Protect Children from Theft Act of 2017

To amend the Fair Credit Reporting Act to create protected credit reports for minors and protect the credit of minors, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Protect Children from Theft Act of 2017 2. Protections for credit reports of minors (a) In general The Fair Credit Reporting Act ( 15 U.S.C. 1681 605C. Additional protections for credit reports of minor consumers (a) In general A consumer reporting agency described in section 603(p) shall, upon request by a covered guardian of a minor consumer, create a blocked file for the minor consumer or convert a file of the minor consumer already in existence to a blocked file. (b) Requirements The Bureau, by rule, shall establish procedures— (1) for a consumer reporting agency described in section 603(p) to properly identify the covered guardian and the minor consumer prior to creating, converting, or unblocking a blocked file for such minor consumer; (2) for such a consumer reporting agency to create a blocked file for a minor consumer or to convert a file of a minor consumer already in existence to a blocked file; and (3) consistent with subsection (c), for a covered guardian to unblock a file. (c) Unblocking a file (1) In general A consumer reporting agency described in section 603(p) shall unblock a blocked file upon request by a covered guardian or on the date of the 18th birthday of the minor consumer. (2) Alert statement An alert statement shall be included in a file unblocked pursuant to paragraph (1) if the minor consumer was a victim of fraud or identity theft before the date of the 18th birthday of the minor consumer as follows: (A) For a file unblocked upon request by a covered guardian, for a period of time beginning on the date such file is unblocked and ending on the date that is 1 year after the date of the 18th birthday of the minor consumer. (B) For a file unblocked on the date of the 18th birthday of the minor consumer, for a period of 1 year after such date. (3) Duty of reseller With respect to information concerning a consumer whose file contains an alert statement, a reseller shall include such alert statement when furnishing such information. (d) Fees (1) In general The Bureau shall determine if a fee may be charged, and the amount of the fee charged, by a consumer reporting agency described in section 603(p) to create, convert, or unblock a file. (2) Fees prohibited A consumer reporting agency described in section 603(p) may not charge a fee to a minor consumer who was a victim of fraud or identity theft prior to the date of the minor’s 18th birthday, to create, convert, or unblock a file. (e) Exceptions No provision of this section shall be construed as requiring a consumer reporting agency described in section 603(p) to prevent a Federal, State, or local law enforcement agency from accessing a blocked file. (f) Definitions In this section the following definitions shall apply: (1) Alert statement The term alert statement (A) notifies all prospective users of a consumer report relating to the consumer that the consumer may be a victim of fraud, including identity theft; and (B) is presented in a manner that facilitates a clear and conspicuous view of the statement described in subparagraph (A) by any person requesting such consumer report. (2) Blocked file The term blocked file (A) maintains a file with the name, social security number, date of birth, and, if applicable, any credit information of the minor consumer; (B) may not provide any person with a consumer report of the minor consumer; and (C) blocks the input of any information into the file, except with permission from a covered guardian of the minor consumer. (3) Covered guardian The term covered guardian (A) the legal guardian of a minor child; (B) the custodian of a minor child; or (C) in the case of a child in foster care, the State agency or Indian tribe or tribal organization responsible for the child’s foster care. (4) Minor consumer The term minor consumer . (b) Table of contents amendment The table of contents of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( 15 U.S.C. 1681 605C. Additional protections for credit reports of minor consumers. .

Summary: Protect Children from Theft Act of 2017 This bill amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to require a consumer reporting agency, upon request by the legal guardian or custodian of a minor consumer, to either create a blocked credit report for the minor or convert the minor's existing report to blocked status. With respect to a minor's blocked report, a consumer reporting agency: (1) must block the input of any information, except with permission from the minor's legal guardian or custodian; and (2) may not provide any person with a consumer report of the minor. A consumer reporting agency shall: (1) upon request by a minor's legal guardian or custodian, or on the minor's 18th birthday, unblock the minor's blocked report; and (2) if a minor consumer was a victim of fraud or identity theft before the minor's 18th birthday, include an alert statement in the minor's unblocked report. With respect to a minor consumer who was a victim of fraud or identity theft prior to the minor's 18th birthday, a consumer reporting agency may not charge a fee to create, convert, or unblock the minor's report. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau must establish specified procedures related to the bill's implementation.