Servicemembers and Veterans Legal Protections Act of 2004

Bill: 108-hr-4658
Sponsor: Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4]
Introduced: 2004-06-23 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Accounting
Alaska
Armed forces abroad
Civil actions and liability
Commerce
Congress
Congressional investigations
Congressional reporting requirements
Contracts
Disabled
Double taxation
Employee rights
Environmental Protection
Environmental monitoring
Excise tax
Families
Fines (Penalties)
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Governmental investigations
Hawaii
Health
Health insurance continuation
Housing and Community Development
Injunctions
Labor and Employment
Law
Leases
Liens
Medical wastes
Military dependents
Military personnel
Mortgages
Motor vehicles
Property tax
Surety and fidelity
Tax credits
Taxation
Transportation and Public Works
Trusts and trustees
Veterans' benefits
Veterans' employment
Veterans' hospitals

Summary:
action_date: 2004-06-23
text: 
Servicemembers Legal Protection Act of 2004 - Amends the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) to define &quot;judgment&quot; for purposes of that Act as any judgment, decree, order, or ruling, whether final or temporary.
 
Requires written waivers of rights and protections provided by the SCRA to be executed as separate instruments and in 12 point type.
 
Extends to plaintiffs the same right to request stays of civil proceedings as is granted to defendants under the SCRA.
 
States that a servicemember's termination of a residential or motor vehicle lease shall terminate any obligation of the servicemember's dependents under such lease.
 
Specifies that motor vehicle lease termination provisions apply to servicemembers who receive military orders: (1) for a permanent change of station from a location in the continental United States to a location outside the continental United States or from a location in a State outside the continental United States to any location outside that State; or (2) to deploy with a military unit or as an individual in support of a military operation for not less than 180 days.
 
Prohibits tax jurisdictions from imposing use, excise, or similar taxes on the personal property of nonresident servicemembers absent a credit for such taxes paid on the same property in another tax jurisdiction. 

action_date: 2004-10-07
text: 
Servicemembers and Veterans Legal Protections Act of 2004 - 
Title I: Improvements to Servicemembers Civil Relief Act - 
(Sec. 101) Amends the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (the Act) to: (1) define &quot;judgment&quot; for purposes of the Act; (2) require a written waiver, separate from the instrument or obligation in question, of certain rights under the Act; (3) allow plaintiffs (currently, only defendants) to request a stay of civil proceedings; (4) require that a termination of a lease by a lessee entering into, or receiving orders for, military service shall also terminate any obligation that such lessee's dependent may have under the lease; and (5) prevent a tax jurisdiction from imposing a tax on the personal property of a nonresident servicemember when taxes on such property have been paid to another tax jurisdiction.
 

Title II: Employment and Reemployment Rights - Subtitle A: Extension of Health Care Coverage - 
(Sec. 201) Increases from 18 to 24 months the period following an absence from employment due to military service that an individual may elect to continue coverage under a health care plan offered in connection with such employment.
 
(Sec. 202) Reinstates (currently terminated in 2000) required annual reports from the Secretary of Labor to Congress concerning veterans' employment and reemployment rights claims and violations.
 

Subtitle B: Other Matters - 
(Sec. 211) Requires each employer to provide to persons so entitled a notice of rights and duties under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA).
 
(Sec. 212) Directs the Secretary of Labor and the Office of Special Counsel to carry out a demonstration project under which certain claims against Federal agencies under USERRA are referred to the Office for assistance. Requires such Office to receive and investigate all USERRA-related prohibited personnel action claims. Requires the Comptroller General to periodically evaluate the demonstration project and report results to Congress.
 

Title III: Matters Relating to Fiduciaries - 
(Sec. 302) Amends Federal veterans' provisions relating to the care of an incompetent veteran or a veteran's minor or ward to require a fiduciary, in order to receive payment of benefits of a veteran or veteran's beneficiary on behalf of such veteran or beneficiary, to be certified to receive such payment on the basis of an inquiry or investigation conducted by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (Secretary) to determine fitness to serve as a fiduciary. Outlines inquiry or investigation requirements, and allows for an expedited inquiry or investigation under certain circumstances. Authorizes the Secretary to appoint temporary fiduciaries during such inquiries or investigations.
 
(Sec. 303) Prohibits a fiduciary from collecting a fee from a beneficiary for any month during which the Secretary or a court of competent jurisdiction determines that the fiduciary misused all or part of the individual's benefit. Provides for liability against fiduciaries for misused benefits. Requires the Secretary to reissue benefits in any case in which the negligent failure of the Secretary to investigate or monitor a fiduciary results in the misuse of benefits.
 
(Sec. 304) Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) conduct periodic onsite reviews of institutional fiduciaries; (2) require a fiduciary to file a report or accounting; and (3) redirect delivery of benefit payments when a fiduciary fails to provide a required accounting. Provides for: (1) civil monetary penalties against fiduciaries found in violation; and (2) judicial orders of restitution from violating fiduciaries.
 
(Sec. 305) Directs the Secretary to include in the Annual Benefits Report of the Veterans Benefits Administration or the Secretary's Annual Performance and Accountability Report information concerning fiduciaries who have been appointed to receive payments for beneficiaries of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
 

Title IV: Other Matters - 
(Sec. 401) Directs the Secretary to establish and maintain a national inventory of medical waste management activities in Department health-care facilities. Requires a report from the Secretary to the congressional veterans' committees on such activities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-10-07
text: Received in the Senate.
action_date: 2004-10-07
text: The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2004-10-07
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2004-10-07
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H8384-8387)
action_date: 2004-10-07
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H8384-8387)
action_date: 2004-10-07
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4658.
action_date: 2004-10-07
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H8384-8390)
action_date: 2004-10-07
text: Mr. Smith (NJ) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2004-09-13
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 422.
action_date: 2004-09-13
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 108-683.
action_date: 2004-09-13
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 108-683.
action_date: 2004-07-21
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2004-07-21
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2004-06-24
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1226)
action_date: 2004-06-23
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2004-06-23
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2004-06-23
text: Introduced in House