MINUTES
FOR THE REGULAR MEETING
CALIFORNIA UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE APPEALS BOARD
Docket No. 5725
Open Session
The Appeals Board meeting convened at 11:00 a.m., May 13, 2026, with Chair Michael Allen 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 April 15, 2026, Meeting Minutes, with Chair Allen abstaining.
3. Chair's Report:
Since the last meeting, the Board resolved approximately 1,002 second-level appeals, all of which were processed through CAMS, and 16,856 first-level appeals. Chair Allen thanked the members of the organization for their work.
4. Board Member Reports:
Vice-Chair Kent-Monning highlighted the benefits of CAMS to normalizing case processing times throughout the state, and thanked the ALJs who have been cross-training in Appellate Operations.
5. Public Comment:
There was no public comment.
6. Chief ALJ/Executive Director, Michael Cutri Report:
In April, the average daily appeals intake rose slightly but continued the past eight month trend of relatively low incoming appeals. The field offices issued over 16,800 decisions, closing 36.8% of first-level appeals within 30 days, and 89% within 45 days. The average case age was 25.4 days.
Chief Cutri reported one security incident in the Los Angeles Office of Appeals. CHP intervened immediately and there have been no follow-up incidents.
Member Wieckowski asked about the disparities in processing times for Paid Family Leave appeals compared to disability appeals. Chief Cutri discussed the factors impacting this.
Member Roth asked about potential overlap between appeals involving paid family leave and state disability insurance. Chief Cutri clarified the relationship between these programs.
7. Supervising ALJ for Appellate Operations, Rebecca Bach Report:
In April, following the conclusion of the DOL reporting year, 64.7% of second-level appeals were resolved within 45 days and 96.2% within 75 days. The average case age was 25.2 days, significantly ahead of the national average.
A seven-week cross-training rotation has commenced, with ALJs participating from the Inland, Pasadena, and Sacramento offices. The program allows field judges to gain experience with the second-level appellate process.
Chair Allen expressed his support for the cross-training program.
Member Eng commended the AO judges on their quality of work and asked further about the cross-training program. SJ Bach discussed the purpose of the program.
Member Wieckowski asked about the program’s potential benefits to AO ALJs from gaining greater insight into FO ALJ experiences and perspectives. SJ Bach affirmed this benefit.
Member Roth inquired about the potential for FO ALJs to provide feedback to the Board. SJ Bach advised that she could discuss this with Chief Cutri.
Chair Allen affirmed that the Board appreciates the challenges the FO ALJs encounter in conducting their hearings.
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 and the work is progressing. IT continues to work on CAMS enhancements and modernizing technology platforms.
Vice-Chair Kent-Monning commended the IT team for their work.
Member Wieckowski wished the IT team well in migrating the Office of Tax Petitions to CAMS.
Member Eng commended the IT staff for their assistance.
Chair Allen thanked the IT staff for their work implementing CAMS.
9. Chief of Administrative Services, Robert Silva Report:
Chief Silva reported there is one support staff recruitment pending and annual employee performance appraisals are in process.
Two of the forty-one participants in CUIAB’s November bi-annual bilingual audit did not meet the 10% threshold (one in Cantonese and one in Vietnamese) for bilingual pay eligibility. To ensure the employees remain eligible, CUIAB has adjusted translation workloads from outside vendors to these employees.
Chief Silva reported that procurement requests from all field offices were processed and he recently met with EDD’s Fiscal Programs Division. CUIAB’s expenditures are within its allocations for the current fiscal year, and upcoming fiscal year budget information will be available after the release of the May Revise.
Vice-Chair Kent-Monning asked if CUIAB’s bilingual staff served as hearing interpreters. Chief Silva clarified that they do not, and instead assist in public inquiries.
Closed Session:
There was no closed session.
Adjournment