115 S646 IS: Justice for Servicemembers and Veterans Act of 2017
U.S. Senate
2017-03-15
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
1.Short title; table of contents
(a)This Act may be cited as the Justice for Servicemembers and Veterans Act of 2017
.
(b)The table of contents for this Act is as follows:Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. TITLE I—Employment and reemployment rights Sec. 101. Action for relief in enforcement of employment and reemployment rights of members of uniformed services with respect to a State or private employer. Sec. 102. Waiver of sovereign immunity for enforcement of employment and reemployment rights of members of uniformed services. Sec. 103. Venue for cases against private employers for violations of employment and reemployment rights of members of uniformed services. Sec. 104. Standing in cases involving violations of employment and reemployment rights of members of uniformed services by States and private employers. Sec. 105. Civil investigative demands by Attorney General in enforcement of employment and reemployment rights of members of uniformed services with respect to States and private employers. Sec. 106. Treatment of disability discovered after employee entitled to reemployment by reason of uniformed service status resumes employment. Sec. 107. Burden of identifying proper reemployment positions for employees entitled to reemployment by reason of uniformed service status. Sec. 108. Clarifications regarding scope of employment and reemployment rights of members of the uniformed services. TITLE II—Civil relief Sec. 201. Improved protection of members of uniformed services against default judgments. Sec. 202. Authority for issuance and service of civil investigative demands by Attorney General. Sec. 203. Oral notice sufficient to invoke interest rate cap. Sec. 204. Harmonization of sections. Sec. 205. Expansion of protection for termination of residential and motor vehicle leases. Sec. 206. Portability of professional licenses of members of the uniformed services and their spouses. <enum>I</enum><header>Employment and reemployment rights</header> <section id="id6D88003998EB42DE91AACEA7BDA7F32D" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>101.</enum><header>Action for relief in enforcement of employment and reemployment rights of members of uniformed services with respect to a State or private employer</header> <subsection id="id1ffa2720c63645cb94e9cfc3e9161c44"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Initiation of actions</header><text>Paragraph (1) of subsection (a) of section 4323 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking the third sentence and inserting the following new sentences: <quote>If the Attorney General is reasonably satisfied that the person on whose behalf the complaint is referred is entitled to the rights or benefits sought, the Attorney General may commence an action for relief under this chapter, including on behalf of the person. The person on whose behalf the complaint is referred may, upon timely application, intervene in such action and may obtain such appropriate relief as provided in subsections (d) and (e).</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idd3741611abad44cdaccba1df9bbd2ac4"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Attorney General notice to servicemember of decision</header><text>Paragraph (2) of such subsection is amended to read as follows:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb8252db573e340b88a6cff21c013f1e8" style="OLC"> <paragraph id="idcf90d891bb534bc1a82cea431d596905" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id4C2CE017EA914C1E927EC07119F30206"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Not later than 60 days after the date the Attorney General receives a referral under paragraph (1), the Attorney General shall transmit, in writing, to the person on whose behalf the complaint is submitted—</text>
<clause id="id0253e6c06e844622a919cfad30ba600d" indent="up1"><enum>(i)</enum><text>if the Attorney General has made a decision about whether the United States will commence an action for relief under paragraph (1) relating to the complaint of the person, notice of the decision; and</text>
</clause><clause id="idc881aa05d4bf48bf845010ae0d1856d9" indent="up1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>if the Attorney General has not made such a decision, notice of when the Attorney General expects to make such a decision.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd0aece7335384179a82f58e03a20c98b" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>If the Attorney General notifies a person of when the Attorney General expects to make a decision under subparagraph (A)(ii), the Attorney General shall, not later than 30 days after the date on which the Attorney General makes such decision, notify, in writing, the person of such decision.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="idd653cb16191f421e94a8631cb75e916a"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Pattern or practice cases</header><text>Such subsection is further amended—</text> <paragraph id="id3db1a8d99315416c8c77adcb30b71e43"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4); and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id27a78e6bd951454e9f4077d674d0b660"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by inserting after paragraph (2) (as amended by paragraph (2) of this subsection) the following new paragraph (3):</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idea8a94d6ec2d43cca03e62e9d94efb3b" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="idbe1a2003195e488889c1e87347b75256" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Whenever the Attorney General has reasonable cause to believe that a State (as an employer) or a private employer is engaged in a pattern or practice of resistance to the full enjoyment of any of the rights or benefits secured by this chapter, the Attorney General may commence an action under this chapter.