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Senate committee advances bill to curb 'claim sharks' preying on veterans, sends SB 694 to Rules
Summary
Sen. Archuleta introduced Senate Bill 694 to the California State Senate Judiciary Committee, saying the bill would strengthen state protections against for‑profit companies that charge disabled veterans for help with initial VA benefits claims; after extensive testimony, the committee voted 12-0 to re‑refer the bill to the Senate Rules Committee for further work.
Sen. Archuleta, the bill's author, presented Senate Bill 694 to the California State Senate Judiciary Committee and said the measure would strengthen state protections for veterans who seek benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), including by prohibiting unaccredited individuals and companies from charging fees for preparing initial VA claims.
The bill's coauthor, Pilar, chair of the Assembly Military and Veterans Committee, described SB 694 as an effort to align state law with federal protections and said veteran service organizations (VSOs) and many county veteran service officers back the bill. Pilar told the committee that an unintentional federal change in 2006 created a loophole that allowed some for‑profit companies to charge veterans for initial claims and operate without effective federal oversight.
Supporters at the microphone — including David West, identified as president of California VSOs, and retired Lt. Col. William Swenson, a Medal of Honor recipient and chief strategy officer…
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