Skip to main content
S 1581 108th Congress Senate Crime and Law Enforcement Administrative procedure Bank records Business records Civil actions and liability Commerce Compensation for victims of crime Congress Congressional reporting requirements Consumer credit Consumer education Counterfeiting Criminal investigation Criminal justice information Damages Department of the Treasury Energy Evidence (Law) Executive reorganization Federal Trade Commission

Identity Theft Victims Assistance Act of 2003

Introduced: September 3, 2003 Introduced by: Cantwell, Maria Democratic · Washington See on congress.gov
 Everywhere this bill has been 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Sep 3, 2003
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S11036-11038)
Sep 3, 2003
Introduced in Senate
Sep 3, 2003
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S11034-11036)
Sep 3, 2003
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure.
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Identity Theft Victims Assistance Act of 2003 - Amends the Federal criminal code to require a business entity that has entered into a commercial transaction for consideration with a person who has made unauthorized use of the means of identification of a victim, or that possesses information relating to such transaction, to provide (upon the victim's written request) a free copy of all application and business information related to the alleged identity theft transaction to: (1) the victim; (2) any Federal, State, or local governing law enforcement agency or officer specified by the victim; or (3) any law enforcement agency investigating the identity theft and authorized by the victim to receive records. Requires the victim to provide to a business entity that is otherwise unable to to verify the victim's identity specified proof of the victim's identity (such as the presentation of a government-issued identification card) and claim of identity theft (such as a copy of a police report or a properly completed copy of a standardized affidavit developed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)). Requires the business entity to verify the identity of the victim requesting such records. Immunizes the business entity for such good faith disclosures.

Authorizes the U.S. Attorney General and State attorneys general to bring civil actions to enforce this Act. Deems a violation of this Act to be an unfair or deceptive act or practice subject to enforcement by the FTC (with specified exceptions).

Amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to require a consumer reporting agency to: (1) block the reporting of information identified by the consumer in his or her file resulting from identity theft; and (2) notify the consumer if the block is declined or rescinded (with an exception). Prescribes penalties for falsely claiming to be a victim of identity theft.

Provides for a four-year statute of limitations for actions against credit reporting agencies to enforce liabilities from misrepresentations with respect to identity theft victims.

Amends the Internet False Identification Prevention Act of 2000 to include the FTC Chairman, Postmaster General, and U.S. Customs Service Commissioner on the Coordinating Committee on False Identification and to modify reporting requirements.

What's happening now September 3, 2003

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S11036-11038)

 Committees of jurisdiction 1