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idcaf26c70f5474ece9def2be30fcde80c"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Actions by private persons</header><text>Subparagraph (C) of paragraph (4) of such subsection, as redesignated by paragraph (3)(A), is amended by striking <quote>refused</quote> and all that follows and inserting <quote>notified by the Attorney General that the Attorney General does not intend to bring a civil action.</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id39875bff382e4db190a695e8240d815a"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Conforming amendment</header><text>Subsection (h)(2) of such section is amended by striking <quote>subsection (a)(2)</quote> and inserting <quote>subsection (a)(1) or subsection (a)(4)</quote>.</text> </subsection></section><section id="idc02f02de743e46a99390907e834378f3"><enum>102.</enum><header>Waiver of sovereign immunity for enforcement of employment and reemployment rights of members of uniformed services</header> <subsection id="id0DFA3C733F694A7393A7F51C772B9683"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Paragraph (2) of section 4323(b) of title 38, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idea883a6064e94c8c948267e16a74f53c" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="id40cc094503d14dfbbfb840d0121b7026" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id11F1FD600B484E3FBD3D474C144DF4DA"><enum>(A)</enum><text>In the case of an action against a State (as an employer), any instrumentality of a State, or any officer or employee of a State or instrumentality of a State acting in that officer or employee’s official capacity, by any person, the action may be brought in the appropriate district court of the United States or in a State court of competent jurisdiction, and the State, instrumentality of the State, or officer or employee of the State or instrumentality acting in that officer or employee’s official capacity shall not be immune under the Eleventh Amendment of the Constitution, or under any other doctrine of sovereign immunity, from such action.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ida803dd49a7f94f73960592a0a49ee4f6" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><clause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="idC0390CF0CF114A74B04B29C8D1D94715"><enum>(i)</enum><text>No State, instrumentality of such State, or officer or employee of such State or instrumentality of such State, acting in that officer or employee’s official capacity, that receives or uses Federal financial assistance for a program or activity shall be immune, under the Eleventh Amendment of the Constitution or under any other doctrine of sovereign immunity, from suit in Federal or State court by any person for any violation under this chapter related to such program or activity.</text>
</clause><clause id="ide1eb1e6bdeeb430d8c6f4a4dc80ee05e" indent="up1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>In an action against a State brought pursuant to subsection (a), a court may award the remedies (including remedies both at law and in equity) that are available under subsections (d) and (e).</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="id35B6F8766BE14800B2DA04F024DD2CCB"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Modification of purposes</header><text>Section 4301(a) of such title is amended, in the matter before paragraph (1), by striking <quote>The</quote> and inserting <quote>Pursuant to the power of Congress to enact this chapter under section 8 of article I of the Constitution of the United States, the</quote>.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="id4a96aae6ca514bb4b40d8ebde2fedb36"><enum>103.</enum><header>Venue for cases against private employers for violations of employment and reemployment rights of
members of uniformed services</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 4323(c)(2) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking <quote>United States district court for any district in which the private employer of the person maintains a place of business.</quote> and inserting “United States district court for—</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id43d0053b613c4971abc70f89214f15b1" style="OLC">
<subparagraph id="id81554032a43a4478b07132ce280dd72b" indent="up1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>any district in which the employer maintains a place of business;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id99e67b75e46a4f5aae0783e8a5579d1a" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>any district in which a substantial part of the events or omissions giving rise to the claim occurred; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3d19e2568bc2445791d585a5aead96c9" indent="up1"><enum>(C)</enum><text>if there is no district in which an action may otherwise be brought as provided in subparagraph (A) or (B), any district in which the employer is subject to the court’s personal jurisdiction with respect to such action.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section id="idcbaea1b37f144963a03289f8d583bf9c"><enum>104.</enum><header>Standing in cases involving violations of employment and reemployment rights of members of
uniformed services by States and private employers</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 4323(f) of title 38, United States Code, is amended—</text> <paragraph id="id8e0a6b1f8fa24a9c83be43d27ab8f61a"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by inserting <quote>by the United States or</quote> after <quote>may be initiated only</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idf8d1b67d188b4899b21ee200c277df6a"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking <quote>or by the United States under subsection (a)(1)</quote>.</text> </paragraph></section><section id="id4f2f105973d14654aa4691342f709152"><enum>105.</enum><header>Civil investigative demands by Attorney General in enforcement of employment and reemployment rights of members of uniformed services with respect to States and private employers</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 4323 of title 38, United States Code, is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="idA10EBE9B61A04DF8B1CB312789F50B1B"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by redesignating subsection (i) as subsection (j); and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id3C37A406EAC049979931ED677C5E4C0C"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by inserting after subsection (h) the following new subsection (i):</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id55c9ab336c454234a7da55909a3f141b" style="OLC">
