{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/60.2-121.3.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/60.2-121.3.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/60.2-121.3.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/60.2-121.3.html"}],"law_id":66927,"edition_id":1,"section_id":66927,"structure_id":14338,"section_number":"60.2-121.3","catch_line":"Unemployment Compensation Ombudsman; established; responsibilities","history":"2022, cc. 716, 754.","full_text":"A\n\nThe Commission shall create the Office of the Unemployment Compensation Ombudsman (the Office) and shall appoint an Unemployment Compensation Ombudsman to head the Office. The Unemployment Compensation Ombudsman shall provide neutral educational information and assistance to, shall protect the interests of, and shall ensure that due process is afforded to all persons seeking assistance in (i) appeals proceedings brought pursuant to Chapter 6 (§ 60.2-600 et seq.) and (ii) any other matter related to unemployment compensation under this title. Subject to annual appropriations, the Unemployment Compensation Ombudsman shall employ sufficient personnel to carry out the duties and powers prescribed by this section. The Unemployment Compensation Ombudsman and personnel of the Office shall carry out their duties with impartiality and shall not serve as an advocate for any person or provide legal advice.B\n\nThe Unemployment Compensation Ombudsman shall maintain data on inquiries received related to the unemployment compensation process, the types of assistance requested, and actions taken and the disposition of each such matter. The Unemployment Compensation Ombudsman shall report information summarizing this data, including outcomes of individual cases, without disclosing individual-level identifying data, to the Commission at least once annually. The Unemployment Compensation Ombudsman shall carry out any additional activities as the Commission determines to be appropriate.C\n\nAll memoranda, work products, and other materials contained in the case files of the Unemployment Compensation Ombudsman and personnel of the Office shall be confidential. Any communication between the Unemployment Compensation Ombudsman and personnel of the Office and a person receiving assistance that is made during or in connection with the provision of services of the Unemployment Compensation Ombudsman and personnel of the Office shall be confidential. Confidential materials and communications shall not be subject to disclosure and shall not be admissible in any judicial or administrative proceeding except where (i) a threat to inflict bodily injury is made; (ii) communications are intentionally used to plan, attempt to commit, or commit a crime or conceal an ongoing crime; (iii) a complaint is made against the Unemployment Compensation Ombudsman or personnel of the Office by a person receiving assistance to the extent necessary for the complainant to prove misconduct or the Unemployment Compensation Ombudsman or personnel of the Office to defend against such complaint; or (iv) communications are sought or offered to prove or disprove a claim or complaint of misconduct or malpractice filed against the legal representative of a person who received assistance from the Unemployment Compensation Ombudsman or personnel of the Office. Confidential materials and communications as described in this section are not subject to mandatory disclosure under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.).D\n\nThe Unemployment Compensation Ombudsman and personnel of the Office shall be immune from civil liability in their performance of the duties specified in this section.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":242648,"text":"The Commission shall create the Office of the Unemployment Compensation Ombudsman (the Office) and shall appoint an Unemployment Compensation Ombudsman to head the Office. The Unemployment Compensation Ombudsman shall provide neutral educational information and assistance to, shall protect the interests of, and shall ensure that due process is afforded to all persons seeking assistance in (i) appeals proceedings brought pursuant to Chapter 6 (§ 60.2-600 et seq.) and (ii) any other matter related to unemployment compensation under this title. Subject to annual appropriations, the Unemployment Compensation Ombudsman shall employ sufficient personnel to carry out the duties and powers prescribed by this section. The Unemployment Compensation Ombudsman and personnel of the Office shall carry out their duties with impartiality and shall not serve as an advocate for any person or provide legal advice.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":242649,"text":"The Unemployment Compensation Ombudsman shall maintain data on inquiries received related to the unemployment compensation process, the types of assistance requested, and actions taken and the disposition of each such matter. The Unemployment Compensation Ombudsman shall report information summarizing this data, including outcomes of individual cases, without disclosing individual-level identifying data, to the Commission at least once annually. The Unemployment Compensation Ombudsman shall carry out any additional activities as the Commission determines to be appropriate.