CA AB526

Extends military service deferral benefits to reservists called to active duty on or after January 1, 2014, allowing deferment of payments on mortgages, credit cards, vehicle loans, property taxes, and utility company obligations.

Limits deferment periods to not more than 180 days within a 365-day period, and requires reservists to provide signed letters under penalty of perjury and copies of activation or deployment orders to obligors requesting deferrals.

Expands the definition of "reservist" effective January 1, 2014, to include members of the militia called into state or federal service and U.S. Military Reserve members ordered to full-time federal active duty by the President.

Extends health care coverage reinstatement provisions to reservists and their spouses or legal dependents, without waiting periods or exclusions for preexisting conditions, with violations enforceable under the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975.

Entitles spouses and legal dependents of eligible reservists to the same deferral and health care benefits as the reservist, applicable only to obligations incurred before the reservist's call to active duty.