Bill > SB1803

This bill establishes new regulations for individuals and entities assisting veterans with their benefits claims in Arizona, aiming to protect veterans from predatory practices. It prohibits anyone from acting as an agent or attorney for veterans' benefits matters unless they are officially recognized by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). For those not accredited by the VA, they can only receive compensation for advising, consulting, guiding, coaching, or training individuals on initial claims, supplemental claims, or higher-level reviews, which are processes for appealing or amending a VA decision. These non-accredited individuals must file any standard fee agreements with the Arizona Attorney General's office and cannot receive payment for simply referring a veteran to someone else. Before providing services, a written agreement must be signed by all parties, detailing the fee structure, including a three-day cancellation period without penalty, and prominently displaying a disclosure stating the business is not accredited by the VA and that free services may be available from the VA or other veterans' organizations. These individuals must always act in the veteran's best interest, cannot guarantee specific benefit outcomes, use deceptive advertising, employ medical providers for examinations, use international call centers for data processing, or gain direct access to a veteran's personal information. Furthermore, they cannot charge upfront or non-refundable fees, with compensation being contingent on an increase in benefits and capped at a one-time fee not exceeding five times the monthly increase. Violations are considered unlawful practices, and individuals who contract with non-compliant entities have a right to take legal action. These regulations do not apply to individuals already accredited and regulated by the VA. The bill defines key terms like "compensation," "higher level review," "initial claim," "person," "supplemental claim," and "veterans' benefits matter" to clarify the scope of these new rules.

Military Affairs and Security

https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/85473