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":242650,"text":"All memoranda, work products, and other materials contained in the case files of the Unemployment Compensation Ombudsman and personnel of the Office shall be confidential. Any communication between the Unemployment Compensation Ombudsman and personnel of the Office and a person receiving assistance that is made during or in connection with the provision of services of the Unemployment Compensation Ombudsman and personnel of the Office shall be confidential. Confidential materials and communications shall not be subject to disclosure and shall not be admissible in any judicial or administrative proceeding except where (i) a threat to inflict bodily injury is made; (ii) communications are intentionally used to plan, attempt to commit, or commit a crime or conceal an ongoing crime; (iii) a complaint is made against the Unemployment Compensation Ombudsman or personnel of the Office by a person receiving assistance to the extent necessary for the complainant to prove misconduct or the Unemployment Compensation Ombudsman or personnel of the Office to defend against such complaint; or (iv) communications are sought or offered to prove or disprove a claim or complaint of misconduct or malpractice filed against the legal representative of a person who received assistance from the Unemployment Compensation Ombudsman or personnel of the Office. Confidential materials and communications as described in this section are not subject to mandatory disclosure under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.).","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":242651,"text":"The Unemployment Compensation Ombudsman and personnel of the Office shall be immune from civil liability in their performance of the duties specified in this section.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C"}},"ancestry":[{"id":14338,"edition_id":1,"name":"Administration","identifier":"2","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":14337,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:47:48","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:47:48","permalink":{"id":267311,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14338,"identifier":"2","token":"60.2\/1\/2","url":"\/60.2\/1\/2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":14337,"edition_id":1,"name":"General Provisions and Administration","identifier":"1","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12883,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:47:48","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:47:48","permalink":{"id":267275,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14337,"identifier":"1","token":"60.2\/1","url":"\/60.2\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12883,"edition_id":1,"name":"Unemployment Compensation","identifier":"60.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:58","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:58","permalink":{"id":267273,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12883,"identifier":"60.2","token":"60.2","url":"\/60.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":61254,"structure_id":14338,"section_number":"60.2-108","catch_line":"The Commission; appointment, term of office and compensation of Commissioner","url":"\/60.2-108\/","token":"60.2\/1\/2\/60.2-108","metadata":false},{"id":78367,"structure_id":14338,"section_number":"60.2-109","catch_line":"Bond of Commissioner","url":"\/60.2-109\/","token":"60.2\/1\/2\/60.2-109","metadata":false},{"id":85094,"structure_id":14338,"section_number":"60.2-110","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/60.2-110\/","token":"60.2\/1\/2\/60.2-110","metadata":false},{"id":79338,"structure_id":14338,"section_number":"60.2-111","catch_line":"Duties and powers of Commission; reporting requirements","url":"\/60.2-111\/","token":"60.2\/1\/2\/60.2-111","metadata":false},{"id":55747,"structure_id":14338,"section_number":"60.2-112","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/60.2-112\/","token":"60.2\/1\/2\/60.2-112","metadata":false},{"id":65067,"structure_id":14338,"section_number":"60.2-113","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/60.2-113\/","token":"60.2\/1\/2\/60.2-113","metadata":false},{"id":69124,"structure_id":14338,"section_number":"60.2-113.1","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/60.2-113.1\/","token":"60.2\/1\/2\/60.2-113.1","metadata":false},{"id":56997,"structure_id":14338,"section_number":"60.2-114","catch_line":"Records and reports","url":"\/60.2-114\/","token":"60.2\/1\/2\/60.2-114","metadata":false},{"id":55645,"structure_id":14338,"section_number":"60.2-114.01","catch_line":"Furnishing information to consumer reporting