# Labor and Employment (GLE)

## Title 8. Unemployment Insurance

### Subtitle 5. Lower Appeals Division of the Maryland Department of Labor

#### Section 8-506

(a)

  (1) A hearing examiner shall conduct a hearing or appeal in a manner that ascertains the substantial rights of the parties.

  (2)

    (i) A hearing examiner is not bound by statutory or common law rules of evidence or technical rules of procedure.

    (ii) A hearing examiner shall consider evidence offered in accordance with Sec. 10-213 of the State Government Article.

(b)

  (1)

    (i) A hearing examiner may not participate in any proceeding in which the hearing examiner has a direct or indirect interest.

    (ii) The status of the Secretary as a party to a case may not constitute a direct or indirect interest as to a hearing examiner.

  (2)

    (i) Except as provided in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, ex parte communications are subject to Sec. 10-219 of the State Government Article.

    (ii) Section 10-219(d) of the State Government Article does not apply to ex parte communications under this subtitle.

(c)

  (1) A hearing examiner may consolidate claims by more than one individual or claims by a single individual for 2 or more weeks of unemployment if:

    (i) the same or substantially similar evidence is relevant and material to the matters at issue; and

    (ii) in the judgment of the hearing examiner, the consolidation would not be prejudicial to a party.

  (2) When claims are consolidated under this subsection, the hearing examiner may:

    (i) set the same time and place for considering each claim;

    (ii) conduct joint hearings;

    (iii) make a single record of the proceedings; and

    (iv) consider evidence that is introduced in a proceeding for one claim as having been introduced for another claim.

(d)

  (1) A record shall be kept, in accordance with Sec. 10-218 of the State Government Article, of all testimony and proceedings before a hearing examiner.

  (2) Testimony shall be transcribed if:

    (i) judicial review is initiated; or

    (ii) the hearing examiner or the Board of Appeals orders a transcription.

(e)

  (1) A witness who is subpoenaed under this subtitle is entitled to compensation at a rate that the chief hearing examiner sets.

  (2) The compensation of a witness who is subpoenaed on behalf of the Lower Appeals Division or a claimant shall be considered part of the expense of administering this title.

(f) The Lower Appeals Division may not charge a claimant a fee in any proceeding under this title.

(g)

  (1) A hearing examiner promptly shall give each party to a proceeding before it written notice of its decision by mailing the notice to each party at the last known address of the party or business address of a licensee in accordance with Sec. 10-209(a) of the State Government Article, or otherwise delivering the notice.

  (2) The notice shall:

    (i) include the findings of fact and conclusions of law that support the decision;

    (ii) be accompanied by any order necessary to give effect to the decision; and

    (iii) conform to the requirements of Sec. 10-221 of the State Government Article.

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Md. Code Ann., Lab. & Empl. (as displayed at mgaleg.maryland.gov, October 16, 2026)