A. As used in this section:

Terms Used In Virginia Code 2.2-2001.5

  • Person: includes any individual, corporation, partnership, association, cooperative, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, government, political subdivision, or any other legal or commercial entity and any successor, representative, agent, agency, or instrumentality thereof. See Virginia Code 1-230
  • United States: includes the 50 states, the District of Columbia the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and the United States Virgin Islands. See Virginia Code 1-255
  • Veteran: means an individual who has served in the active military, naval, or air service and who was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable. See Virginia Code 2.2-2000.1

“Assignment of right to receive veterans’ benefits” means any financial transaction in which a person provides a cash payment to a veteran in consideration for the veteran’s assignment of his right to receive future pension or retirement benefits, without regard to whether the transaction is characterized or structured as a loan, assignment, loan secured by assignment, pledge, or other arrangement.

“Pension or retirement benefits” means any periodic benefit payable to a veteran by an agency of the federal government on account of the veteran’s service in the Armed Forces of the United States, including any military retirement, pension, or disability benefit payments.

B. No person shall advertise, arrange, offer, or enter into any assignment of right to receive veterans’ benefits if such assignment of right to receive veterans’ benefits is prohibited or void under the provisions of 37 U.S.C. § 701 or 38 U.S.C. § 5301(a).

C. A violation of this section constitutes a prohibited practice under the provisions of § 59.1-200 and shall be subject to any and all of the enforcement provisions of the Virginia Consumer Protection Act (§ 59.1-196 et seq.).

2020, c. 438.