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Standing Up for Our Veterans

Standing Up for Our Veterans. Military & Veteran Assistance Initiative of the Washington State Attorney General’s Office. CWAG Annual Meeting Sun Valley Resort Tuesday, July 19, 2016. Bob Ferguson Washington Attorney General. Overview. Why it is important What we are doing

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Standing Up for Our Veterans

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  1. Standing Up for Our Veterans Military & Veteran Assistance Initiative of the Washington State Attorney General’s Office CWAG Annual Meeting Sun Valley Resort Tuesday, July 19, 2016 Bob Ferguson Washington Attorney General

  2. Overview Why it is important What we are doing Call to action

  3. Military Communities • Major military installations • All 5 branches of service • Over 65,000 active duty and reserve personnel • Over 8,000 more serving in National Guard

  4. From a Family of Veterans

  5. Previous Work • Veterans & Human Services Levy • Expanded existing services • Funded new services such as civil legal aid for veterans • Veterans Treatment Court • Therapeutic court model • Reduces recidivism and improves outcomes

  6. Veteran Communities: Washington • Over 600,000 veterans; Almost 10% of state population • Veterans have different experiences and needs • Make the connections • Partner with other agencies and organizations Source: National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics

  7. New AG Initiative • New initiative as of 2013. Within the first 6 months: • Designated office’s first-ever Veteran Outreach Specialist • Established internal “Military & Veteran Assistance Team”

  8. New AG Initiative • Within first 6 months: • Created specific military/veteran section of website

  9. New AG Initiative • Within first 6 months: • Committed to being supportive employer by signing ESGR “Statement of Support”

  10. New AG Initiative • Within first 6 months: • Started tracking military/veteran status of consumer complaints

  11. Strategic Goals Engage the veteran and military communities to increase understanding about the issues they face and raise awareness about the AGO as a resource Educate veterans, military families, and the public at large about the federal and state legal rights and protections available Encourage the development of policies that strengthen the support available to veterans, military personnel, and their families Enforce the legal protections within the AGO’s authority

  12. Engage: Boots on the Ground Building and sustaining relationships Attending community events Sending regular topic-specific newsletters Be prepared to answer: “What can you do for me?”

  13. Educate: Legal Resource Guide • Provides information on: • Consumer laws • Employment laws • Other veteran and military-specific laws • Legal proceedings and assistance • Available online • Distributed approximately 3,500 physical copies to date

  14. Encourage: Legislation • Strengthening Economic Protections: HB 2171 • Joint request with Governor; Passed unanimously • Aligns state and federal law re: enforcement authority of Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) protections • SCRA protections include: 6% interest rate cap, foreclosures & evictions, residential & auto lease terminations

  15. Encourage: Legislation • Pension Poacher Prevention Act: SB 6208 • Passed unanimously • Warnings issued by VA, AARP, and FTC; Dishonest advisers claim to offer free help for VA pension claims • Law strengthens disclosures and provides new enforcement tools

  16. Encourage: Legislation • Office of Military & Veteran Legal Assistance • Strong bipartisan support, but did not pass • Similar to legislation requested by AG Laxalt and passed in Nevada • Authorizes AGO to promote and facilitate pro bono for military service members and veterans

  17. Enforce: Consumer Protection • Assistant Attorney General • John Nelson • Consumer Protection Division’s litigation lead on issues involving veterans and service members • Judge Advocate General in the Army • Served in Iraq; Bronze Star recipient

  18. Enforce: Consumer Protection • Freedom Furniture • Alleged deceptive advertising and aggressive debt collection practices • Contacted command chain to disclose debt details • Promoting military allotments after practice was prohibited • Deceptive price references • Promises of military discounts that only applied to narrow selection of discontinued items • Store in Lakewood closed • Editorial: “satisfying victory…that serves notice to would be sharks that preying on the military is a high-risk venture.”

  19. Enforce: Consumer Protection • Emerald Capital • Involved the sale of annuities and living trusts to veterans applying for Aid & Attendance (VA benefit) • $62,000 settlement, including consumer restitution • Firm stopped operations • First case investigated under the Pension Poacher Prevention Act

  20. Questions / Comments? • Kate Kelly, Policy Director • katek@atg.wa.gov • 206-389-2150 • John Nelson, Assistant Attorney General, Consumer Protection • JohnN2@atg.wa.gov • 206-389-3842 • Travis Alley, Assistant Attorney General & Veterans Outreach Specialist • travisa@atg.wa.gov • 206-464-6431

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