Bill > HB108

This bill, known as the Safeguarding American Veteran Empowerment Act or SAVE Act, amends Georgia's Fair Business Practices Act of 1975 to establish new protections for veterans and other eligible individuals seeking benefits. It defines key terms like "compensation" (payment for services), "person" (any individual or entity), "veteran" (former U.S. armed forces member or eligible person), and "veterans' benefits matter" (claims related to benefits administered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or Georgia Department of Veterans Service). The bill prohibits receiving payment for simply referring someone to another person for veterans' benefits assistance, and restricts charging fees for services to veterans within one year of active duty release unless they acknowledge declining free services. It mandates written agreements detailing compensation, which must be contingent on an increase in awarded benefits and capped at five times the monthly increase, not exceeding $12,500, with no upfront or non-refundable fees allowed. Furthermore, it prohibits using medical professionals with whom the service provider has a business relationship for secondary examinations, guarantees of outcomes, or advising on benefits without providing a clear written and oral disclosure stating the business is not affiliated with government or federally chartered veterans' organizations and that free services may be available elsewhere. Service providers must retain records of these disclosures for at least one year after the agreement ends, and are forbidden from using international call centers for processing personal information or requesting veterans' login credentials. They must also be accredited by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and any employee accessing veterans' sensitive information must undergo a background check. Violations are considered deceptive practices, with each day of continued violation constituting a separate offense, and the Attorney General can impose civil penalties of at least $10,000 per violation for willful offenses.