<subsection id="id8faf29fff86344ffab9d3c2dfd03c9df"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Issuance and service of civil investigative demands by attorney general</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="idEBB329EF8BC946BB8570B705571A9E23"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Whenever the Attorney General has reason to believe that any person may be in possession, custody, or control of any documentary material relevant to an investigation under this chapter, the Attorney General may, before commencing a civil action under subsection (a), issue in writing and cause to be served upon such person, a civil investigative demand requiring—</text>
<subparagraph id="id12894c823e324ccfbe5c535d41e28416" indent="up1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the production of such documentary material for inspection and copying;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id41c1cd5c7e7e4153aceb22de2de91495" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>that the custodian of such documentary material answer in writing written questions with respect to such documentary material; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id768bab0c87f24bbaaf98f1de5d5329f9" indent="up1"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the production of any combination of such documentary material or answers.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id8733480260a2489b87cfc53e4c519e64" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The provisions governing the authority to issue, use, and enforce civil investigative demands under section 3733 of title 31 (known as the <quote>False Claims Act</quote>) shall govern the authority to issue, use, and enforce civil investigative demands under paragraph (1), except that for purposes of that paragraph—</text>
<subparagraph id="ide4bc92a8adda4fb387035d24d92251b0"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a reference in that section to false claims law investigators or investigations shall be applied as referring to investigators or investigations under this chapter;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id173d1c96fb004990a205698dc3c2ae29"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a reference to interrogatories shall be applied as referring to written questions, and answers to such need not be under oath;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5672be202940488ca17dbaa722abc3c4"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the statutory definitions for purposes of that section relating to <quote>false claims law</quote> shall not apply; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id655c445386e9406287e9869c424fc269"><enum>(D)</enum><text>provisions of that section relating to qui tam relators shall not apply.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></section><section id="id9bc9a0e429834b3ea5ace393348e33b9"><enum>106.</enum><header>Treatment of disability discovered after employee entitled to reemployment by reason of uniformed
service status resumes employment</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 4313(a)(3) of title 38, United States Code, is amended, in the matter before subparagraph (A), by inserting <quote>including a disability that is brought to the employer’s attention within 5 years after the person resumes employment,</quote> after <quote>during, such service,</quote>.</text>
</section><section id="idb70e0d41508e413c88ada35b643139c5"><enum>107.</enum><header>Burden of identifying proper reemployment positions for employees entitled to reemployment by
reason of uniformed service status</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 4313 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id787393e4f73c4b0d9169c8d1fb652abc" style="OLC">
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id31816ab7599d42b482fade4d1d305e9e"><enum>(c)</enum><text>For purposes of this section, the employer shall have the burden of identifying the appropriate reemployment positions.</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section id="id381238E0C1EB4308B2B1B1D4976DE414" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>108.</enum><header>Clarifications regarding scope of employment and reemployment rights of members of the uniformed
services</header>
<subsection id="idE2CA0F6A7B2A4E92ABD68AE6F090DCD8"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Clarification regarding definition of rights and benefits</header><text>Section 4303(2) of title 38, United States Code, is amended—</text> <paragraph id="id8041F1DBFDD34749906182574018D9ED"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by inserting <quote>(A)</quote> before <quote>The term</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id9EC01993BBDB4D28A51A4DE779C57253"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0AFB603C157B4196B3C9FBE8EC69EA8F" style="OLC"> <subparagraph id="id86A60FA2AA534276AD73A567FD72B0A3" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Any procedural protections or provisions set forth in this chapter shall also be considered a right or benefit subject to the protection of this chapter.