What's happening
This bill raises the age defining a "protected consumer" for credit security freezes from under 16 to under 18 years old.
Why it matters
Expanding protection to 17-year-olds recognizes that teenagers can be targets of identity theft and credit fraud. this change could help families prevent unauthorized credit activity for older minors, especially as they become more active online or apply for jobs.
The amendment enables parents and guardians to place credit freezes for a longer period. , offering more flexibility to safeguard minors’ credit histories until they turn 18 and are legally allowed to make financial decisions independently.
Updating the definition of "protected consumer" aligns with trends in other states and federal recommendations. , potentially making it easier for families moving between states to understand and manage credit protections for minors.
This change may encourage earlier financial literacy and awareness among older teens. , as credit freezes and the process to remove them often involve discussions about identity protection and personal finance.
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Raise Protected Consumer Age
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History
- Referred to consumer affairs and protection
- Referred to consumer affairs and protection
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Raise Protected Consumer Age
In Senate Committee · Consumer Protection · Sponsor Leroy Comrie
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
865
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 11, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. SIMOTAS -- read once and referred to the Committee on Consumer Affairs and Protection
AN ACT to amend the general business law, in relation to the definition of "protected consumer"
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision (o) of section 380-a of the general business law, as added by chapter 441 of the laws of 2014, is amended to read as follows:
(o) The term "protected consumer" means an individual who is under the age of [sixteen] eighteen years at the time a request for the placement of a security freeze is made.
§ 2. Paragraph 2 of subdivision (f) of section 380-u of the general business law, as amended by chapter 3 of the laws of 2015, is amended to read as follows:
(2) Provide to the consumer credit reporting agency: (i) in the case of a request by the protected consumer: (A) proof that the sufficient proof of authority for the protected consumer's representative to act on behalf of the protected consumer is no longer valid or that the protected consumer has attained the age of [sixteen] eighteen; and (B) sufficient proof of identification of the protected consumer; or (ii) in the case of a request by the representative of a protected consumer: (A) sufficient proof of identification of the protected consumer and the representative; and (B) sufficient proof of authority to act on behalf of the protected consumer; and (C) payment to the consumer credit reporting agency of a fee, if any, as provided in subdivision (h) of this section.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01392-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.