| TO: | Honorable Helen Giddings, Chair, House Committee on Business & Industry |
| FROM: | John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | HB2003 by Giddings (Relating to the approval of certain checks by a check verification entity following notification that the issuer was a victim of identity theft; providing a civil penalty.), As Introduced |
The bill would amend the Business and Commerce Code and prohibit a check verification entity from approving a check issued by a person, or someone purporting to be that person, if the person presents the check verification entity a police report or sworn statement indicating that the person has been a victim of identity theft. The bill would also provide that the Office of the Attorney General may obtain a civil penalty of up to $1,000 for violations and may recover court costs, attorney fees and investigative costs.
The Office of the Attorney General indicates that any additional costs associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be absorbed within existing state resources. It is also assumed that any additional fees and costs recovered by the agency would not be significant.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2007.
| Source Agencies: | 302 Office of the Attorney General, 451 Department of Banking
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| LBB Staff: | JOB, JRO, JM
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