Servicemembers Civil Relief Act

Summary

Amends the Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act of 1940 to rename the Act as the Servicemembers' Civil Relief Act and to revise provisions with respect to certain civil protections and rights afforded to servicemembers while on active-duty assignment. Authorizes any servicemember to waive any of such rights and protections, pursuant to written agreement. Provides certain protections of servicemembers against default judgments, including a minimum 90-day stay of proceedings, with respect to the payment of any tax, fine, penalty, insurance premium, or other civil obligation or liability. Prohibits an eviction or distress from being made against a servicemember or his or her dependents during a period of military service for a premise for which rent does not exceed $1,700 (currently $1,200), except by court order. Prohibits: (1) rescinding or terminating for breach of contract during a period of military service a contract for the purchase or lease of real or personal property entered into prior to such service; and (2) a person holding a lien on property or effects of a servicemember from foreclosing or otherwise enforcing such lien (with penalties and protection for materially affected dependents) during a period of service and 90 days thereafter. Increases the total amount of life insurance coverage protection provided under the Act to $250,000, or an amount equal to the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance maximum limit, whichever is greater. Allows findings of fact and conclusions of law made by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in administering the life insurance provisions of the Act to be reviewed by the Board of Veterans Appeals and the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (not reviewable under current law).

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

1. 7 April 2003

   Introduced

   Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 7 April 2003

   Introduced

   Introduced in Senate

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 10 July 2003

   Committee

   Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 108-613.

   Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

• Introduced in Senate · 7 April 2003 · Official file

Documents

3 official files

• Introduced in Senate (text)

  Introduced in Senate · EN · 7 April 2003

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in Senate (PDF)

  Introduced in Senate · EN · 7 April 2003

  DownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 7 April 2003

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• Sen. Miller, Zell [D-GA] · D · Sponsor
• Sen. Chambliss, Saxby [R-GA] · R · Sponsor
• Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA] · D · Cosponsor
• · ssva00 · Standing

Related records

• related to → Servicemembers Civil Relief Act