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id887F6F0EF60E4F298F4A4BBB8CA7F01C"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Clarification regarding relation to other law and plans for agreements</header><text>Section 4302 of such title is amended by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id662029CA57AD46B698C8371FC69766B2" style="OLC"> <subsection id="id1A6A60CBC6584C93AC006C36CF1C1ABD"><enum>(c)</enum><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="idC9515E9E890942AE86B8FECC4726DA11"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Pursuant to this section and the procedural rights afforded by subchapter III of this chapter, any agreement to arbitrate a claim under this chapter is unenforceable, unless all parties consent to arbitration after a complaint on the specific claim has been filed in court or with the Merit Systems Protection Board and all parties knowingly and voluntarily consent to have that particular claim subjected to arbitration.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idA7B5949CD727448AAE0D026702F149E9" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>For purposes of this subsection, consent shall not be considered voluntary when a person is required to agree to arbitrate an action, complaint, or claim alleging a violation of this chapter as a condition of future or continued employment, advancement in employment, or receipt of any right or benefit of employment.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><enum>II</enum><header>Civil relief</header>
<section id="idcf95a636e7dc4358b5c7bce7e86d0cbf" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>201.</enum><header>Improved protection of members of uniformed services against default judgments</header>
<subsection id="ida2c41569318f4ab5a3b96aedd06a0ac4"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Appointment of attorney To represent defendant in military service</header><text>Paragraph (2) of section 201(b) of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/50/3931">50 U.S.C. 3931(b)</external-xref>) is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id381CEDF094D74349BD71A362D7AE63B2" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="idcbac4a8215b74aad88f95da07827dc60"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Appointment of attorney to represent defendant in military service</header>
<subparagraph id="id9ff7edd3eb6e4db5a43c1c08be6f5efd"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>If in an action covered by this section it appears that the defendant is in military service, the court shall not enter a judgment until after the court appoints an attorney to represent the defendant.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide834feecc10545a485fc7fb447ad7c7d"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Actions of attorney</header>
<clause id="idE2D4B291A7E047DFBBB70E6EE53FD7DC"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The court appointed attorney shall act only in the best interests of the defendant.</text> </clause><clause id="idDA90389F43D24F7FB98307434EF903AB"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Request for stay of proceedings</header><text>The court appointed attorney, when appropriate to represent the best interests of the defendant, shall request a stay of proceedings under this Act.</text>
</clause><clause id="idfdebe540942a47cc9680cdb397ecbe99"><enum>(iii)</enum><header>Faithful performance</header><text>The court shall require the court appointed attorney to perform duties faithfully and, upon failure to do so, shall discharge the attorney and appoint another.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idbce9142271444e03b61b3dc46961e43b"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Location</header>
<clause id="id46413A99496144DA8AA8C19E6D6DA416"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The court appointed attorney shall use due diligence to locate and contact the defendant.</text> </clause><clause id="id258F0336E169434FA5EDA213E1791CEA"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Provision of contact information</header><text>The plaintiff must provide to the court appointed attorney all contact information it has for the defendant.</text>
</clause><clause id="id8D34440471C04DB3BCC0D207EAFDFED6"><enum>(iii)</enum><header>Report on efforts to locate</header><text>A court appointed attorney unable to make contact with the defendant shall report to the court on all of the attorney’s efforts to make contact.</text>
</clause><clause id="id9AB707474DE2451D99C1BA9E23E9AF34"><enum>(iv)</enum><header>Implications of failure to locate</header><text>If an attorney appointed under this section to represent a defendant in military service cannot locate the defendant, actions by the attorney in the case shall not waive any defense of the servicemember or otherwise bind the servicemember.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id32991739B0EC493D8803A3E689DCDF24"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Notification and assertion of rights</header>
<clause id="idbe705bf1894346efbe6ba860674609e8"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Notification of rights</header><text>Upon making contact with the defendant, the court appointed attorney shall advise the defendant of the nature of the lawsuit and the defendant’s rights provided by this Act, including rights to obtain a stay and to request the court to adjust an obligation.</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idD6B5BEFFD7014E1D96E7A1BC6AC63969"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Assertion of rights</header><text>Regardless of whether contact is made under clause (i), the court appointed attorney shall assert such rights on behalf of defendant if there is an adequate basis in law and fact, unless the defendant provides informed consent to not assert such rights.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="idfa1d5c72c84b443eb1bb3245b112e6a6"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Expansion of authority for court To vacate or set aside judgment</header><text>Paragraph (1) of section 201(g) of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/50/3931">50 U.S.C. 3931(g)</external-xref>) is amended by striking subparagraphs (A) and (B) and inserting the following new subparagraphs (A) and (B):</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6C1BDA43143F436FB8A04075E6EFA545" style="OLC">
