Rhode Island § 28-44-50 - Employment Security — Benefits

§ 28-44-50. Rule of decision — Certification of questions to board of review.

Final decisions of the board of review and the principles of law declared in their support shall be binding in all subsequent proceedings involving similar questions, unless expressly or impliedly overruled by a later decision of the board of review or of a court of competent jurisdiction. Final decisions of appeal tribunals and the principles of law declared in their support shall be binding on the director and shall be persuasive authority in subsequent appeal tribunal proceedings. If in any subsequent proceedings, the director or an appeal tribunal has serious doubt as to the correctness of any principles previously declared by an appeal tribunal or by the board of review, or if there is an apparent inconsistency or conflict in final decisions or comparable authority, then the findings of fact in that case may be certified, together with the question of law involved, to the board of review. After giving notice and reasonable opportunity for hearing upon the law to all parties to the proceedings, the board of review shall certify to the director or appeal tribunal and the parties in interest its answer to the question submitted, or the board of review, in its discretion, may remove to itself the entire proceeding as provided in § 28-44-48 and render its decision upon the entire case.