State of Connecticut Executive Branch

Fair Hearings Officer (3681SH)

$38.71-$49.17 Hourly / $3,096.71-$3,932.84 BiWeekly /
$80,824.00-$102,647.00 Yearly

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In the Department of Social Services, Division of Administrative Hearings and Appeals this class is accountable for conducting hearings and rendering decisions on appeals of departmental decisions and other matters designated by statute.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Works under the general supervision of the Fair Hearings Supervisor or other administrative official of higher grade.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

May lead/supervise lower level employees as assigned.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

  • Reviews requests for fair hearings made in accordance with statutory provisions;
  • Conducts hearings utilizing teleconference technology or in person;
  • Examines and admits to record all testimony, documents and other evidence on behalf of appellant;
  • Questions witnesses and departmental employees appearing on behalf of agency with regard to decision being appealed;
  • Prepares and renders written decisions on matters being appealed;
  • Maintains records of testimony for use by Superior Court in event of further appeals;
  • Prepares reports of hearings held;
  • Recommends modification of procedures when appropriate;
  • Participates in staff conferences;
  • Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

  • Considerable knowledge of
    • relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations;
    • relevant agency policies and procedures;
    • principles and practices of public assistance and human service programs;
  • Considerable skill in conducting interviews to obtain information necessary for rendering proper decisions;
  • Skills
    • interpersonal skills;
    • oral and written communication skills;
  • Ability to
    • present findings and conclusions in written reports;
    • analyze and evaluate conflicting information and evidence.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Seven (7) years of professional or technical experience in a social services program area.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SPECIAL EXPERIENCE

One (1) year of the General Experience must have been in a lead, advanced working or consultative capacity conducting hearings and rendering decisions.

NOTE: For state employees this experience is interpreted at the level of an Eligibility Services Specialist, Social Services Lead Investigator, Social Services Program Assistant Technician 2 or Social Worker.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

  • College training may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equaling one half (l/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor’s degree.
  • A Master's degree in a closely related field may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.

JOB CLASS DESIGNATION

Classified/Competitive

OCCUPATIONAL GROUP

(33)-Social Services

BARGAINING UNIT

(12)-SOCIAL SERV (P-2)

EEO

(2)-Professional

SALARY INFORMATION

SH 25

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes.  As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.

CANCELLATION CLAUSE

This replaces the existing specification for the class of Fair Hearings Officer in Salary Group SH 25 approved effective July 31, 2009. (Revised to modernize format and add Acknowledgement section) Final No. 23-132

EFFECTIVE DATE

06/08/2023
CLASS: 3681SH; EST: 5/11/1962; REV: 6/9/2023;