SB 320 Summary

• Requires county appeals representatives to review all evidence before hearings and offer conditional withdrawals if the claimant's eligibility is established or the county erred; conditional withdrawals must list agreed-upon conditions and require the county to issue benefits once conditions are met.

• Establishes claimants' right to request hearings by telephone, video conference, or at their home, with the department considering their preference while retaining scheduling authority within resource limitations.

• Requires county representatives to provide position statements to claimants at least 2 working days before hearings, with alternative delivery methods including electronic transmission, office pickup, or mailing.

• Mandates administrative law judges determine whether the county has met its burden of proof establishing a prima facie case at the conclusion of the county's presentation, automatically granting the claim if the burden is not met.

• Bill becomes operative only after the State Department of Social Services posts a finding on its website that court orders in specified cases have been modified to cover implementation costs.