<subparagraph id="id34117fb2a1c84e8387ae85170bc62d64"><enum>(A)</enum><clause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id96277A65E6744304B4E4913371E95AFD"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the servicemember was materially affected by reason of that military service in making a defense to the action; and</text>
</clause><clause id="id683AA9B5C4FD4800BD4F5194A3C05CCC" indent="up1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the servicemember has a meritorious or legal defense to the action or some part of it; or</text> </clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id125cabc9840b469e985fc1d63967f179"><enum>(B)</enum><text>an attorney appointed to represent the servicemember failed to adequately represent the best interests of the defendant.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><section id="id6670c63a6345404eb9fec0dea37de855"><enum>202.</enum><header>Authority for issuance and service of civil investigative demands by Attorney General</header>
<subsection id="idD7375DF69754445188CDF13FC3A2AEEF"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 801 of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/50/4041">50 U.S.C. 4041</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id59373C6959E54F569F1A21406C98B924" style="OLC">
<subsection id="id7c2861674d924078816b2cc5631d769f"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Issuance and service of civil investigative demands</header>
<paragraph id="id649144AE60D348D6AF11DD9BD5D9F194"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Whenever the Attorney General has reason to believe that any person may be in possession, custody, or control of any documentary material relevant to an investigation under this Act, the Attorney General may, before commencing a civil action under subsection (a), issue in writing and serve upon such person, a civil investigative demand requiring—</text>
<subparagraph id="id61eb986363404084af85a0a80e5e9efb"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the production of such documentary material for inspection and copying;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4928081e79c74b59b22ae9f91682ab35"><enum>(B)</enum><text>that the custodian of such documentary material answer in writing written questions with respect to such documentary material; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id69bb48d5a05d4abd81719a655da77e1d"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the production of any combination of such documentary material or answers.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idB8D5DD41FA4E4E50AFE85D4DFDCBC6A1"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Procedures</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The provisions of section 3733 of title 31, United States Code, governing the authority to issue, use, and enforce civil investigative demands shall apply with respect to the authority to issue, use, and enforce civil investigative demands under this section, except that, for purposes of applying such section 3733—</text>
<subparagraph id="idfdc36715013d4233a30df778444e098b"><enum>(A)</enum><text>references in that section to false claims law investigators or investigations shall be read as references to investigators or investigations;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide848ed2954aa45bfb2c09a5d6181e6da"><enum>(B)</enum><text>references in that section to interrogatories shall be read as references to written questions, and answers to such need not be under oath;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ida4d4cea4fdb948bfaaac7b255fdeecb6"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the statutory definitions relating to <quote>false claims law</quote> shall not apply; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="idb2fe42f44d34466680cd9c170532729f"><enum>(D)</enum><text>provisions relating to qui tam relators shall not apply.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDf2550d298713464697a6830c5cd41eb5"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Retroactive
applicability</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 801 of such Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/50/4041">50 U.S.C. 4041</external-xref>), as amended by subsection (a), shall apply as if such section were included in the enactment of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act of 1940 (54 Stat. 1178, chapter 888) and included in the restatement of such Act in <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/108/189">Public Law 108–189</external-xref>.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="id4b5f011fec77471e90ae8148c4f18878"><enum>203.</enum><header>Oral notice sufficient to invoke interest rate cap</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 207(b) of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/50/3937">50 U.S.C. 3937(b)</external-xref>) are amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idCC64DEFFCD2E4D8A938D53E6C0658B6E" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="id97ac5dcdb09f404982e79612ae0c6563"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Notice to creditor</header>
<subparagraph id="id031BB14A50664969AF2397C1F3142439"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In order for an obligation or liability of a servicemember to be subject to the interest rate limitation in subsection (a), the servicemember shall provide to the creditor oral or written notice of military service and any further extension of military service, not later than 180 days after the date of the servicemember's termination or release from military service.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idFED1778EBE6F408BA58D288BCFD1D2AA"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Records</header><text>The creditor shall retain a record of the servicemember’s oral or written notification.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idbe789f66992240fc91abf9071fa71dcb"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Limitation effective as of date of order to active duty</header>
