Florida Senate - 2016                                    SB 1692
       
       
        
       By Senator Altman
       
       16-01254-16                                           20161692__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to the protection of veterans;
    3         creating s. 295.24, F.S.; prohibiting an agent or
    4         attorney retained for purposes of a veteran’s claims
    5         assistance from seeking reimbursement for a specified
    6         assessment from the claimant; providing a penalty;
    7         providing an effective date.
    8          
    9  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   10  
   11         Section 1. Section 295.24, Florida Statutes, is created to
   12  read:
   13         295.24 Agents or attorneys retained for veterans’ claims
   14  assistance; prohibition; penalty.—
   15         (1) A person who is recognized as an agent or attorney by
   16  the United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs for purposes of
   17  preparing, presenting, and prosecuting claims under laws
   18  administered by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs
   19  and is charged an assessment pursuant to 38 U.S.C. s.
   20  5904(a)(6)(A) may not, directly or indirectly, request, receive,
   21  or obtain reimbursement for such assessment from the claimant he
   22  or she represents.
   23         (2) A person who violates this section commits a felony of
   24  the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s.
   25  775.083, or s. 775.084.
   26         Section 2. This act shall take effect October 1, 2017.