LEGISLATURE PASSES SECURITY FREEZE BILL

Bismarck – The North Dakota Legislature today passed what has been billed as the most important consumer protection measure of the Legislative session.

The new law gives all North Dakotans the right to file a “security freeze” on their credit report. A security freeze prevents the fraudulent use of someone’s identity to obtain new credit, and is an important tool for citizens to protect against identity theft.

“This bill continues work that we've done to thwart identity theft in North Dakota,” Rep. Kim Koppelman (R-West Fargo), the bill’s prime sponsor said. “The North Dakota Legislature and the Attorney General's office are taking important steps to make this crime more difficult to commit and to help catch identity thieves.”

Identity theft has become the fastest growing white collar crime, making it an important consumer protection issue. “This bill is arguably the best in the nation because it stops the flow of possibly stolen confidential information and prevents criminals from using another’s identity to purchase big-ticket items,” Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem said.

For a nominal fee, the security freeze is placed on the consumer’s credit file, prohibiting reporting agencies from releasing the credit file or any information derived from it without the consumer’s express authorization. Under the new law, consumers will be able to request a security freeze by mail, telephone, or e-mail.

“Nothing is as personal as your identity,” co-sponsor Rep. Blair Thoreson (R-Fargo) said. “For someone to steal your identity is to steal the essence of who you are. This is a very personal crime that we need to do everything possible to stop.”

Koppelman and Thoreson were joined by Rep. Pam Gulleson (D-Rutland) and Sens. Dick Dever (R-Bismarck) and Connie Triplet (D-Grand Forks) in sponsoring the measure which unanimously passed both houses. The bill now goes to Governor John Hoeven to be signed into law.

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