<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<section article="gle" article_name="Labor and Employment" number="9-714" title_number="9" title_name="Workers' Compensation" subtitle_number="7" subtitle_name="Claims Procedure, Hearings, and Appeals">
  <level label="a">
    <text>When the Commission receives a claim, the Commission:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>may investigate the claim; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>on application of any party to the claim, shall order a hearing.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Commission shall make or deny an award within 30 days:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>after the mailing of the notice of the filing of a claim; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>if a hearing is held, after the hearing is concluded.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The decision shall be recorded in the principal office of the Commission, and a copy of the decision shall be sent to each party’s attorney of record or, if the party is unrepresented, to the party:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>by first–class mail; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>by electronic means, if the party’s attorney of record consents or, if the party is unrepresented, the party consents.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
