MINUTES
FOR THE REGULAR MEETING
CALIFORNIA UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE APPEALS BOARD
Docket No. 5724
Open Session
The Appeals Board meeting convened at 11:00 a.m., April 15, 2026, with Vice-Chair Laura Kent-Monning presiding.
1. Roll Call: Members Present Absent
Michael Allen, Chair x
Laura Kent-Monning, Vice-Chair x
Mike Eng x
Bob Wieckowski x
Richard Roth x
2. Approval of Minutes:
The Board approved the March 11, 2026, Meeting Minutes.
3. Vice-Chair's Report:
Vice-Chair Kent-Monning highlighted significant achievements within the agency, noting that Field Operations achieved a case aging average of 24.2 days in March, well below the Department of Labor (DOL) standard of 30 days. Appellate Operations met all of the DOL metrics in the reporting year. Additionally, Field Operations closed 18,767 cases during the month, while Appellate Operations resolved 1,247 cases.
4. Board Member Reports:
Members Eng, Wieckowski, and Roth congratulated Appellate Operations on meeting the DOL metrics, and thanked the Board, ALJs and staff for their work.
5. Public Comment:
There was no public comment.
6. Chief ALJ/Executive Director, Michael Cutri Report:
In March, the average daily appeals intake remained consistent with levels over the past seven months. The field offices issued over 18,000 decisions, closing 51.2% of first-level appeals within 30 days, and 89.5% within 45 days. At the close of the DOL reporting year, the average case age was 24.2 days, meeting the DOL standard for the first time since the pandemic began. The UI case inventory is approximately 11,000 cases, the lowest level since 2020.
Since the last Board meeting, CUIAB moved over 1,000 cases between field offices through CAMS to normalize wait times.
There were no security incidents.
Member Eng commended the Board on their hard work and asked about an audit being conducted by the DOL. Chief Cutri clarified that the audit focuses on the EDD benefit handling and that CUIAB is not currently part of it. Member Eng also asked about feedback from advocate groups, to which Chief Cutri advised that no new issues have been raised.
Member Wieckowski commended the field offices in resolving 89.5% of cases within 45 days.
Member Roth asked about the method DOL uses to measure the timeliness standards, and if CUIAB uses a different method. Chief Cutri advised that the DOL timeliness standards apply to both CUIAB and EDD.
7. Supervising ALJ for Appellate Operations, Rebecca Bach Report:
In March, at the conclusion of the DOL reporting year, 51.1% of second-level appeals were resolved within 45 days and 84.4% within 75 days. The average case age was 26.7 days, significantly ahead of the national average. SJ Bach thanked the Board for their work, enabling CUIAB to meet the DOL timeliness standards.
A seven-week cross-training rotation is scheduled to begin, involving three judges from the Inland, Pasadena, and Sacramento offices. This program allows field judges to gain experience with the second-level appellate process.
Member Eng thanked SJ Bach for her assistance on cases.
Member Wieckowski inquired about the variety of unemployment insurance programs during the height of the pandemic compared to current inventory. SJ Bach confirmed that during the pandemic, implementing new laws created challenges. Since then, processes have become more streamlined and fewer appeals are being filed.
Member Roth thanked SJ Bach and AO for their work.
8. Chief Information Officer, John Caampued Report:
Chief Information Officer Caampued reported that migrating the Office of Tax Petitions to CAMS remains IT’s top priority. IT continues to work on CAMS enhancements and modernizing technology platforms.
Member Eng asked whether IT remains on track to complete the migration of the Office of Tax Petitions by the second quarter of 2026. CIO Caampued confirmed this projected timeframe remains on track. Member Eng thanked IT for their assistance.
9. Chief of Administrative Services, Robert Silva Report:
Chief Silva reported there is one support staff recruitment pending in the Los Angeles Office of Appeals.
Member Eng commended the ALJs who have been appointed to the Superior Court over the past five years and asked about the back-fill process for ALJ vacancies and the state budget. Chief Silva and Chief Cutri explained that levels of vacancies are accepted through attrition to help the agency meet potential future reductions. In response to Member Eng's inquiry regarding the state budget, Chief Silva anticipated that the agency would be able to absorb any required reductions through salary savings.
Closed Session:
There was no closed session.
Adjournment