Former Superior Court Judge Beverly Hodgson in her opinion piece, “State Agency Needs To Change Rules For Hearings” (Connecticut Law Tribune, May 30) had it exactly right in urging enactment of P.A. 14-209, “An Act Concerning Administrative Hearings Conducted by the Department of Social Services.” The legislation is awaiting action by the governor, but there are rumors that some people are encouraging him to veto it. What a mistake that would be.
The act passed the Connecticut House of Representatives and Senate on consent calendars, without opposition, at the end of the legislative session. The governor should sign this bill to restore both actual fairness and the appearance of fairness to the administrative hearing process at the Department of Social Services (DSS). The bill would make clear that DSS fair hearing officers, who are supposed to be impartial and independent, cannot obtain ex parte advice from agency staff members when holding hearing related to an individual’s request for benefits.
