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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>84434</law_id><section_number>51.1-1135.1</section_number><catch_line>Appeals</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="51.1">Pensions, Benefits, and Retirement</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="11">Sickness and Disability Program</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="5">Provisions Applicable to Disability Benefits Generally</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>The Board may elect to develop an alternative to the process set forth in the Administrative Process <span class="dictionary">Act</span> (&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Short title; purpose" href="/2.2-4000/">2.2-4000</a> et seq.) to allow <span class="dictionary">appeals</span> of case decisions related to the payment of <span class="dictionary">disability benefits</span> under this chapter. This alternative process shall be modeled after the claims provisions as provided for in the federal Employee Retirement Income Security <span class="dictionary">Act</span> of 1974, as amended, and shall (i) provide for adequate notice in writing to any participant whose claim for benefits has been denied setting forth the specific reasons for such denial, and (ii) afford a reasonable opportunity to any participant whose claim for benefits has been denied for a review of the decision denying the claim. Articles 3 (&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Exemptions from operation of Article 3" href="/2.2-4018/">2.2-4018</a> et seq.) and 4 (&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Hearing officers" href="/2.2-4024/">2.2-4024</a>) of the Administrative Process <span class="dictionary">Act</span> shall not apply to any portion of this alternative <span class="dictionary">appeals</span> process. However, any person aggrieved by, and claiming the unlawfulness of, a final case decision issued pursuant to this alternative <span class="dictionary">appeals</span> process, whether issued by the Board or by the Board&#x2019;s delegate, shall have a right to seek judicial review thereof. Such judicial review shall be in accordance with Article 5 (&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Exemptions operation of this article; limitations" href="/2.2-4025/">2.2-4025</a> et seq.) of the Administrative Process <span class="dictionary">Act</span>.</p></section></text><history>1999, c. 144; 2000, c. 889; 2001, c. 694; 2005, c. 473.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
