stated in their appearances, such exceptions in writing as he desires to make to the examiner's findings of fact and conclusions of law. Each exception shall specifically designate the particular finding of fact or conclusion of law to which exception is taken, and shall set forth in detail the grounds of the exception. General exceptions and exceptions not specifically directed to particular findings of fact or conclusions of law will not be considered. Each party shall have ten days after the receipt of exceptions taken by other parties in which to file with the Board replies to the exceptions. The Board may, upon the application of any party and for cause shown, extend the time for filing and serving of exceptions or filing of replies thereto. The examiner's report shall be advisory but shall be presumed to be correct. Findings of fact to which no exceptions are taken will, subject only to the power of the Board to reject or modify, stand confirmed.

(e) The Board will render its decision upon the record and upon the basis of the examiner's report and

such exceptions and replies thereto as are made. Further argument will not be permitted except upon a showing by any party that he has arguments to present which for valid reasons he was unable to present at an earlier stage, and in cases in which the Board requests further elaboration of arguments. In such cases, the further argument shall be submitted orally or in writing, as the Board may indicate in each case, and shall be subject to such restrictions as to form, subject matter, length, and time as the Board may indicate. The decision of the Board will be communicated to all parties to the proceeding within fifteen days after it has been made by mailing a copy of the decision to each such party at the address furnished by him.

(f) The decision of the Board, with respect to all issues determined therein, shall be final and conclusive for all purposes, and shall conclusively establish all rights and obligations, arising under any act administered by the Board, of every person notified of his right to participate in the proceeding.

(g) Any properly interested party notified of his right to participate in the proceeding may, as provided in section 5(c) of the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act, and in accordance with the provisions of section 5(f) of the Act, obtain judicial review of a final decision of the Board, under this section, by which he claims to be aggrieved, by filing a petition for review in the proper court within ninety days after the mailing to him of notice of such decision, or within such further time as the Board may allow. Such petition for review must be filed in the United States court of appeals for the circuit in which the party resides or will have had his principal place of business or principal executive office, or in the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit or in the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.

(h) Insofar as applicable and not inconsistent with the preceding provisions of this section, the provisions of §§ 250.7 to 250.16 of this chapter shall be followed in any proceeding under this section.

(Sec. 12, 52 Stat. 1107, as amended; 45 U.S.C. 362)

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320.35 Review of decision of referee on motion of Board.

320.38 Appeal to Board from decision of referee.

320.39 Execution and filing of appeal to Board from decision of referee. 320.40 Procedure before Board on appeal from decision of referee.

320.41 Procedure before Board after submission of report by referee. 320.42 Decision of Board. 320.45 Judicial review.

320.48 Representatives of parties. 320.50 Adjudicating office.

AUTHORITY: Sec. 12, 52 Stat. 1107, as amended: 45 U.S.C. 362.

SOURCE: Board Order 58-142, 23 FR 9090, Nov. 22, 1958, unless otherwise noted.

§ 320.1 Statutory provisions.

Claims for benefits and appeals from determinations with respect thereto shall be made in accordance with such regulations as the Board shall prescribe. * * (Section 5(a), Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act.)

The Board is authorized and directed to make findings of fact with respect to any claim for benefits and to make decisions as to the right of any claimant to benefits. The Board is further authorized to hold such hearings, to conduct such investigations and other proceedings, and to establish, by regulations or otherwise, such procedures as it may deem necessary or proper for the determination of a right to benefits. (Section 5(b), Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act.)

Each qualified employee whose claim for benefits has been denied in whole or in part upon an initial determination with respect thereto upon a basis other than one which is reviewable pursuant to one of the succeeding paragraphs of this subsection, shall be granted an opportunity for a fair hearing thereon before a referee or such other reviewing body as the Board may establish or assign thereto.

Any claimant whose claim for benefits has been denied in an initial determination with respect thereto upon the basis of his not being a qualified employee, and any claimant who contends that under an initial determination of his claim he has been awarded benefits at less than the proper rate, may appeal to the Board for the review of such determination. Thereupon the Board shall review the determination and for such review may designate one of its officers or employees to receive evidence and to report to the Board thereon together with recommendations. In any such case the Board or the person so designated shall, by publication or otherwise notify all parties properly interested of their right to participate in the proceeding and, if a hearing is to be held, of the time and place of the hearing. At the request of any party properly interested the Board shall provide for a hearing, and may provide for a hearing on its own motion. The Board shall prescribe regulations governing the appeals provided for in this paragraph and for decisions upon such appeal.

Final decision of the Board in the cases provided for in the preceding two paragraphs shall be communicated to the claimant and to the other interested parties within fifteen days after it is made. Any properly interested party notified, as hereinabove provided, of his right to participate in the proceedings may obtain a review of any such decision by which he claims to be aggrieved or the determination of any issue therein in the manner provided in subsection (f) of this section with respect to the review of the Board's decisions upon claims for benefits and subject to all provisions of law applicable to the review of such decisions. Subject only to such review, the decision of the Board upon all issues determined in such decision shall be final and conclusive for all purposes and shall conclusively establish all rights and obligations, arising under this act, of every party notified as hereinabove provided of his right to participate in the proceedings.