agencies","url":"\/60.2-114.01\/","token":"60.2\/1\/2\/60.2-114.01","metadata":false},{"id":74782,"structure_id":14338,"section_number":"60.2-114.1","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/60.2-114.1\/","token":"60.2\/1\/2\/60.2-114.1","metadata":false},{"id":67341,"structure_id":14338,"section_number":"60.2-115","catch_line":"State-federal cooperation","url":"\/60.2-115\/","token":"60.2\/1\/2\/60.2-115","metadata":false},{"id":68606,"structure_id":14338,"section_number":"60.2-116","catch_line":"Reciprocal agreements","url":"\/60.2-116\/","token":"60.2\/1\/2\/60.2-116","metadata":false},{"id":79556,"structure_id":14338,"section_number":"60.2-117","catch_line":"Use of collections in financing administrative expenditures","url":"\/60.2-117\/","token":"60.2\/1\/2\/60.2-117","metadata":false},{"id":82557,"structure_id":14338,"section_number":"60.2-118","catch_line":"Civil action to enforce title; actions on behalf of other states","url":"\/60.2-118\/","token":"60.2\/1\/2\/60.2-118","metadata":false},{"id":71753,"structure_id":14338,"section_number":"60.2-119","catch_line":"Criminal cases","url":"\/60.2-119\/","token":"60.2\/1\/2\/60.2-119","metadata":false},{"id":82072,"structure_id":14338,"section_number":"60.2-120","catch_line":"Reimbursement of expenses of Office of Attorney General","url":"\/60.2-120\/","token":"60.2\/1\/2\/60.2-120","metadata":false},{"id":68504,"structure_id":14338,"section_number":"60.2-121","catch_line":"Violation of title or rule or regulation","url":"\/60.2-121\/","token":"60.2\/1\/2\/60.2-121","metadata":false},{"id":60322,"structure_id":14338,"section_number":"60.2-121.1","catch_line":"Communications with parties","url":"\/60.2-121.1\/","token":"60.2\/1\/2\/60.2-121.1","metadata":false},{"id":79417,"structure_id":14338,"section_number":"60.2-121.2","catch_line":"Electronic submission of information; payments","url":"\/60.2-121.2\/","token":"60.2\/1\/2\/60.2-121.2","metadata":false},{"id":66927,"structure_id":14338,"section_number":"60.2-121.3","catch_line":"Unemployment Compensation Ombudsman; established; responsibilities","url":"\/60.2-121.3\/","token":"60.2\/1\/2\/60.2-121.3","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":79417,"structure_id":14338,"section_number":"60.2-121.2","catch_line":"Electronic submission of information; payments","url":"\/60.2-121.2\/","token":"60.2\/1\/2\/60.2-121.2","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/60.2-121.3\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2022. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapters 716<\/a> and 754<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":55569,"section_number":"2.2-3700","catch_line":"Short title; policy","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-3700\/"},{"id":57182,"section_number":"60.2-600","catch_line":"No assignment of benefits; exemptions","order_by":null,"url":"\/60.2-600\/"}],"permalink":{"id":267389,"object_type":"law","relational_id":66927,"identifier":"60.2-121.3","token":"60.2\/1\/2\/60.2-121.3","url":"\/60.2-121.3\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/60.2-121.3\/","token":"60.2\/1\/2\/60.2-121.3","dublin_core":{"Title":"Unemployment Compensation Ombudsman; established; responsibilities","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 60.2-121.3","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> The Commission shall create the Office of the Unemployment Compensation Ombudsman (the Office) and shall appoint an Unemployment Compensation Ombudsman to head the Office. The Unemployment Compensation Ombudsman shall provide neutral educational information and assistance to, shall protect the interests of, and shall ensure that due process<\/span> is afforded to all persons seeking assistance in (i) appeals<\/span> proceedings brought pursuant to Chapter 6 (§ 60.2-600<\/a> et seq.) and (ii) any other matter related to unemployment compensation under this title. Subject to annual appropriations, the Unemployment Compensation Ombudsman shall employ sufficient personnel to carry out the duties and powers prescribed by this section. The Unemployment Compensation Ombudsman and personnel of the Office shall carry out their duties with impartiality and shall not serve as an advocate for any person or provide legal advice. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> The Unemployment Compensation Ombudsman shall maintain data on inquiries received related to the unemployment compensation process, the types of assistance requested, and actions taken and the disposition<\/span> of each such matter. The Unemployment Compensation Ombudsman shall report information summarizing this data, including outcomes of individual cases, without disclosing individual-level identifying data, to the Commission at least once annually. The Unemployment Compensation Ombudsman shall carry out any additional activities as the Commission determines to be appropriate. