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HB2245 - 572R - I Ver
REFERENCE TITLE:
veterans claims pilot program
State of Arizona
House of Representatives
Fifty-seventh Legislature
Second Regular Session
2026
HB 2245
Introduced by
Representative
Blackman
AN
ACT
amending title
41, chapter 3, article 7, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 41-610.03;
repealing section 41-610.03, Arizona Revised Statutes; appropriating
monies; relating to the department of veterans' services.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Title 41, chapter 3, article 7,
Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 41-610.03, to read:
START_STATUTE
41-610.03.
Veteran claims pilot program; report; definition
A.
The
veteran claims pilot program
is established in the department to evaluate
the effectiveness of claims development technology systems that are designed to
do all of the following:
1. Conduct comprehensive digital
reviews of veterans medical records, service treatment records, personnel files
and any supporting documentation.
2. Identify all supportable primary
and secondary service connected conditions based on available evidence.
3. Map documented conditions to
applicable federal diagnostic and rating criteria.
4. Produce complete and fully
developed disability compensation claim packets suitable for submission to the
united states department of veterans affairs.
B. The department shall:
1. integrate The program with
existing state veteran benefits counselors, county veteran service offices,
tribal veteran programs and any accredited nonprofit service officers to assess
the effectiveness of the program.
2. Select officers in this state to
participate in the program from all of the following:
(
a
) State
veteran benefits counseling offices in urban areas.
(
b
) county
veteran service offices.
(
c
) subject to
tribal approval, tribal veterans service programs.
3. Establish a control group
consisting of accredited personnel who do not use the claims development
technology system during the program.
C. The department shall ensure all of
the following:
1. that all program users receive
necessary training on the claims development technology system.
2. That veterans participating in the
program retain full access to traditional veteran service ORGANIZATION
assistance.
3. That data collected through the
claims development technology system is not used for any commercial or
non-program purposes.
4. That all records are handled in
compliance with all state and federal privacy laws.
D. Participation in the program may
not alter or limit the role of accredited veteran benefits counselors or
officers in advising, representing or assisting veterans in this state.
E. The department may enter into
agreements, memoranda of understanding or service contracts necessary to
administer the program.
F. The
department shall evaluate the effectiveness of the program using all of the
following performance indicators:
1. The
average time required to prepare claim submissions.
2. The first-time approval
rates for veteran disability compensation claims.
3. The number and type of conditions
identified per veteran.
4. The frequency of remands,
supplemental claims or duty to assist errors.
5. Veteran satisfaction with claim
preparation.
6. The estimated change in annual
federal disability compensation awarded to participating veterans.
G. On or before July 1, 2027, the
department shall submit a report to the governor, the PRESIDENT of the senate
and the speaker of the house of representatives and the chairperson of the
senate military affairs and border security committee, the chairperson of the
house of representatives federalism, military affairs and elections committee,
the CHAIRPERSON of the senate APPROPRIATIONS committee and the chairperson of
the house of representatives appropriations committee, or their successor committees,
that includes all of the following information:
1. A description of program
activities and participating offices.
2. A comparison between program
participants and the control group.
3. The Estimated fiscal impact to
this state, including reductions in state or county safety net expenditures.
4. The Estimated increase in federal
disability compensation awarded to veterans in this state.
5. Recommendations on whether to
expand, modify or discontinue the program.
H. For the purposes of this section,
"claims development technology system" means A digital platform that
is capable of analyzing large-scale veteran record sets, identifying
evidence-supported service connected conditions and preparing fully
developed disability compensation claim documentation.
END_STATUTE
Sec. 2.
Delayed repeal
Section 41-610.03, Arizona
Revised Statutes, as added by this act, is repealed from and after June 30,
2027.
Sec. 3.
Appropriation; department of veterans'
services; exemption
A. The sum of $_______ is
appropriated from the state general fund in fiscal year 2026-2027 to the
department of veterans' services for the purposes of section 41-610.03,
Arizona Revised Statutes, as added by this act.
B. The appropriation made
in subsection A of this section is exempt from the provisions of section 35-190,
Arizona Revised Statutes, relating to lapsing of appropriations.