Background

This transmittal amends sections I-3-1-2 of the Hearings, Appeals, and Litigation Law (HALLEX) manual to update procedures for the field office (FO) to forward a request for review to the Office of Appellate Operations (OAO) when the FO cannot automatically establish a case in the Appeals Review Processing System (ARPS) with systems inputs made by the FO employees.

Explanation of Content and Changes

I-3-1-2 – We updated subsection A., paragraph 2 to remove the option for the FO to forward a request for review to OAO by mail when the FO cannot automatically establish a case in ARPS with system inputs made by the FO employees. We also added a NOTE that specifies the desktop fax number or email address that the FO will use instead to forward the request for review to OAO. In subsection C, we added a cross-reference to the new NOTE in subsection A, clarified that hearing offices should alert OAO on receipt of a request for review by email, and removed two prior NOTEs containing obsolete processing instructions for OAO support staff. In addition, we made minor editorial changes throughout this section to improve readability and remove gender-specific language.

Date: February 22, 2023