Source: https://www.richmondsunlight.com/bill/2019/hb1730/fulltext/
Timestamp: 2019-04-19 02:33:33+00:00

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Richmond Sunlight » HB1730: Foster care; security freeze on credit report.
HB1730: Foster care; security freeze on credit report.
§ 63.2-905.2. Security freezes and annual credit checks for children in foster care.
A. Local departments shall request the placement of a security freeze pursuant to the provisions of § 59.1-444.3 on the credit report or record of any child who is less than 16 years of age and has been in foster care for at least six months in order to prevent cases of identity theft and misuse of personal identifying information. The local department shall request removal of the security freeze (i) upon the child's removal from foster care, (ii) upon the child's request if the child is 16 years of age or older, or (iii) upon a determination by the local department that removal of the security freeze is in the best interest of the child.
B. Local departments shall conduct annual credit checks on all children 14 years of age and or older but less than 18 years of age who are in foster care to identify cases of identity theft or misuse of personal identifying information of such children. Local departments shall resolve, to the greatest extent possible, cases of identity theft or misuse of personal identifying information of foster care children identified pursuant to this section.
HOUSE BILL NO. 1730 AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE (Proposed by the Joint Conference Committee on February 21, 2019) (Patron Prior to Substitute--Delegate Brewer) A BILL to amend and reenact § 63.2-905.2 of the Code of Virginia, relating to foster care; security freeze on credit report.
HOUSE BILL NO. 1730 AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE (Proposed by the House Committee on Commerce and Labor on January 22, 2019) (Patron Prior to Substitute--Delegate Brewer) A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 59.1-444.3 and 63.2-905.2 of the Code of Virginia, relating to foster care; security freeze on credit report.
§ 59.1-444.3. Security freezes for protected consumers.
3. In foster care and under the age of 18 years at the time a request for the placement of a security freeze is made.
"Record" means a compilation of information regarding a specific identified protected consumer, which compilation is created by a consumer reporting agency solely for the purpose of complying with the requirement for a record's establishment set forth in subsection D.
"Representative" means a person who provides to a consumer reporting agency sufficient proof of authority to act on behalf of a protected consumer.
2. If a consumer reporting agency has a file pertaining to the protected consumer, a restriction that (i) is placed on the protected consumer's credit report in accordance with this section and (ii) prohibits the consumer reporting agency from releasing the protected consumer's credit report or any information derived from the protected consumer's credit report except as provided in this section.
"Sufficient proof of authority" means documentation that shows a representative has authority to act on behalf of a protected consumer. "Sufficient proof of authority" includes (i) an order issued by a court of law, (ii) a lawfully executed and valid power of attorney, (iii) a birth certification; or (iv) a written certification of the protected consumer's active placement in foster care; or (v) a written, notarized statement signed by a representative that expressly describes the authority of the representative to act on behalf of the protected consumer.
"Sufficient proof of identification" means information or documentation that identifies a protected consumer or a representative of a protected consumer. "Sufficient proof of identification" includes (i) a social security number or a copy of a social security card issued by the U.S. Social Security Administration; (ii) a certified or official copy of a birth certificate issued by the entity authorized to issue the birth certificate; (iii) a copy of a driver's license, an identification card issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles, an employee identification card issued by a local department of social services, or any other government-issued identification; or (iv) a copy of a bill, including a bill for telephone, sewer, septic tank, water, electric, oil, or natural gas services, that shows a name and home address.
3. An entity listed in subsection O of § 59.1-444.2.
d. Pays to the consumer reporting agency a fee as provided in subsection J.
D. If a consumer reporting agency does not have a file pertaining to a protected consumer when the consumer reporting agency receives a request under subsection C from the protected consumer's representative for the placement of a security freeze, the consumer reporting agency shall create a record for the protected consumer. A record may not be created or used to consider the protected consumer's creditworthiness, credit standing, credit capacity, character, general reputation, personal characteristics, or mode of living for the purpose of serving as a factor in establishing the consumer's eligibility for (i) credit or insurance to be used primarily for personal, family, or household purposes or (ii) employment.
E. Within 30 days after receiving a request that meets the requirements of subsection C, a consumer reporting agency shall place a security freeze for the protected consumer.
F. Unless a security freeze for a protected consumer is removed in accordance with subsection H or K, a consumer reporting agency may not release the protected consumer's credit report, any information derived from the protected consumer's credit report, or any record created for the protected consumer.
2. The security freeze is removed in accordance with subsection K.
3. Pay to the consumer reporting agency a fee as provided in subsection J.
I. Within 30 days after receiving a request that meets the requirements of subsection H, the consumer reporting agency shall remove the security freeze for the protected consumer.
2. A request for the placement or removal of a security freeze is for a protected consumer who is under the age of 16 years at the time of the request, and the consumer reporting agency has a credit report pertaining to the protected consumer.
K. A consumer reporting agency may remove a security freeze for a protected consumer or delete a record of a protected consumer if the security freeze was placed or the record was created based on a material misrepresentation of fact by the protected consumer or the protected consumer's representative.
L. Any person who obtains a consumer report, requests a security freeze, requests the temporary lift of a freeze, or requests the removal of a security freeze from a consumer reporting agency under false pretenses or in an attempt to violate federal or state law shall be liable to the consumer reporting agency for damages sustained by the consumer reporting agency as provided in subsection R of § 59.1-444.2.
1. The exclusive authority to bring an action for any violation of subsection E shall be with the Attorney General. In any action brought under this subsection, the Attorney General may cause an action to be brought in the name of the Commonwealth to enjoin the violation and to recover damages for aggrieved protected consumers.
2. In any action brought under this subsection, if the court finds a willful violation, the court may, in its discretion, also award a civil penalty of not more than $1,000 per violation, to be deposited in the Literary Fund.
3. In any action brought under this subsection, the Attorney General may recover any costs, the reasonable expenses incurred in investigating and preparing the case, and attorney fees.
A. Local departments shall request the placement of a security freeze pursuant to the provisions of § 59.1-444.3 on the credit report or record of any child who has been in foster care for at least six months in order to prevent cases of identity theft and misuse of personal identifying information. The local department shall request removal of the security freeze (i) upon the child's removal from foster care, (ii) upon the child's request if the child is at least 18 years of age but less than 21 years of age and continues to receive foster care or independent living services, or (iii) upon a determination by the local department that removal of the security freeze is in the best interest of the child.
HOUSE BILL NO. 1730 Offered January 9, 2019 Prefiled December 19, 2018 A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 59.1-444.3 and 63.2-905.2 of the Code of Virginia, relating to foster care; security freeze on credit report.
Local departments shall request the placement of a security freeze pursuant to the provisions of § 59.1-444.3 on the credit report or record of any child who has been in foster care for at least six months in order to prevent cases of identity theft and misuse of personal identifying information. Local departments shall request removal of the security freeze upon a child's removal from foster care. Local departments may, with the consent of the child, request removal of a security freeze placed on the credit report or record of any child who is at least 18 years of age but less than 21 years of age and continues to receive foster care or independent living services; however, the local department shall conduct annual credit checks on such children 14 years of age and older who are in foster care to identify cases of identity theft or misuse of personal identifying information of such children. Local departments shall resolve, to the greatest extent possible, cases of identity theft or misuse of personal identifying information of foster care children identified pursuant to this section.
For a plain English description of this bill, comments, voting, tagging, etc., return to the main page for HB1730.

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