Prohibiting certain compensation for advising or assisting with veterans benefits

From the Legislature

The purpose of this bill is to create the Veterans' Empowerment and Trust Safeguard Act; define terms; prohibit a person from receiving compensation for assisting another in obtaining veterans' benefits, except as permitted by federal law; prohibit a person from receiving compensation for referring an individual to another person to assist with obtaining veterans' benefits; prohibit a person from receiving compensation for services rendered prior to action by the Department of Veterans Affairs; prohibit a person from guaranteeing an individual is certain to receive specific veterans' benefits; prohibit a person from receiving excessive or unreasonable fees for assisting another in obtaining veterans' benefits; prohibit a person from receiving compensation for assisting another in obtaining veterans' benefits without a written fee agreement, to be filed with the Department of Veterans Affairs; prohibit the provision of medical evidence or expert witness testimony in connection with a veterans' benefits matter where fees are not pre-determined; establish violations of the West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act; and provide for exceptions.