Clarifying requirements and compensation when assisting persons apply for VA benefits in certain circumstances

SB 36 regulates professionals who charge for helping veterans apply for benefits by requiring clear disclosures about free VA services and prohibiting guarantees of specific benefits or excessive fees. It bans charging before a formal claim disagreement is filed, mandates written agreements meeting federal fee standards (38 C.F.R. §14.636), and requires both oral and written disclosures stating the service is not affiliated with VA. Violations would be treated as consumer protection law breaches under West Virginia’s Consumer Credit and Protection Act. The bill directly affects veterans’ service providers, not veterans themselves.