TO:	Commissioners, TA Directors, MA Directors, FS Directors, Heap Directors

FROM:	Russ Hanks, Deputy General Counsel

SUBJECT:	Office of Administrative Hearings - Toll Free Number

EFFECTIVE DATE:	March 15, 2004

CONTACT PERSON:	Mark Lacivita @ 518-473-7051 or Louise Finkell @ 518-473-4969

	As part of a continuing effort to improve access, effective March 15, 2004 the Office of Administrative Hearings will establish a statewide toll-free number for clients and representatives to use when requesting a hearing or calling for other hearing related purposes.  The currently used remote call forward phone lines in Buffalo (716-852-4868), Rochester (716-266-4868), Syracuse (315-428-4868), Hempstead (516-739-4868), and New York City (212-417-6550) and the Albany local lines (518-474-8781, 474-5603, 474-5604) will be eliminated.

	The new statewide toll-free request number is 800-342-3334.

	All notices containing right to a hearing information must be updated accordingly.  Call intercepts directing callers to call the toll-free number will be placed on the above-referenced call forward lines for a minimum of three months to allow time for the necessary adjustments to client notices.  In addition, please advise all appropriate staff of the change to insure that clients are afforded accurate information when being referred to the fair hearing process.

	Notices should also be updated to include the following website address for requesting a hearing.

http://www.otda.state.ny.us/oah/forms.asp

	There is no change to the fax request line, the NYC walk-in addresses or the mailing address to request a hearing.

	A NYC Emergency toll-free request line is also being established to replace 212-417-3614.  All appropriate parties will be notified in the near future of the implementation date and number so that all notices currently indicating the NYC Emergency request line of 212-417-3614 can be updated accordingly.

	A statewide toll free number for use by clients and representatives to request an adjournment of a scheduled fair hearing has also been established (877-209-1134).  This number will be printed on the OAH-457 scheduling notice.