<subparagraph id="id1BE3B2D678974505B938D42FDA44B57F"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Search of records</header><text>Upon receipt of oral or written notice of military service, the creditor shall conduct a search of Department of Defense records available through the Department of Defense Manpower Data Center.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0C8D92E3BB1D46A3A75FDA9C32DAFA85"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Military service confirmed</header><text>If military service is confirmed by a search under subparagraph (A), the creditor shall treat the debt in accordance with subsection (a), effective as of the date on which the servicemember is called to military service.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7CD197821B8546F5B02C37B6EC7CDDBB"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Military service not confirmed</header><text>If a search of Department of Defense records under subparagraph (A) does not confirm military service, the creditor shall notify the servicemember and may require the servicemember to provide a copy of the servicemember’s military orders before treating the debt in accordance with subsection (a), effective as of the date on which the servicemember is called to military service.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section id="idf7c5f1854ab94cc594ce95a112005ddc"><enum>204.</enum><header>Harmonization of sections</header>
<subsection id="id97ECBE5B130C4696A5FEF073C7D805B3"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 303 of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/50/3953">50 U.S.C. 3953</external-xref>) is amended—</text> <paragraph id="iddea8cea3cb6c462b945e6d2e48688541"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (b), in the matter before paragraph (1), by striking <quote>filed</quote> and inserting <quote>pending</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id82b4cd434e904b8486c769f8e4b00b55"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection (c)(1), by striking <quote>with a return made and approved by the court</quote>.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2DD196F621624B8888EB8FC770FE9C12"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Repeal of sunset</header><text>Section 710(d) of the Honoring America’s Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/112/154">Public Law 112–154</external-xref>; <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/50/3953">50 U.S.C. 3953</external-xref> note) is amended—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idB2514C5E988C41A2BF2D4D57C7E1938D"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking <quote><header-in-text level="subsection" style="OLC">Extension of sunset</header-in-text></quote> and all that follows through <quote>Subsection (c)</quote> and inserting <quote><header-in-text level="subsection" style="OLC">Elimination of prior sunset</header-in-text>.—Subsection (c)</quote>; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idB74541D6745B41A4ADAF90389271D2B5"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking paragraph (3).</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="idec22b6cbaeaf48e09f97ac547bb7c27a"><enum>205.</enum><header>Expansion of protection for termination of residential and motor vehicle leases</header>
<subsection id="id3638273e-e066-467d-80ba-15ba1f2a10ec"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Termination of
residential leases</header>
<paragraph id="id823b9a10-2ddf-4e4b-a2df-93287b7f68e0"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Section 305 of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/50/3955">50 U.S.C. 3955</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<subparagraph id="id6d5ab7f5-5030-4222-82ca-db2fe226cd53"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in subsection (a)—</text>
<clause id="id5EFFE74446FF46F19B22F896AD838B21"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in paragraph (1)—</text> <subclause id="idd96e004c-0a2c-4094-8a29-75b50d1bcc7f"><enum>(I)</enum><text>in subparagraph (A), by striking <quote>or</quote> at the end;</text>
</subclause><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id607fd9f4-b675-4632-a67a-a572d730200f"><enum>(II)</enum><text>in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end and inserting <quote>; or</quote>; and</text>
</subclause><subclause id="id9ce5a4f2-28b6-41c7-bfdc-0edfcf438617"><enum>(III)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idcc108829-a239-4947-8973-8c1dee587d98" style="OLC">
<subparagraph id="id4c2575e3-d21a-4c10-8c43-c946aaedba94"><enum>(C)</enum><text>in the case of a lease described in subparagraph (C) of subsection (b)(1), the date the lessee is assigned to or otherwise relocates to quarters or a housing facility as described in such subparagraph.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>;
and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subclause></clause><clause id="ida5810962bd5849e691021c35071ab975"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in paragraph (2), by striking <quote>dependent of the lessee</quote> and inserting <quote>co-lessee</quote>; and</text> </clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4beb1809-2294-437b-b2d9-fd2249738bfa"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in subsection (b)(1)—</text>
<clause id="id04860845-f65a-4ca7-8e5a-deed81307609"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in subparagraph (A), by striking <quote>or</quote> at the end;</text>
</clause><clause id="idd9d830ab-fe2c-428b-b887-ccacf64169fe"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in subparagraph (B)—</text>
<subclause id="id24e7610f7b784ce8b79f5b4de9b656ea"><enum>(I)</enum><text>by inserting <quote>(as defined in the Joint Federal Travel Regulations, chapter 5, paragraph U5000B)</quote> after <quote>permanent change of station</quote>; and</text> </subclause><subclause id="id45CBFB6C083E43E084F6F7554819A20D"><enum>(II)</enum><text>by striking the period at the end and inserting <quote>; or</quote>; and</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="ida8b00a57-dbb8-4859-a275-aecb164ba489"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0bfe5ce1-9d30-4e4d-a19a-7dbc38816efb" style="OLC">
