Florida Department of Commerce adopts rules on how reemployment assistance appeal notices are sent and allows evidence uploads
As of our last check on November 4, 2026, this is in effect, since May 12, 2026.
We check the Florida Administrative Register daily for later notices on this rule.
In short
- What changed
- The Florida Department of Commerce adopted rule changes, effective May 12, 2026, that move into one new rule (Rule 73B-20.0261) how hearing notices, decisions and other correspondence are sent in reemployment assistance appeals. Parties can also now upload hearing evidence for the appeals referee to the RECONNECT system.
- Who's affected
- Employers and claimants who are parties to Florida reemployment assistance appeals before an appeals referee, and the attorneys or representatives who act for them.
- What to do
- The rule creates no new duties for employers. If you take part in these appeals, watch your RECONNECT inbox for notices and decisions, and remember that hearing evidence must still reach the referee and the other parties at least 24 hours before the hearing (uploading to the appeals case folder is now one way to deliver it to the referee).
What changed
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From the sourceHistory of this Rule since Jan. 6, 2006, Final row
73B-20.014 Scheduling and Notice of Hearings 30815268 Effective: 05/12/2026
The rule changes were adopted and took effect on May 12, 2026.
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From the sourceSummary
Rule 73B-20.0261 is a new rule that centralizes the procedures for the distribution of Department correspondence to the parties and their representatives.
New Rule 73B-20.0261 puts in one place how the Department sends correspondence to parties and their representatives in reemployment assistance appeals.
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From the sourceRule 73B-20.0261(1)
A copy of a decision, notice of hearing, or any other written correspondence provided by the Florida Department of Commerce pursuant to this chapter will be distributed by electronic correspondence in each party’s RECONNECT inbox.
Also: Rule 73B-20.0261(1)
if a party has elected in the RECONNECT system to receive notice of Department correspondence by email, notice that the correspondence has been distributed in the party’s RECONNECT inbox will be emailed to the party’s email address of record.
Decisions, hearing notices and other written correspondence are sent electronically to each party's RECONNECT inbox. A party that chose email notice in RECONNECT gets an email saying the correspondence is in its inbox.
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From the sourceRule 73B-20.0261(1)
In the event the Department cannot distribute notice of correspondence electronically, the correspondence will be mailed to the party’s address of record and uploaded in the RECONNECT appeals case folder.
Also: Rule 73B-20.0261(1)
If a party has elected in the RECONNECT system to receive correspondence by U.S. mail, a copy of the correspondence shall also be mailed to the party’s mailing address of record.
If the Department cannot send notice electronically, it mails the correspondence to the party's address of record and uploads it to the RECONNECT appeals case folder. A party that chose U.S. mail in RECONNECT also gets a mailed copy.
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From the sourceRule 73B-20.0261(2)
shall be mailed, by U.S. mail, to any attorney or representative who has established an address of record with the Department.
Attorneys and representatives who have set up an address of record with the Department receive copies of decisions, hearing notices and other correspondence by U.S. mail.
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From the sourceRule 73B-20.015(1)
In addition to ordinary delivery methods, delivery to the referee may be accomplished by uploading the evidence into the appeals case folder in the RECONNECT system.
Parties may now deliver hearing evidence to the appeals referee by uploading it to the appeals case folder in RECONNECT, in addition to ordinary delivery methods.
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From the sourceSummary
The amendments to Rules 73B-20.014, 73B-20.016, and 73B-20.025 replace language specifying how the respective documents will be distributed with a citation to the new distribution rule.
The rules on hearing notices, continuances and decisions now point to the new distribution rule instead of each describing how documents are sent.
Who is affected
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From the sourceRule 73B-20.014(2)
Whenever practicable, notices to employers shall be sent to both the employer’s official address of record and to the job site where the claimant was employed.
Employers are parties to these appeals hearings. Whenever practicable, hearing notices to employers go to both the employer's official address of record and the job site where the claimant worked.
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From the sourceSUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS AND LEGISLATIVE RATIFICATION
The proposed rules amend established hearing procedures for reemployment assistance appeals and have no economic impact.
The rules cover hearing procedures in reemployment assistance appeals.
