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HR 4552 111th Congress House Finance and Financial Sector Bank accounts, deposits, capital Banking and financial institutions regulation Consumer affairs Financial services and investments Poverty and welfare assistance User charges and fees

Benefit Card Fairness Act of 2010

Introduced: January 29, 2010 See on congress.gov
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jan 29, 2010
Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
Jan 29, 2010
Introduced in House
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Benefit Card Fairness Act of 2010 - Amends the Electronic Fund Transfer Act (EFTA) to extend its coverage to any account directly or indirectly established through a government agency to which electronic fund transfers (EFTs) are made by or on behalf of a government agency on a recurring basis (government payment account).

Repeals the exemption from EFTA disclosure, protection, responsibility, and remedy requirements of electronic benefit transfer systems established by a federal, state, or local government agency for distributing needs-tested benefits, such as through automated teller machines (ATMs) or point-of-sale terminals.

Requires a financial institution to offer a government payment account in compliance with this Act and with the requirements of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) for the provision of insurance to the consumer.

Prescribes requirements for consumer choice in making an EFT to a government payment account, as well as for access to account balance and transaction history.

Prohibits the assessment of specified fees on a government payment account, except certain transaction fees, a nominal fee of up to $1 for written periodic statements, and other permissible fees for specific services beyond ordinary use of the account.

Requires a financial institution to make certain disclosures including: (1) the means to obtain account balance; (2) written account history; (3) fee information; and (4) error resolution.


What's happening now January 29, 2010

Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1