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> All memoranda, work products, and other materials<\/span> contained in the case files<\/span> of the Unemployment Compensation Ombudsman and personnel of the Office shall be confidential. Any communication between the Unemployment Compensation Ombudsman and personnel of the Office and a person receiving assistance that is made during or in connection with the provision of services of the Unemployment Compensation Ombudsman and personnel of the Office shall be confidential. Confidential materials<\/span> and communications shall not be subject to disclosure and shall not be admissible<\/span> in any judicial or administrative proceeding except where (i) a threat to inflict bodily injury is made; (ii) communications are intentionally used to plan, attempt to commit, or commit a crime<\/span> or conceal an ongoing crime<\/span>; (iii) a complaint is made against the Unemployment Compensation Ombudsman or personnel of the Office by a person receiving assistance to the extent necessary for the complainant to prove misconduct or the Unemployment Compensation Ombudsman or personnel of the Office to defend against such complaint; or (iv) communications are sought or offered to prove or disprove a claim or complaint of misconduct or malpractice filed against the legal representative of a person who received assistance from the Unemployment Compensation Ombudsman or personnel of the Office. Confidential materials<\/span> and communications as described in this section are not subject to mandatory disclosure under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700<\/a> et seq.). <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> The Unemployment Compensation Ombudsman and personnel of the Office shall be immune from civil liability in their performance of the duties specified in this section. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nUNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION OMBUDSMAN; ESTABLISHED; RESPONSIBILITIES (\u00a7\n60.2-121.3)\n\nA. The Commission shall create the Office of the Unemployment Compensation\nOmbudsman (the Office) and shall appoint an Unemployment Compensation Ombudsman\nto head the Office. The Unemployment Compensation Ombudsman shall provide\nneutral educational information and assistance to, shall protect the interests\nof, and shall ensure that due process is afforded to all persons seeking\nassistance in (i) appeals proceedings brought pursuant to Chapter 6 (§\n60.2-600 et seq.) and (ii) any other matter related to unemployment compensation\nunder this title. Subject to annual appropriations, the Unemployment\nCompensation Ombudsman shall employ sufficient personnel to carry out the duties\nand powers prescribed by this section. The Unemployment Compensation Ombudsman\nand personnel of the Office shall carry out their duties with impartiality and\nshall not serve as an advocate for any person or provide legal advice.\n\nB. The Unemployment Compensation Ombudsman shall maintain data on inquiries\nreceived related to the unemployment compensation process, the types of\nassistance requested, and actions taken and the disposition of each such matter.\nThe Unemployment Compensation Ombudsman shall report information summarizing\nthis data, including outcomes of individual cases, without disclosing\nindividual-level identifying data, to the Commission at least once annually. The\nUnemployment Compensation Ombudsman shall carry out any additional activities as\nthe Commission determines to be appropriate.\n\nC. All memoranda, work products, and other materials contained in the case files\nof the Unemployment Compensation Ombudsman and personnel of the Office shall be\nconfidential. Any communication between the Unemployment Compensation Ombudsman\nand personnel of the Office and a person receiving assistance that is made\nduring or in connection with the provision of services of the Unemployment\nCompensation Ombudsman and personnel of the Office shall be confidential.\nConfidential materials and communications shall not be subject to disclosure and\nshall not be admissible in any judicial or administrative proceeding except\nwhere (i) a threat to inflict bodily injury is made; (ii) communications are\nintentionally used to plan, attempt to commit, or commit a crime or conceal an\nongoing crime; (iii) a complaint is made against the Unemployment Compensation\nOmbudsman or personnel of the Office by a person receiving assistance to the\nextent necessary for the complainant to prove misconduct or the Unemployment\nCompensation Ombudsman or personnel of the Office to defend against such\ncomplaint; or (iv) communications are sought or offered to prove or disprove a\nclaim or complaint of misconduct or malpractice filed against the legal\nrepresentative of a person who received assistance from the Unemployment\nCompensation Ombudsman or personnel of the Office. Confidential materials and\ncommunications as described in this section are not subject to mandatory\ndisclosure under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et\nseq.).\n\nD. The Unemployment Compensation Ombudsman and personnel of the Office shall be\nimmune from civil liability in their performance of the duties specified in this\nsection.\n\nHISTORY: 2022, cc. 716, 754.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}