<subparagraph id="id8864c6f9-2f25-475b-8b6a-4b24a737ff17"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the lease is executed by or on behalf of a person who thereafter and during the term of the lease is assigned to or otherwise relocates to quarters of the United States or a housing facility under the jurisdiction of a uniformed service (as defined in section 101 of title 37, United States Code), including housing provided under the Military Housing Privatization Initiative.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idcf8ddcad-c965-46a3-ad74-be3192c060c5"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Manner of
termination</header><text>Subsection (c)(1) of such section is amended—</text> <subparagraph id="id61e2ef22-73fa-41ce-8afa-e5a85d75209e"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in subparagraph (A)—</text>
<clause id="ide0c1e569-7f78-4727-8e56-fe7d55bd14a1"><enum>(i)</enum><text>by inserting <quote>in the case of a lease described in subsection (b)(1) and subparagraph (A) or (B) of such subsection,</quote> before <quote>by delivery</quote>; and</text>
</clause><clause id="id42622dd6-94bb-4dc0-a7dc-6793efed4be6"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by striking <quote>and</quote> at the end;</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9f2140ed-51d3-4d2e-bd35-efdb44485450"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (C); and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idb6825fe5-2b79-4444-84f5-0b18ffd4e9fd"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following new subparagraph (B):</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1d4d86d3-2586-4ed7-831a-a4a150b0c8ef" style="OLC">
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id88a7ab34-02a0-4af6-882d-0a0af8ea0cdd"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in the case of a lease described in subparagraph (C) of subsection (b)(1), by delivery by the lessee of written notice of such termination, and a letter from the servicemember's commanding officer indicating that the servicemember has been assigned to or is otherwise relocating to quarters of the United States or a housing facility under the jurisdiction of a uniformed service (as defined in section 101 of title 37, United States Code), to the lessor (or the lessor's grantee), or to the lessor's agent (or the agent's grantee); and</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id5605c981245742b2b2fd2e9b47188d2b"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Waiver impermissible</header><text>Such section is further amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idFE55D46D8ACD4A34B78D1B701E1B8CB7" style="OLC"> <subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id75411984d7844d0e902b5d7d66554a31"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Waiver not permitted</header><text>The provisions of this section may not be waived or modified by the agreement of the parties under any circumstances.</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><section id="id7d059fc170894a8c911fae110f80f221"><enum>206.</enum><header>Portability of professional licenses of members of the uniformed services and their spouses</header>
<subsection id="id319977495e4945948d4dfa002167e6fc"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Title VII of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/50/4021">50 U.S.C. 4021</external-xref> et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 705 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/50/4025">50 U.S.C. 4025</external-xref>) the following new section:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id392F4B27258D4A6A87077EBADF643F72" style="OLC">
<section id="id7c5056de2d5e426cbad2433e1e5b4ce8"><enum>705A.</enum><header>Portability of professional licenses of servicemembers and their spouses</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In any case in which a servicemember has a professional license in good standing in a jurisdiction or the spouse of a servicemember has a professional license in good standing in a jurisdiction and such servicemember or spouse relocates his or her residency because of military orders to a location that is not in such jurisdiction, the professional license or certification of such servicemember or spouse shall be considered valid and in good standing in the jurisdiction of such new residency for the duration of such military orders if such servicemember or spouse—</text>
<paragraph id="id9D176C3C5EBB40359F605B98101F5972"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">provides a copy of such military orders to the licensing authority in the jurisdiction in which the new residency is located;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idD01A864C699641488BD6D680B0649635"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">remains in good standing with the licensing authority that issued the license; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id7872DBDE41C346BBBC774760A8E90D91"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">submits to the authority of the licensing authority in the new jurisdiction for the purposes of standards of practice, discipline, and fulfillment of any continuing education requirements.</text>
</paragraph></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="id7b5a6aee885245d0a8a6605fca79cb93"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Clerical amendment</header><text>The table of contents in section 1(b) of such Act is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 705 the following new item:</text>
<quoted-block id="idf1e4402a-be2b-4d26-83e5-c841727d2b5a" style="OLC"><toc><toc-entry idref="id7c5056de2d5e426cbad2433e1e5b4ce8" level="section">Sec. 705A. Portability of professional licenses of servicemembers and their
spouses.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section>