DAR File No. 44059

This rule was published in the October 1, 2019, issue (Vol. 2019, No. 19) of the Utah State Bulletin.


Career Service Review Office, Administration

Rule R137-1

Grievance Procedure Rules

Notice of Proposed Rule

(Amendment)

DAR File No.: 44059
Filed: 09/12/2019 09:09:28 AM

RULE ANALYSIS

Purpose of the rule or reason for the change:

This amendment updates the procedure for filing documents with the Career Service Review Office (CSRO). Primarily, it provides for electronic filing.

Summary of the rule or change:

This amendment provides for electronic filing of documents.

Statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:

  • Section 67-19a-203

Anticipated cost or savings to:

the state budget:

No costs associated with this procedural change.

local governments:

No costs associated with this procedural change.

small businesses:

The CSRO's rules apply only to state agencies and state employees; no small businesses will be affected.

persons other than small businesses, businesses, or local governmental entities:

None--This rule applies only to state agencies; no other entities are affected.

Compliance costs for affected persons:

This rule does not result in any costs to affected persons.

Comments by the department head on the fiscal impact the rule may have on businesses:

This rule will have no fiscal impact on businesses.

Akiko Kawamura, Administrator

The full text of this rule may be inspected, during regular business hours, at the Office of Administrative Rules, or at:

Career Service Review Office
Administration
Room 1120 STATE OFFICE BLDG
450 N MAIN ST
SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84114-1201

Direct questions regarding this rule to:

  • Akiko Kawamura at the above address, by phone at 801-538-3047, by FAX at 801-538-3139, or by Internet E-mail at akawamura@utah.gov

Interested persons may present their views on this rule by submitting written comments to the address above no later than 5:00 p.m. on:

10/31/2019

This rule may become effective on:

11/07/2019

Authorized by:

Akiko Kawamura, Administrator

RULE TEXT

Appendix 1: Regulatory Impact Summary Table*

Fiscal Costs

FY 2020

FY 2021

FY 2022

State Government

$0

$0

$0

Local Government

$0

$0

$0

Small Businesses

$0

$0

$0

Non-Small Businesses

$0

$0

$0

Other Person

$0

$0

$0

Total Fiscal Costs:

$0

$0

$0





Fiscal Benefits




State Government

$0

$0

$0

Local Government

$0

$0

$0

Small Businesses

$0

$0

$0

Non-Small Businesses

$0

$0

$0

Other Persons

$0

$0

$0

Total Fiscal Benefits:

$0

$0

$0





Net Fiscal Benefits:

$0

$0

$0

 

*This table only includes fiscal impacts that could be measured. If there are inestimable fiscal impacts, they will not be included in this table. Inestimable impacts for State Government, Local Government, Small Businesses and Other Persons are described in the narrative. Inestimable impacts for Non - Small Businesses are described in Appendix 2.

 

Appendix 2: Regulatory Impact to Non - Small Businesses

These proposed amendments are not expected to have fiscal impact on any non-small businesses' revenues or expenditures because these rules govern the procedure in administrative actions exclusively pertaining to state employees and employer agencies.

 

The administrator of the Career Service Review office has reviewed and approved this fiscal analysis.

 

 

R137. Career Service Review Office, Administration.

R137-1. Grievance Procedure Rules.

R137-1-2. Definitions.

Terms defined in Section 63G-4-103 of the Utah Administrative Procedures Act (UAPA) are incorporated by reference within this rule. In addition, other terms which are used in this rule are defined below:

"Abandonment of Grievance" means either the voluntary withdrawal of a grievance or the failure by an employee to properly pursue a grievance through these grievance procedures.

"Administrative Review of the File" means an informal adjudicative proceeding according to Subsection 67-19a-403(3)(b).

"Administrator" means the person appointed under Subsection 67-19a-201(2)(b).

"Affidavit" means a signed and sworn statement offered for consideration in connection with a grievance proceeding.

"Affirmative Defense" means a responsive answer asserting facts in addition to those alleged that are legally sufficient to rebut asserted allegations.

"Appeal" means a formal request to a higher level of review of a lower level decision.

"Appointing Authority" means the officer, board, commission, person or group of persons authorized to make appointments on personnel/human resource management matters in their respective agency.

"Burden of Moving Forward" means a party's obligation to present evidence on a particular issue at a particular time. The burden of moving forward may shift back and forth between the parties based on certain legal principles.

"Burden of Proof" means the obligation to prove affirmatively a fact or set of facts at issue between two parties.

"CSRO" means the agency of state government that statutorily administers these grievance procedures according to Sections 67-19a-101 through 67-19a-501.

