MINUTES
FOR THE REGULAR MEETING
CALIFORNIA UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE APPEALS BOARD
Docket No. 5719
Open Session
The Appeals Board meeting convened at 11:00 a.m., November 19, 2025, 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 October 15, 2025, Meeting Minutes.
3. Chair's Report:
Since the last meeting, the Board resolved approximately 1,408 cases, all of which were processed through CAMS. Chair Allen thanked the Board and the members of the CUIAB organization for their work and dedication.
4. Board Member Reports:
Vice-Chair Kent-Monning and Members Eng and Wieckowski commended the field and appellate operations for their work over the past month.
Member Roth commended Chair Allen for his contributions and dedication.
5. Public Comment:
There was no public comment.
6. Chief ALJ/Executive Director, Michael Cutri Report:
In October, the average daily appeals intake remained consistent with levels over the past two years, after a brief increase in December and January. The field offices resolved approximately 20,000 cases since the last Board meeting. The average case age decreased to 26.8 days. In October, 32.9% of first-level appeals were resolved within 30 days and 80.9% within 45 days.
Since the last Board meeting, CUIAB moved over 1,400 cases between field offices through CAMS. There were no security incidents in October.
Member Roth asked whether the DOL’s 30-day time-lapse standard was feasible. Chief Cutri advised that prior to the pandemic, CUIAB met the time-lapse requirement for eight consecutive years.
7. Supervising ALJ for Appellate Operations, Rebecca Bach Report:
In October, 54.1% of second-level appeals were resolved within 45 days and 81.7% within 75 days. The average case age was 36.6 days, significantly ahead of the national average.
In September, 25.7% of second-level appeals were resolved within 45 days and 93.4% within 75 days. The average case age was 36.6 days, significantly ahead of the national average.
8. Chief Information Officer, John Caampued Report:
Chief Information Officer Caampued reported that IT is working on migrating tax petitions to CAMS. To support these efforts, IT hired additional developers with expertise in Salesforce. Additionally, IT is working on enhancements to CAMS and modernizing technology platforms.
Chair Allen thanked CIO Caampued and IT for their work.
Vice-Chair Kent-Monning inquired about the closure of the system modernization project. CIO Caampued explained that the scope of this project involved security of systems and was taking place in parallel with CAMS enhancements.
Member Eng thanked CIO Caampued for the work on CAMS and thanked those involved in the recent Cyber Security Training.
Member Wieckowski inquired about the migration of Tax Petitions to CAMS. CIO Caampued stated that once the tax migration to CAMS is finalized, the Office of Tax Petitions will be able to utilize CAMS. Member Wieckowski mentioned his appreciation for the recent Cyber Security Training.
Member Roth asked for clarification on the process involving tax petitions. Chief Cutri clarified that tax petitions are filed directly with CUIAB rather than with EDD and that the first level hearings on the petitions are conducted by ALJs.
9. Chief of Administrative Services, Robert Silva Report:
Chief Silva reported that one support staff was recently hired with four pending recruitments. CUIAB welcomed former Administrative Law Judge Discenza as the Supervising Judge for the Inland Office of Appeals. CUIAB is in the process of interviewing for the Supervising Administrative Law Judge for the Inglewood Office of Appeals.
CUIAB is engaging in the biannual bilingual audit during November. There are forty-one employees completing time ladders to ensure they continue eligibility for bilingual pay.
Chief Silva commended Valerie Graziano for her two decades of work and dedication to CUIAB as she embarks on her retirement.
Member Eng asked about the process for the bilingual audit. Chief Silva explained that employees prepare logs to verify that 10% of their work time involves use of their bilingual skills. This monthly threshold enables them to continue receiving bilingual pay. Members Eng and Roth inquired about the compliance rate. Chief Silva advised that it is rare that CUIAB ceases bilingual pay for an employee due to non-compliance, but workload adjustments may be made over the course of the year in order to preserve eligibility for bilingual pay without negatively impacting other employees’ eligibility for bilingual pay.
Chair Allen wished the Board and CUIAB a Happy Thanksgiving.
Closed Session:
There was no closed session.
Adjournment