Any issue determinable pursuant to this subsection and subsection (f) of this section shall not be determined in any manner other than pursuant to this subsection and

subsection (f). Section 5(c), Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act.)

The Board shall prescribe regulations governing the filing of cases with and the decision of cases by reviewing bodies, and the review of such decisions. The Board may provide for intermediate reviews of such decisions by such bodies as the Board may establish or assign thereto. The Board may (i) on its own motion review a decision of an intermediate reviewing body on the basis of the evidence previously submitted in such case, and may direct the taking of additional evidence, or (ii) permit such parties as it finds properly interested in the proceedings to take appeals to the Board. Unless a review or an appeal is had pursuant to this subsection, the decision of an intermediate reviewing body shal', subject to such regulations as the Board may prescribe, be deemed to be the final decision of the Board. (Section 5(d), Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act.)

In any proceeding other than a court proceeding, the rules of evidence prevailing in courts of law or equity shall not be controlling, but a full and complete record shall be kept of all proceedings and testimony, and the Board's final determination, together with its findings of fact and conclusions of law in connection therewith, shall be communicated to the parties within fifteen days after the date of such final determination. (Section 5(e), Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act.)

Any claimant, or any railway labor organization organized in accordance with the provisions of the Railway Labor Act, of which claimant is a member, or any other party aggrieved by a final decision under subsection (c) of this section, may, only after all administrative remedies within the Board will have been availed of and exhausted, obtain a review of any final decision of the Board by filing a petition for review within ninety days after the mailing of notice of Isuch decision to the claimant or other party, or within such further time as the Board may allow, in the United States court of appeals for the circuit in which the claimant or other party resides or will have had his principal place of business or princi. pal executive office, or in the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit or in the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. (Section 5(f), Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act.)

§ 320.5 Initial determinations with respect to claims.

Each claim for benefits under the Act shall be adjudicated and the initial determination with respect thereto shall be made by an adjudicating office upon the basis of the applica

tion and claim, and any statement or supplements filed in connection therewith, the evidence submitted by the claimant. and evidence otherwise available. Claims shall be adjudicated, and initial determinations shall be made, in accordance with instructions issued by the Director of Unemployment and Sickness Insurance. That part of the benefits claimed which is initially determined to be payable may be paid prior to a final decision with regard to such claim.

[Board Order 66-84, 31 FR 10180, July 28, 1966]

§ 320 8 Notice of initial determination.

Notice of an initial determination which denies in whole or in part a claim for benefits shall contain a brief statement of the grounds for the denial and shall be communicated in writing to the claimant within 15 days after such initial determination is made. Such notice shall be deemed to have been communicated to the claimant when it will have been mailed to him at the latest address furnished by him.

[Board Order 66-84, 31 FR 10180, July 28, 1966]

§ 320.10 Review of initial determination and notice of decision upon review. (a) Review. If, within 1 year after notice of an initial determination has been communicated to a claimant, the claimant, without filing an appeal in the manner and within the time provided in § 320.15, makes an oral or written request for a review of the initial determination, the regional director or other official designated by the Director of Unemployment and Sickness Insurance shall review the determination, shall take any further action which may be required, and shall decide whether to sustain or reverse such determination.

(b) Notice of decision. Notice of the decision made upon review shall be communicated to the claimant in writing within 15 days after such decision is made. If the effect of the decision is that the claim is still denied in whole or in part, the claimant shall be notified in the communication of his

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§ 320.12 Appeal from initial determination.

Any claimant may appeal from an initial determination denying his claim for benefits in whole or in part whether or not a review of such determination has been made under the provisions of § 320.10. An appeal shall be made by the claimant's filing, in the manner and within the time hereinafter specified, an appeal from initial determination or the form provided by the Board. Urless an appeal from initial determination is filed by the claimant in the manner and within the time provided in § 320.15, all rights to further review of the initial determination shall be forfeited.

[Board Order 66-84, 31 FR 10180, July 28, 1966]

§ 320.15 Execution and filing of appeal from initial determination.

(a) Execution. An appeal from initial determination shall be filed on the form provided by the Board and shall be executed in accordance with the instructions on the form.

(b) Filing. An appeal from initial determination shall be considered to have been filed when it will have been received in an office of the Board. Such appeal shall be filed within 1 year from the date on which notice of an initial determination is communicated to the claimant or within 30 days from the date on which notice of the decision made upon review is communicated to him, whichever period ends later.

[Board Order 66-84, 31 FR 10180, July 28, 1966]

§ 320.18 Referee.

Within a reasonable time after a claimant has filed a properly executed appeal, the Director of Unemployment and Sickness Insurance shall appoint a referee to act in the appeal. Such referee shall not have any interest in the parties or in the outcome of the proceeding, shall not have directly participated in the initial determination

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