"Closing Argument" means a party's final summation of evidence and argument, which is presented at the conclusion of the hearing.

"Consolidation" means the combining of two or more grievances involving the same controversy for purposes of holding a joint hearing, proceeding, or administrative review.

"Continuance" means an authorized postponement or adjournment of a hearing until a later date, whether the date is specified or not.

"Declaratory Order" means a ruling that is explanatory in purpose; it is designed to clarify what before was uncertain or doubtful. A declaratory order constitutes a declaration of rights between parties to a dispute and is binding as to both present and future rights. It is an administrative interpretation or explanation of a right, statute, order or other legal matter under a statute, rule, or an order.

"Default" means an omission of or untimely failure to take or perform a required act in the processing of a grievance. It is the failure to discharge an obligation which results in a forfeiture.

"Deposition" means a form of discovery in which testimony of a witness is given under oath, subject to cross-examination, and recorded in writing, prior to the hearing.

"Discovery" means the prehearing process whereby one party may obtain from the opposing party, or from other individuals or entities, information regarding the witnesses to be called, the documents and exhibits to be used at the hearing, and the facts and information about the case.

"Evidentiary Hearing" means a proceeding of relative formality, though much less formal than a trial, in which witnesses may be heard and evidence is presented and considered. Specific issues of fact and of law are tried. Afterwards, ultimate conclusions of fact and of law are set forth in a written decision or order.

"Excusable Neglect" means harmless error, mistake, inadvertence, surprise, a failure to discover evidence that, through due diligence, could not have been discovered in time to meet the applicable time period, misrepresentation or misconduct by the employer, or any other reason justifying equitable relief.

"Extraordinary Circumstances" means factors not normally incident to or foreseeable during an administrative proceeding. It includes circumstances beyond a party's control that normal prudence and experience could not foresee, anticipate or provide for.

"File" means to submit a document, grievance, [petition, ]or other written, printed, or electronic information[paper] to the CSRO as prescribed by these rules.[The term "file" includes faxing and E-mailing.]

"Filing Date" means the day that a document, grievance, petition, or other paper is recorded as [having been ]received by the CSRO.

"Grievance Procedures" mean the grievance and appeal procedures codified at Sections 67-19a-101 through 67-19a-501 and promulgated through this rule.

"Grievant" means the person or party advancing one or more issues as a petitioner through these grievance procedures.

"Group Grievance" means a grievance submitted and signed by two or more aggrieved employees. The term does not include "class action."

"Hearing" means the opportunity to be heard or present evidence in an administrative proceeding.

"Hearing Officer" means an impartial trier of facts appointed by the CSRO administrator and assigned to decide a particular grievance.

"Hearsay Evidence" means evidence not based upon a witness's personal knowledge as a direct observer of an event. Rather, hearsay evidence stems from the repetition of what a witness heard another person say. Hearsay's value rests upon the credibility of the declarant. Hearsay is a statement made outside of the hearing that is offered as evidence of the truth of matters asserted in the hearing.

"Initial Hearing" means a hearing conducted by the administrator to make an initial determination regarding timeliness, authority, jurisdiction, direct harm, standing and eligibility to advance a grievance.

"Issuance" means the date on which a decision, order or ruling is signed and dated; it is not the date of mailing, or the date of the mailing certificate, nor the postal date. Date of issuance is the date specified according to Subsection 63G-4-401, of the UAPA.

"Joint Hearing" means the uniting of two or more grievances involving the same, similar, or related circumstances or issues to conduct a single hearing; also see "Consolidation."

"Jurisdiction" means the legal right and authority to hear and decide issues and controversies.

"Management Representative" means a person of managerial or supervisory status who is not subject to exclusion. Legal counsel is not included within the meaning of the term.

"Motion" means a request offered verbally or in writing for a ruling or to take some action.

"Motion to Dismiss" means a motion requesting that a grievance or appeal be dismissed because it does not state a claim for which the CSRO provides a remedy, or is in some other way legally insufficient.

"Notice" and "Notification" mean a proper written notice to the parties involved in a grievance procedural hearing or conference, setting forth date, time, location, and the issue to be considered.

"Pleadings" mean the formal written allegations of the parties that set forth their respective claims and defenses.

"Presiding Hearing Officer" means either the Administrator or designated Level 4 hearing officer.

"Pro Se" means in one's own behalf. A person is represented pro se in an administrative proceeding when acting without legal counsel or other representation.

"Quash" means to cancel, annul, or vacate.

