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REFERENCE TITLE: veterans' benefits; claims; prohibition; notice |
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State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-sixth Legislature Second Regular Session 2024
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HB 2792 |
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Introduced by Representatives Travers: Gillette, Payne, Seaman
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An Act
amending title 41, chapter 3, article 7, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 41-610.03; relating to the department of veteran's services.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Title 41, chapter 3, article 7, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 41-610.03, to read:
41-610.03. Veterans' benefits; claims; prohibition; notification; accreditation; definition
A. A person may not receive compensation directly from an individual regarding a veterans' benefits matter for any of the following:
1. Advising, consulting or assisting the individual regarding a veterans' benefits matter before the department of veterans' services or the United States department of veterans affairs.
2. Referring the individual to another person to prepare, present or prosecute a claim or to advise, consult or assist the individual with a veterans' benefits matter before the department of veterans' services or the United States department of veterans affairs.
B. A person who advises, consults or assists an INDIVIDUAL regarding a veterans' benefits matter pursuant to this section must be ACCREDITED by the United states department of veterans affairs. Before a person advises, consults or ASSISTs an INDIVIDUAL regarding a veterans' BENEFITS matter, the person shall notify the INDIVIDUAL of the free services the united states department of veterans affairs and the department of veterans' services offer to file any benefits claims.
C. THE department of veterans' services shall post in a visible and prominent section on the home page of its website all free services that the department of veterans' services offers to INDIVIDUALS who want to file any benefits claims pursuant to this section.
D. This section does not prohibit a division of fees between attorneys that is otherwise proper pursuant to the rules of professional conduct adopted by the Arizona supreme court.
E. For the purposes of this section, "veterans' benefits matter" means any benefit, program, service, commodity, function or status the entitlement to which is determined by the department of veterans' services or the United States department of veterans affairs pertaining to veterans, their dependents, their survivors and any other individual eligible for such benefits.