SPONSOR: Pouche
This bill provides that no person can receive compensation for referring an individual to another person to advise or assist the individual with any veterans benefits matter, as specified in the bill. Additionally, no person can receive compensation for any services rendered in connection with any claim filed within the one-year presumptive period of active-duty release.
A person seeking to receive compensation for advising, assisting, or consulting with any veterans benefits matter must state the specific terms in a written agreement signed by both parties. The compensation will be purely contingent upon an increase in benefits and cannot exceed five times the amount of the monthly increase in benefits. Any initial or non-refundable fees or charges are prohibited by this bill. Any person seeking to receive this compensation cannot utilize a medical professional with whom they have an employment or business relationship for a secondary medical exam.
This bill provides that no person can guarantee a successful outcome or that any individual is certain to receive specific benefits or a specific level, percentage, or amount of benefits. Additionally, no person can provide the services without including a written and oral disclosure, which is specified in the bill. The disclosure must be retained for at least one year after the service relationship terminates.
Persons engaging in the initial claim preparation cannot utilize international call or data centers for processing veterans' personal information nor gain direct access to any personal medical, financial, or governmental benefits log-in, username, or password information.
A violation of this bill constitutes an unlawful practice under the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act.
This bill is similar to SB 316 (2025) and SB 1405 (2024).
Statutes affected: