Veterans affairs: administration.

Existing law provides legal rights, as specified, for service members in regard to credit agreements, court proceedings, interest liabilities, eviction proceedings, contracts, mortgages and trusts, leases, life insurance policies, taxes and assessments, and health insurance policies. This bill would hold a person who violates any of the specified rights liable for actual damages, reasonable attorney's fees, and costs incurred by an injured party. This bill would also waive the filing fee and court costs for a party seeking to enforce the rights. Existing law authorizes a service member to apply to the court for relief of an obligation, liability, tax, or assessment, as specified. Existing law requires a party to provide notice before the court grants relief. Existing law requires the court to provide a hearing before granting or denying relief. This bill would require the court to set a hearing date within 25 days after a petition is filed, unless good cause is shown to delay the date of the hearing. This bill would prohibit the court from charging a filing fee or court costs for filing a petition for relief. Existing law, the California Military Families Financial Relief Act and the California Military Families Financial Relief Act of 2005, provides financial relief, as specified, for a service member who is called to active duty. This bill would hold a person who violates these specified rights of service members liable for actual damages, reasonable attorney's fees, and costs incurred by a person seeking to enforce the rights. This bill would also waive the filing fee and court costs for a person seeking to enforce the specified rights.