803 Ky. Admin. Regs. 25:015

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 5, November 1, 2024

Section 803 KAR 25:015 - Issuance of citations and procedure in workers' compensation enforcement hearings

RELATES TO: KRS Chapter 13B, 342.990

NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: KRS 13B.170 authorizes administrative agencies to promulgate administrative regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of KRS Chapter 13B governing administrative hearings. KRS 342.260 requires the Commissioner of the Department of Workers' Claims to promulgate administrative regulations necessary to carry on the work of the department and administrative law judges. KRS 13B.070(3) requires administrative agencies to promulgate administrative regulations to set forth specific procedures to facilitate informal settlement of matters. KRS 342.260(4) requires processes and procedures to be as summary and simple as reasonably possible. KRS 342.267 and 342.990 establish penalties for various violations of KRS Chapter 342. KRS 342.990 also provides a party the opportunity to challenge a penalty assessed against them. This administrative regulation establishes procedures for enforcement hearings under KRS Chapter 342

Section 1. Definitions.

(1) "Administrative law judge" means an individual appointed pursuant to KRS 342.230(2).

(2) "Business day" means any day except Saturday, Sunday or any day which is a legal holiday.

(3) "Commissioner" is defined by KRS 342.0011(9).

Section 2.

(1) Prior to issuing a notice of citation and penalty, the commissioner may issue a show cause order to a person who has allegedly violated KRS Chapter 342 or 803 KAR Chapter 25 to appear at an informal conference to show cause why a citation should not be issued.

(2) The show cause order shall include the following:

(a) Detailed explanation of alleged violations;

(b) Statutes or administrative regulations that were allegedly violated;

(c) Date, time, and place of show cause informal conference; and

(d) If the commissioner is not presiding over the informal conference, the name of the commissioner's designee.

(3) The person issued a show cause order shall be present on the specified date, time, and place and show cause why a citation should not be issued.

(4) The commissioner or the commissioner's designee shall gather relevant evidence concerning the alleged violations of KRS Chapter 342 from a representative of the Department of Workers' Claims and the person to whom the show cause order was issued.

(5) If the commissioner is presiding over the informal conference and the parties wish to resolve the matter informally without the necessity of a citation and a formal hearing, an agreement may be entered.

(6) If the commissioner's designee is presiding over the informal conference and the parties wish to resolve the matter informally without the necessity of a citation and formal hearing, a recommended agreed order shall be submitted to the commissioner for approval.

(7) If the parties do not resolve the matter by agreement and the commissioner's designee presides over the informal conference, the commissioner's designee shall issue a recommended order which includes his findings of fact, conclusions of law, and recommended disposition to the commissioner as to whether a citation should be issued.

(8) The commissioner shall review the evidence and if applicable the recommended order and either:

(a) Issue a citation for violation of KRS Chapter 342 or 803 KAR Chapter 25;

(b) Issue a statement that no citation is warranted; or

(c) Request additional evidence for further review.

(9) The commissioner may immediately issue a citation for any violation of KRS Chapter 342 or 803 KAR Chapter 25 without issuing a show cause order or conducting an informal conference.

Section 3. Issuance of Citation and Notice of Contest.

(1) If the commissioner initiates enforcement of a civil penalty pursuant to KRS 342.990, the "notice of citation and penalty" shall be delivered to the appropriate party by certified mail or hand-delivered by authorized personnel of the Department of Workers' Claims.

(2) The party to whom a notice of citation and penalty has been delivered may contest the citation and penalty by filing a written "notice of contest" with the commissioner within fifteen (15) working days of the receipt of the notice of citation and penalty.

(3) A notice of contest shall state the following:

(a) The specific grounds for the contest; and

(b) Whether the fact of a violation or level of the civil penalty, or both, is being contested.

(4) If a notice of contest is not timely filed in accordance with KRS 342.990(4), the citation shall be final and the penalty due for payment.

Section 4. Assignment to Administrative Law Judge; Prehearing Procedure.

(1) In accordance with KRS 342.990(5), the administrative law judge shall require parties to file a stipulation of uncontested facts not later than five (5) business days prior to the scheduled hearing date.

(2) The administrative law judge may require each party to file a witness and exhibit list described in KRS 13B.090(3) not later than five (5) business days prior to the scheduled hearing date with the administrative law judge and all other parties.

Section 5. Formal Hearing.

(1) An administrative law judge shall preside over the conduct of the formal hearing and shall regulate the course of the proceeding in accordance with KRS Chapter 13B and any prehearing order issued by the administrative law judge.

(2) A party may submit proof at the formal hearing through the use of depositions, if the other parties received timely notice and had the opportunity to attend.

Section 6. Orders.

(1) The administrative law judge shall determine if the commissioner's citation was properly issued and the penalty appropriately assessed and issue a final order in accordance with KRS 342.990(5) and 13B.120.

(2) The administrative law judge's final order shall be appealable to the Franklin Circuit Court in accordance with KRS 342.990(6) and 13B.140.

Section 7. Appeal/Payment of Fine.

(1) If a party does not file a petition of appeal pursuant to KRS 342.990 and 13B.140, the order shall be final and the civil penalty assessed in the order shall be due.

(2) A civil penalty that is not appealed to the Franklin Circuit Court shall be paid by certified check or money order payable to the Kentucky State Treasurer. The fine shall be mailed to the Department of Workers' Claims, Mayo-Underwood Building, 500 Mero Street, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601.

803 KAR 25:015

23 Ky.R. 1475; 2987; eff. 2-10-1997; 24 Ky.R. 1571; eff. 3-16-1998; TAm eff. 8-9-2007; 47 Ky.R. 2107; 48 Ky.R. 352; eff. 11-2-2021.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY: KRS 13B.070(3), 13B.170, 342.267, 342.260, 342.990(5).