H.R. 2863 — Introduced in House

I 114th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2863 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 23, 2015 Mr. Rooney of Florida (for himself, Ms. Bordallo, Mr. Walz, Mr. Brady of Pennsylvania, and Mr. Rigell) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit unrecognized individuals from charging fees for legal services provided to veterans related to appeals before the Department of Veterans Affairs or the Board of Veterans’ Appeals, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Secure Legal Services for Veterans Act. 2. Prohibition of unrecognized individuals charging fees for legal services provided to veterans related to appeals claims before the Department of Veterans Affairs (a) In general Section 5904(a)(6) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (F) (i) An individual who is not recognized as an agent or attorney under this section may not directly or indirectly solicit, contract for, charge, receive, or attempt to solicit, contract for, charge, or receive any fee or compensation for services rendered in the preparation, presentation, or prosecution of an appeal before the Department or the Board of Veterans’ Appeals. (ii) Whoever violates this subparagraph shall be fined in accordance with title 18, imprisoned for not more than one year, or both. (iii) There is established in the General Fund of the Treasury a fund to be known as the TBI Research and Initiatives Fund. Amounts collected for violations of this subparagraph shall be deposited in the fund and shall remain available to the Secretary without fiscal year limitation for traumatic brain injury research and initiatives. . (b) Effective date The amendment made by subsection (a) shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and apply with respect to an act that occurs on or after that date.