Amended IN Assembly April 02, 2025 Amended IN Assembly March 24, 2025 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 826Introduced by Assembly Member Jeff GonzalezFebruary 19, 2025 An act to add Section 401.5 to the Military and Veterans Code, relating to veterans.LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 826, as amended, Jeff Gonzalez. Veterans benefits: protections.Existing law establishes the Department of Veterans Affairs, which is responsible for administering various programs and services for the benefit of veterans. Existing law authorizes veterans service organizations, as specified, to contract with the department to pursue claims against the United States. Existing law defines veterans service officer as an individual employed by a veterans service organization and accredited by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to process and adjudicate claims and other benefits for veterans and their dependents and survivors. Existing law establishes the Veterans Service Office Fund, which, upon appropriation by the Legislature, may be used to expand the support of county veterans service offices.This bill would prohibit a person or business from charging a fee to assist a veteran with the filing of a veterans benefit claim to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Affairs unless they are accredited for that purpose. The bill would make a violation of these provisions punishable by a $2,000 civil fine payable to the Veterans Service Office Fund and to the office of the district attorney that processed the fine, as specified.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 401.5 is added to the Military and Veterans Code, to read:401.5. (a) A person or business shall not charge a fee to assist a veteran with the filing of a veterans benefit claim to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Affairs unless they are accredited by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs for that purpose.(b) For purposes of this section, each document filed or document that the veteran received assistance in filing, in exchange for a fee, is one violation.(c) A violation of this section shall be punished by the imposition of a civil fine of two thousand dollars ($2,000) to be paid as follows:(1) One thousand dollars ($1,000) shall be deposited into the Veterans Service Office Fund created pursuant to Section 972.2.(2) One thousand dollars ($1,000) shall be paid to the office of the district attorney that processed the fine.
Amended IN Assembly April 02, 2025 Amended IN Assembly March 24, 2025 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 826Introduced by Assembly Member Jeff GonzalezFebruary 19, 2025 An act to add Section 401.5 to the Military and Veterans Code, relating to veterans.LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 826, as amended, Jeff Gonzalez. Veterans benefits: protections.Existing law establishes the Department of Veterans Affairs, which is responsible for administering various programs and services for the benefit of veterans. Existing law authorizes veterans service organizations, as specified, to contract with the department to pursue claims against the United States. Existing law defines veterans service officer as an individual employed by a veterans service organization and accredited by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to process and adjudicate claims and other benefits for veterans and their dependents and survivors. Existing law establishes the Veterans Service Office Fund, which, upon appropriation by the Legislature, may be used to expand the support of county veterans service offices.This bill would prohibit a person or business from charging a fee to assist a veteran with the filing of a veterans benefit claim to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Affairs unless they are accredited for that purpose. The bill would make a violation of these provisions punishable by a $2,000 civil fine payable to the Veterans Service Office Fund and to the office of the district attorney that processed the fine, as specified.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO
Amended IN Assembly April 02, 2025 Amended IN Assembly March 24, 2025
Amended IN Assembly April 02, 2025
Amended IN Assembly March 24, 2025
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 826
Introduced by Assembly Member Jeff GonzalezFebruary 19, 2025
Introduced by Assembly Member Jeff Gonzalez
February 19, 2025
An act to add Section 401.5 to the Military and Veterans Code, relating to veterans.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 826, as amended, Jeff Gonzalez. Veterans benefits: protections.
Existing law establishes the Department of Veterans Affairs, which is responsible for administering various programs and services for the benefit of veterans. Existing law authorizes veterans service organizations, as specified, to contract with the department to pursue claims against the United States. Existing law defines veterans service officer as an individual employed by a veterans service organization and accredited by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to process and adjudicate claims and other benefits for veterans and their dependents and survivors. Existing law establishes the Veterans Service Office Fund, which, upon appropriation by the Legislature, may be used to expand the support of county veterans service offices.This bill would prohibit a person or business from charging a fee to assist a veteran with the filing of a veterans benefit claim to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Affairs unless they are accredited for that purpose. The bill would make a violation of these provisions punishable by a $2,000 civil fine payable to the Veterans Service Office Fund and to the office of the district attorney that processed the fine, as specified.
