Substitute House Bill No. 5196
AN ACT CONCERNING CREDIT PROTECTION FOR YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2010) The Commissioner of Children and Families, pursuant to the federal Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act, shall request, annually, a free credit report on behalf of each youth sixteen years of age or older who is in the custody of the commissioner and placed in foster care. The commissioner shall make the first such request not later than fifteen days after the youth reaches the age of sixteen years or, for youth age sixteen years of age or older who are in the custody of the commissioner and placed in foster care on or before July 1, 2010, the commissioner shall make the first such request not later than July 31, 2010. Upon receipt of each credit report, the commissioner or a designee of the commissioner shall review the report for evidence of identity theft, as defined in section 53a-129a of the general statutes. If the commissioner or the commissioner's designee finds evidence of identity theft, not later than five business days after receipt of the credit report, the commissioner shall: (1) Report such findings to the office of the Chief State's Attorney.
(b) The Commissioner of Children and Families shall review the most recent annual credit report obtained pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, if any, at the time the commissioner reviews the written plan for care, treatment and permanent placement pursuant to section 17a-15 of the general statutes. If the commissioner found evidence of identity theft in the youth's credit report and reported such finding pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, the commissioner shall advise the youth, the youth's foster parent, the youth's caseworker and any legal representative of the youth of such finding at the time the commissioner reviews the plan.
Sec. 2. (Effective from passage) Not later than July 1, 2011, the Commissioner of Children and Families shall report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to human services and appropriations concerning the commissioner's findings of identity theft, if any, in the credit reports obtained by the commissioner pursuant to section 1 of this act.
Approved June 8, 2010