Statement by Commissioner Putnam on S.B. 566
Contact: Erin Gillespie
March 20, 2013
(850) 617-7737
Statement by Commissioner Putnam on S.B. 566
Legislation to Protect Children from Identity Theft Earns Unanimous Support at First Committee Stop
Tallahassee, FL – Following a vote today by the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee on S.B. 566, Commissioner Putnam issued the following statement:
“Studies indicate that one out of every ten children is a victim of identity theft and, currently, there’s no way to protect children from falling victim to such a crime.
“S.B. 566 enables parents or guardians to create and freeze credit records for their children, effectively blocking thieves from using it.
“Thanks to the leadership of Senator Nancy Detert, we’re one step closer to creating a line of defense against identity theft for Florida’s most vulnerable.”
The Senate Banking and Insurance Committee voted unanimously in support of the legislative measure in its first committee hearing. The legislation, which was introduced in the House as H.B. 493 by Representative Heather Dawes Fitzenhagen, would require the nation’s three consumer reporting agencies to allow parents or guardians to open a credit record for their child and freeze it, preventing others from using that child’s personal information to open fraudulent accounts.
If enacted, Florida will be the second state in the nation to pursue such legislation. A similar bill passed last year in Maryland.
For more information about the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, visit www.FreshFromFlorida.com.
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