Existing law establishes the Department of Veterans Affairs, which is responsible for administering various programs and services for the benefit of veterans. Existing law authorizes veterans service organizations, as specified, to contract with the department to pursue claims against the United States. Existing law defines veterans service officer as an individual employed by a veterans service organization and accredited by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to process and adjudicate claims and other benefits for veterans and their dependents and survivors. Existing law establishes the Veterans Service Office Fund, which, upon appropriation by the Legislature, may be used to expand the support of county veterans service offices.
This bill would prohibit a person or business from charging a fee to assist a veteran with the filing of a veterans benefit claim to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Affairs unless they are accredited for that purpose. The bill would make a violation of these provisions punishable by a $2,000 civil fine payable to the Veterans Service Office Fund and to the office of the district attorney that processed the fine, as specified.
## Digest Key
## Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 401.5 is added to the Military and Veterans Code, to read:401.5. (a) A person or business shall not charge a fee to assist a veteran with the filing of a veterans benefit claim to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Affairs unless they are accredited by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs for that purpose.(b) For purposes of this section, each document filed or document that the veteran received assistance in filing, in exchange for a fee, is one violation.(c) A violation of this section shall be punished by the imposition of a civil fine of two thousand dollars ($2,000) to be paid as follows:(1) One thousand dollars ($1,000) shall be deposited into the Veterans Service Office Fund created pursuant to Section 972.2.(2) One thousand dollars ($1,000) shall be paid to the office of the district attorney that processed the fine.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
## The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 401.5 is added to the Military and Veterans Code, to read:401.5. (a) A person or business shall not charge a fee to assist a veteran with the filing of a veterans benefit claim to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Affairs unless they are accredited by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs for that purpose.(b) For purposes of this section, each document filed or document that the veteran received assistance in filing, in exchange for a fee, is one violation.(c) A violation of this section shall be punished by the imposition of a civil fine of two thousand dollars ($2,000) to be paid as follows:(1) One thousand dollars ($1,000) shall be deposited into the Veterans Service Office Fund created pursuant to Section 972.2.(2) One thousand dollars ($1,000) shall be paid to the office of the district attorney that processed the fine.
SECTION 1. Section 401.5 is added to the Military and Veterans Code, to read:
### SECTION 1.
401.5. (a) A person or business shall not charge a fee to assist a veteran with the filing of a veterans benefit claim to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Affairs unless they are accredited by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs for that purpose.(b) For purposes of this section, each document filed or document that the veteran received assistance in filing, in exchange for a fee, is one violation.(c) A violation of this section shall be punished by the imposition of a civil fine of two thousand dollars ($2,000) to be paid as follows:(1) One thousand dollars ($1,000) shall be deposited into the Veterans Service Office Fund created pursuant to Section 972.2.(2) One thousand dollars ($1,000) shall be paid to the office of the district attorney that processed the fine.
401.5. (a) A person or business shall not charge a fee to assist a veteran with the filing of a veterans benefit claim to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Affairs unless they are accredited by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs for that purpose.(b) For purposes of this section, each document filed or document that the veteran received assistance in filing, in exchange for a fee, is one violation.(c) A violation of this section shall be punished by the imposition of a civil fine of two thousand dollars ($2,000) to be paid as follows:(1) One thousand dollars ($1,000) shall be deposited into the Veterans Service Office Fund created pursuant to Section 972.2.(2) One thousand dollars ($1,000) shall be paid to the office of the district attorney that processed the fine.
401.5. (a) A person or business shall not charge a fee to assist a veteran with the filing of a veterans benefit claim to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Affairs unless they are accredited by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs for that purpose.(b) For purposes of this section, each document filed or document that the veteran received assistance in filing, in exchange for a fee, is one violation.(c) A violation of this section shall be punished by the imposition of a civil fine of two thousand dollars ($2,000) to be paid as follows:(1) One thousand dollars ($1,000) shall be deposited into the Veterans Service Office Fund created pursuant to Section 972.2.(2) One thousand dollars ($1,000) shall be paid to the office of the district attorney that processed the fine.
401.5. (a) A person or business shall not charge a fee to assist a veteran with the filing of a veterans benefit claim to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Affairs unless they are accredited by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs for that purpose.
(b) For purposes of this section, each document filed or document that the veteran received assistance in filing, in exchange for a fee, is one violation.
(c) A violation of this section shall be punished by the imposition of a civil fine of two thousand dollars ($2,000) to be paid as follows:
(1) One thousand dollars ($1,000) shall be deposited into the Veterans Service Office Fund created pursuant to Section 972.2.
(2) One thousand dollars ($1,000) shall be paid to the office of the district attorney that processed the fine.