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| 1 | AN ACT concerning veterans.
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| 2 | Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
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| 3 | represented in the General Assembly:
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| 4 | Section 5. The Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business | ||||||
| 5 | Practices Act is amended by adding Section 2WWW as follows: | ||||||
| 6 | (815 ILCS 505/2WWW new) | ||||||
| 7 | Sec. 2WWW. Deceptive practices targeting veterans and | ||||||
| 8 | military members. | ||||||
| 9 | (a) As used in this Section: | ||||||
| 10 | "Veteran or military benefits services" means any services | ||||||
| 11 | offered or provided to a veteran, military member, or family | ||||||
| 12 | member who is entitled to receive benefits under federal, | ||||||
| 13 | State, or local law, policy, or practice as a result of, at | ||||||
| 14 | least in part, qualifying military service. Such services | ||||||
| 15 | include assistance in obtaining benefits, increasing benefits, | ||||||
| 16 | or appealing a decision related to obtaining or increasing | ||||||
| 17 | benefits. | ||||||
| 18 | "Veteran's services disclosure" means providing, in upper | ||||||
| 19 | case type in size at least as large as the type size of the | ||||||
| 20 | written communication or by voice-over, the following | ||||||
| 21 | statement: "VETERAN AND MILITARY BENEFITS SERVICES ARE | ||||||
| 22 | AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE FROM COUNTY VETERAN SERVICE OFFICERS, | ||||||
| 23 | THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, AND FEDERALLY | ||||||
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| 1 | CHARTERED VETERAN SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS. TO LEARN MORE, | ||||||
| 2 | CONTACT THESE ORGANIZATIONS OR THE ILLINOIS ATTORNEY GENERAL'S | ||||||
| 3 | OFFICE AT 1-800-382-3000.". | ||||||
| 4 | (b) It is an unlawful practice within the meaning of this | ||||||
| 5 | Act for any person providing veteran or military benefits | ||||||
| 6 | services to: | ||||||
| 7 | (1) Fail in any advertising to conspicuously disclose | ||||||
| 8 | a veteran's services disclosure when veteran or military | ||||||
| 9 | benefits services are provided in exchange for a benefit | ||||||
| 10 | or thing of value. | ||||||
| 11 | (2) Fail to obtain, or to obtain a pending application | ||||||
| 12 | for, all veteran or military benefits services | ||||||
| 13 | qualifications, certifications, and accreditations | ||||||
| 14 | required under State or federal law. | ||||||
| 15 | (3) Fail, when acting as a fiduciary for a veteran | ||||||
| 16 | receiving benefits, to meet the responsibilities of | ||||||
| 17 | fiduciaries under 38 CFR 13.140. | ||||||
| 18 | (4) Fail, when providing representation before the | ||||||
| 19 | United States Department of Veterans Affairs, to meet the | ||||||
| 20 | standards of conduct under 38 CFR 14.632. | ||||||
| 21 | (5) Charge fees or expenses in violation of 38 CFR | ||||||
| 22 | 14.636 or 14.637.
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