2014 House Bill 5775

Require steps to avoid foster child identity theft

Introduced in the House

Sept. 9, 2014

Introduced by Rep. Phil Cavanagh (D-10)

To require foster care caseworkers to annually request credit reports on each foster care child they are assigned, and if the report suggests the presence of fraudulent activity in the child's name, report this to the court at the next 90-day review of the child’s foster care plan. The individual appointed by the court to guard the child’s legal interest (guardian ad litem) would then be required to contact the credit reporting agency immediately and request they remove the fraudulent activity from the report. The caseworker also would be required to discuss these matters with the child. The bill responds to concerns that foster care children are <a href="http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/children_in_foster_care_vulnerable_to_identity_theft">vulnerable to identity theft</a>.

Referred to the Committee on Families, Children and Seniors