"Relevant" means directly applying to the matter in question; pertinent, germane. It is evidence that tends to make the existence of any facts more probable or certain than they would be without the evidence; and tending to prove the precise fact at issue.

"Remand" means to send back, as for further deliberation and judgment, to the presiding official or other tribunal from which a grievance was appealed.

"Standard of Proof" means the evidentiary standard, which in CSRO adjudications is the substantial evidence standard.

"Stay" means a temporary suspension of a case or of some designated proceeding within the case. A stay is different than a continuance or extension of time and can only be granted when agreed to by the parties and when the administrator or assigned hearing officer finds a stay necessary for judicial economy and the interest of justice.

"Submit" means to commit to the discretion of another; to present for determination.

"Subpoena" means a formal legal document issued under authority to compel the appearance of a witness at an administrative proceeding, the disobedience of which may be punishable as a contempt of court.

"Subpoena Duces Tecum" means a formal legal document issued under authority to compel specific documents, books, writings, papers, or other items.

"Substantial Evidence" means evidence possessing something of substance and relevant consequence, and which furnishes substantial basis of fact from which issues tendered can be reasonably resolved. It is evidence that a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion, but is less than a preponderance.

"Summary Judgment" means a ruling made upon motion by a party or the presiding hearing officer when there is no dispute as to either material fact or inferences to be drawn from undisputed facts, or if only a question of law is involved. The motion may be directed toward all or part of a claim or defense.

"Transcript" means an official verbatim written record of an adjudicative proceeding or any part thereof, which has been recorded and subsequently transcribed by a certified court reporter.

"UAPA" means the Utah Administrative Procedures Act found at Sections 63G-4-102 through 63G-4-601.

"Withdraw" means to recall or retract a grievance from further consideration under these grievance procedures.

"Witness Fee" means an appearance fee and may also include a mileage rate established by statutory provision pursuant to Section 78B-1-119.

"Working Days" means for purposes of the time periods for filing a grievance, advancing an appeal or responding to an employee's grievance or appeal, all days except Saturdays, Sundays and recognized State holidays.

 

R137-1-6. Filing Procedure.

The submission of correspondence, pleadings, grievance materials, and legal documents is subject to the following provisions:

(1) Filing/Receipt. [Papers to be filed]Filings with the CSRO [or the administrator ]are deemed filed on the date actually received. The date on which papers are received [and date-stamped ]is regarded as the date of filing.

(2) Time Periods. All filings[papers, memoranda, petitions, grievances, pleadings, briefs, exhibits, and written motions to be filed with the administrator] must be electronically submitted to[filed in] the Career Service Review Office, csro@utah.gov[1120 State Office Building, Capitol Hill, Salt Lake City, Utah 84114], within the time limits prescribed either by law, by these rules, or by order of the administrator or by the designated CSRO hearing officer.

(a) All filing dates are based upon the CSRO's working days.

(b) [Papers]Filings must be signed or electronically signed by the [person filing the paper]filing party or by the filing party's[person's] authorized representative.

(c) [Documents being submitted]Filings are to contain the name, business address, [and ]telephone number , and email address of the filing party or filing party's representative.[of the representative, if a party or person is being represented.] Notices shall be served upon the party or party's representative at the email address provided by the filing party.

(d) Copies of all [filed papers]filings shall be served upon the [appropriate ]opposing party or party's representative[or person to grievance proceedings], with notice of service given to the administrator.

[(e) Notice to a designated representative constitutes notice to the representative's client.

(f) Notice to an employee who is not represented shall be served at the address specified on the employee's statement of grievance or correspondence, or in the absence of such specification, at the last mailing address shown in the employing agency's personnel file.]

 

KEY: grievance procedures, reconsiderations

Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment: [September 28, 2018]2019

Notice of Continuation: July 11, 2016

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: 34A-5-106; 67-19-16; 67-19-30; 67-19-31; 67-19-32; 67-19a et seq.; 63G-4 et seq.


Additional Information

More information about a Notice of Proposed Rule is available online.

The Portable Document Format (PDF) version of the Bulletin is the official version. The PDF version of this issue is available at https://rules.utah.gov/publicat/bull_pdf/2019/b20191001.pdf. The HTML edition of the Bulletin is a convenience copy. Any discrepancy between the PDF version and HTML version is resolved in favor of the PDF version.

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For questions regarding the content or application of this rule, please contact Akiko Kawamura at the above address, by phone at 801-538-3047, by FAX at 801-538-3139, or by Internet E-mail at akawamura@utah.gov.  For questions about the rulemaking process, please contact the Office of Administrative Rules.