PUBLIC LAWS-CH. 680 -JUNE 25, 1938 Findings and deci- sions of Board. Hearings before dis- trict board when claims have been de- nied. Establishment of district boards; com- position, etc. Alternates. Regulations govern- ing filing of cases, de- cisions, and reviews. Intermediate re- views. Appeals. Rules of evidence; record of proceedings, etc. Appeal to district court from final de- cision of Board; pro- cedure. 48 Stat. 1185 . 45U. 8.C. §161. Filing of petition for review. (b) The Board is authorized and directed to make findings of fact with respect to any claim for benefits and to make decisions as to the right of any claimant to benefits. The Board is further authorized to hold such hearings, to conduct such investigations and other proceedings, and to establish, by regulations or otherwise, such procedures as it may deem necessary or proper for the determination of a right to benefits. (c) Each claimant whose claim for benefits has been denied upon an initial determination with respect thereto, shall be granted an opportunity for a fair hearing thereon before a district board. The Board shall establish such district boards as it may deem necessary to provide for such hearings. Each district board shall consist of three members, one of whom shall be a representative of the Board, who shall serve as chairman, one of whom shall be appointed by the Board from recommendations made by representatives of employees, and one of whom shall be appointed by the Board from recommenda- tions made by representatives of employers. Each of the latter two members shall not be subject to the civil-service laws or rules and shall be paid a per diem salary of such amount as the Board finds reasonable for each day of active service on such district board, plus necessary expenses. The Board may designate an alternate for each member of a district board to serve in the absence or disqualification of such member. In no case shall a hearing before a district board proceed unless the chairman thereof is present. In the absence or disqualification of any other member and his alternate, the chairman shall act alone as the district board. (d) The Board shall prescribe regulations governing the filing of cases with and the decision of cases by district boards, and the review of such decisions. The Board may provide for intermediate reviews of such decisions by such bodies as the Board may establish or assign thereto. The Board may (i) on its own motion review a decision of a district board or of an intermediate reviewing body on the basis of the evidence previously submitted in such case, and may direct the taking of additional evidence, or (ii) permit such parties as it finds properly interested in the proceedings to take appeals to the Board. Unless a review or an appeal is had pursuant to this sub- section the decision of a district board or of an intermediate review- ing body shall, subject to such regulations as the Board may prescribe, be deemed to be the final decision of the Board. (e) In any proceeding other than a court proceeding, upon a claim for benefits, the rules of evidence prevailing in courts of law or equity shall not be controlling, but a full and complete record shall be kept of all proceedings and testimony, and the Board's final deter- mination allowing or denying benefits, together with its findings of fact and conclusions of law in connection therewith, shall be com- municated to the claimant within fifteen days after the date of such final determination. (f) Any claimant, and any railway labor organization organized in accordance with the provisions of the Railway Labor Act, of which such claimant is a member, may, only after all administrative remedies within the Board have been availed of and exhausted, obtain a review of any final decision of the Board with reference to a claim for benefits by filing a petition for review within ninety days after the mailing of notice of such decision to the claimant, or within such further time as the Board may allow, in the United States dis- trict court for the judicial district in which the claimant resides, or in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. A copy of such petition, together with initial process, shall forthwith 1100 [52 STAT.
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