Nevada City, CA – After years of advocacy to shield veterans from illegal and excessive fees charged by unaccredited claims companies, Nevada County’s Veterans Service Officer helped secure passage of landmark state legislation strengthening protections for those who served.
David West, who is also president of the California Association of County Veterans Services Officers, was present at the official signing of Senate Bill 694 Tuesday with Gov. Gavin Newsom.
“It’s really nice that California legislators listened to the voices of its veterans,” said West, who worked for two years to get the bill approved. “No veteran should ever have to pay to access their benefits.”
For years, lax federal enforcement allowed unaccredited businesses to charge illegal and excessive fees while misleading veterans seeking help with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs benefits.
The new law establishes clear guardrails, oversight and enforcement mechanisms to prevent benefit-stealing scams and protect veterans from exploitation. It strengthens California’s nation-leading consumer protections. County veterans services officers help veterans at no cost to access the benefits they have earned.
Learn more about Nevada County’s Veterans Services Office at www.NevadaCountyCa.gov/VSO.