SENATE COMMERCE COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 2786

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  SEPTEMBER 13, 2018

     The Senate Commerce Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 2786.

     This bill amends New Jersey’s “Identity Theft Prevention Act,” P.L.2005, c.226 (C.56:11-44 et al.), to prohibit a consumer reporting agency from charging a consumer any fee to remove or temporarily lift a security freeze on that consumer’s consumer report. 

     Current law prohibits consumer reporting agencies from charging fees to place a security freeze on a consumer's consumer report.  However, current law allows a reasonable fee, not to exceed $5, to be charged to a consumer who: 1) elects to remove or temporarily lift a security freeze on her or his consumer report, or 2) fails to retain the original personal identification number provided by the consumer reporting agency, and must be reissued the same or a new personal identification number. The bill removes the provisions allowing a fee to be charged in these situations.