Kentucky Senate committee holds hearing on bill to regulate veteran claim consultants; no vote taken

Sen. David Yates, who represents Jefferson District 37, introduced a bill at a Senate committee hearing in Frankfort on legislation intended to regulate private consultants who assist veterans with Department of Veterans Affairs claims and to require clearer disclosures and fee limits.

The bill’s sponsor said the measure is aimed at protecting veterans from ‘‘vultures’’ who take large fees and that it would require written disclosures, limit fees and require clear statements that private firms are not accredited or affiliated with the VA or veterans service organizations. ‘‘We want that open disclosure,’’ Sen. David Yates said.

The issue has drawn testimony from veterans service organizations and private firms. James Tebbe, legislative chairman for the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Department of Kentucky, told the committee that the bill in its current form ‘‘violates the code of federal regulations, which prohibits charging a veteran…