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From the sourceRule 73B-20.0261(2)
shall be mailed, by U.S. mail, to any attorney or representative who has established an address of record with the Department.
Attorneys and representatives of record for the parties are also covered by the new distribution rule.
What it means in practice
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From the sourceSUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS AND LEGISLATIVE RATIFICATION
The Agency has determined that this will not have an adverse impact on small business
Also: SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS AND LEGISLATIVE RATIFICATION
The proposed rules amend established hearing procedures for reemployment assistance appeals and have no economic impact.
The agency found that the changes have no economic impact and will not have an adverse impact on small business.
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Our analysisRule 73B-20.0261(1)
A copy of a decision, notice of hearing, or any other written correspondence provided by the Florida Department of Commerce pursuant to this chapter will be distributed by electronic correspondence in each party’s RECONNECT inbox.
Because the RECONNECT inbox is the main delivery channel, an employer that does not check it, or has not chosen email or mail notice, could miss a hearing notice or decision.
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Our analysisRule 73B-20.015(1)
Documents that have not been provided in this manner may not be considered by the appeals referee, absent waiver.
Uploading evidence to RECONNECT may make it easier to meet the 24-hour delivery deadline for the referee, since evidence not delivered on time may not be considered.
What to do
AmendSignal analysis sorts these by whether this document changes them.
Already required
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From the sourceRule 73B-20.015(1)
that party must arrange for delivery of copies to the appeals referee and other parties at least 24 hours prior to the scheduled date and time of hearing.
Also: Rule 73B-20.015(1)
Documents that have not been provided in this manner may not be considered by the appeals referee, absent waiver.
A party, including an employer, that wants to submit written or other physical evidence must arrange delivery of copies to the appeals referee and the other parties at least 24 hours before the scheduled hearing. Evidence not delivered this way may not be considered, absent waiver.
Worth considering
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Our suggestionRule 73B-20.0261(1)
if a party has elected in the RECONNECT system to receive notice of Department correspondence by email, notice that the correspondence has been distributed in the party’s RECONNECT inbox will be emailed to the party’s email address of record.
Consider assigning someone to check the employer's RECONNECT inbox regularly, and consider choosing email or U.S. mail notice in RECONNECT so hearing notices and decisions are not missed.
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Our suggestionRule 73B-20.014(2)
Whenever practicable, notices to employers shall be sent to both the employer’s official address of record and to the job site where the claimant was employed.
Consider confirming that the employer's official address of record with the Department is current, since mailed notices and decisions go there.
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Our suggestionRule 73B-20.0261(2)
shall be mailed, by U.S. mail, to any attorney or representative who has established an address of record with the Department.
If an attorney or outside representative handles your appeals, consider making sure they have established an address of record with the Department so they receive mailed copies.
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Our suggestionRule 73B-20.015(1)
In addition to ordinary delivery methods, delivery to the referee may be accomplished by uploading the evidence into the appeals case folder in the RECONNECT system.
Consider using the RECONNECT appeals case folder upload to deliver hearing evidence to the referee, while still making sure the other parties receive copies at least 24 hours before the hearing.
Open questions
The source leaves these open. We'll update this record if a later document answers them.
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Does uploading evidence to the RECONNECT appeals case folder also count as delivery to the other parties, or only to the appeals referee?
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Did Rules 73B-20.015, 73B-20.016, 73B-20.025 and 73B-20.0261 take effect on the same date as Rule 73B-20.014?
History
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Adopted: 73B-20.014, effective 2026-05-12 Source (opens in a new tab)
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Notice of Proposed Rule: Scheduling and Notice of Hearings and 4 other rules Source (opens in a new tab)
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Notice of Rule Development: Development 73B-20.014 ...... Source (opens in a new tab)
Sources
- Notice of Proposed Rule: 73B-20.014 Scheduling and Notice of Hearings; 73B-20.015 Service of Written and Other Physical Evidence; 73B-20.016 Continuances; 73B-20.025 Decision; 73B-20.0261 Distribution of Decisions, Notices of Hearing, and Other Written Correspondence (opens in a new tab)
- Development 73B-20.014 ...... (opens in a new tab)
- Final 73B-20.014 (opens in a new tab)