VET Bonus Act

To stop the Secretary of the Army from recouping a bonus or similar benefit provided to members of the California Army National Guard between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2010, unless the Secretary can prove that the member knowingly secured the bonus or similar benefit through fraud or misrepresentation or knowingly failed to perform the service requirement upon which the bonus or similar benefit was conditioned, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Veterans Earned Their Bonus Act VET Bonus Act 2. Treatment of California Army National Guard bonuses and similar benefits provided between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2010 (a) Termination of recoupment authority; exceptions (1) Termination Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Secretary of the Army may not recoup a bonus or similar benefit that was provided to a member of the California Army National Guard during the period beginning on January 1, 2004, and ending on December 31, 2010. (2) Exceptions Paragraph (1) will not apply only if the Secretary of the Army proves, on the record after an opportunity for a hearing, that the member knowingly— (A) received the bonus or similar benefit through fraud or misrepresentation in which the member participated; or (B) failed to satisfy the service requirement upon which the bonus or similar benefit was conditioned, as provided in section 303a(e) or 373 of title 37, United States Code. (3) Presumption For purposes of paragraph (2), the member shall be presumed to have acted in good faith in procuring the bonus or similar benefit and to have satisfied the service requirement upon which the bonus or similar benefit was conditioned. (b) Effect of earlier recoupment If, as of the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Army has already recouped all or any portion of a bonus or similar benefit that was provided to a member of the California Army National Guard covered by subsection (a)(1), the Secretary shall reimburse the member for the amount repaid, plus interest, as authorized by section 1552(c)(1) of title 10, United States Code, or any other authorities available to the Secretary. (c) Other relief In the case of a member of the California Army National Guard covered by subsection (a)(1), the Secretary of the Army shall— (1) notify each consumer reporting agency that any debt and recoupment measures linked to the bonus or similar benefit were not valid; and (2) provide financial assistance to the member if the member is facing financial hardship as a result of the recoupment measures. (d) Definitions In this section: (1) The term bonus or similar benefit (2) The term consumer reporting agency 15 U.S.C. 1681a(p) (3) The term service

Summary: Veterans Earned Their Bonus Act or the VET Bonus Act This bill prohibits the Department of the Army from recouping a bonus or similar benefit that was provided to a member of the California Army National Guard between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2010, unless the Army proves, after a hearing opportunity, that the member knowingly: (1) participated in fraud or misrepresentation to receive the bonus or benefit, or (2) failed to satisfy the service requirement upon which the bonus or benefit was conditioned. A member shall be presumed to have acted in good faith in procuring the bonus or benefit and to have satisfied the service requirement. The Army shall: (1) reimburse a member for any amount previously recouped, plus interest; (2) notify each consumer reporting agency that any debt and recoupment measures linked to the bonus or benefit were not valid; and (3) provide financial assistance to a member who is facing financial hardship because of the recoupment measures.