LRB-0381/2
RJM:kmg:jf
2003 - 2004 LEGISLATURE
February 18, 2003 - Introduced by Senators Erpenbach, Robson, Carpenter and
Chvala, cosponsored by Representatives Schneider, Ziegelbauer, Musser, A.
Williams, Berceau, Travis, Plouff, Albers, Shilling, Boyle, Morris, Colon,
J. Lehman, Huber
and Balow. Referred to Committee on Judiciary,
Corrections and Privacy.
SB39,1,3 1An Act to create 220.02 (2) (e) and subchapter V of chapter 224 [precedes
2224.991] of the statutes; relating to: disclosure of credit reports and providing
3a penalty.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Wisconsin law currently does not specifically regulate the disclosure of credit
reports to consumers by a credit reporting agency (agency). However, under current
federal law, an agency must provide a consumer with five pieces of information upon
request: all nonmedical information contained in the agency's files on the consumer,
the sources of that information, the recipients of any credit report concerning the
consumer, information regarding any checks that form the basis of an adverse
characterization of the consumer, and a record of certain inquiries received by the
agency that identified the consumer. Generally, unless the consumer's request is
pursuant to a denial of credit or to a notice that the consumer's credit may be
adversely affected, the agency may charge up to $8 for this disclosure. In certain
circumstances, federal law prohibits an agency from disclosing the sources of
information in a consumer's file.
This bill requires an agency, upon request, to provide one free written disclosure
report to a consumer per year. In addition to the disclosure required by the federal
law, this bill requires the agency to provide the consumer with a current credit report
and a clear and concise explanation of the contents of the written disclosure report.
This bill prohibits an agency from making certain disclosures prohibited under
federal law. A person who violates this bill may be fined up to $500 for a first offense

and may be fined up to $1,000 or imprisoned for up to six months or both for a
subsequent offense within six months.
Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime,
the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a
report concerning the proposed penalty and the costs or savings that are likely to
result if the bill is enacted.
For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as
an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SB39, s. 1 1Section 1. 220.02 (2) (e) of the statutes is created to read:
SB39,2,22 220.02 (2) (e) Consumer reporting agencies under subch. V of ch. 224.
SB39, s. 2 3Section 2. Subchapter V of chapter 224 [precedes 224.991] of the statutes is
4created to read:
SB39,2,55 Chapter 224
SB39,2,76 Subchapter v
7 consumer reporting agencies
SB39,2,8 8224.991 Definitions. In this subchapter:
SB39,2,9 9(1) "Consumer report" has the meaning given in 15 USC 1681a (d).
SB39,2,10 10(2) "Consumer reporting agency" has the meaning given in 15 USC 1681a (f).
SB39,2,11 11(3) "File" has the meaning given in 15 USC 1681a (g).
SB39,2,13 12(4) "Investigative consumer report" has the meaning given in 15 USC 1681a
13(e).
SB39,2,15 14(5) "Summary of rights" means the information that a consumer reporting
15agency is required to provide under 15 USC 1681g (c).
SB39,3,2 16224.993 Disclosure to individual. (1) In general. A consumer reporting
17agency shall, upon the written request of an individual, provide the individual with

1a written disclosure report within 5 business days after receiving the written
2request.
SB39,3,4 3(2) Contents. Except as provided in sub. (4), the written disclosure report
4provided under sub. (1) shall contain all of the following:
SB39,3,55 (a) A current consumer report pertaining to the individual.
SB39,3,86 (b) The date of each request for credit information pertaining to the individual
7received by the consumer reporting agency during the 12 months before the date on
8which the consumer reporting agency provides the written disclosure report.
SB39,3,119 (c) The name of each person requesting credit information pertaining to the
10individual during the 12 months before the date on which the consumer reporting
11agency provides the written disclosure report.
SB39,3,1312 (d) The dates, original payees, and amounts of any checks upon which any
13adverse characterization of the consumer is based.
SB39,3,1414 (e) Any other information contained in the individual's file.
SB39,3,1615 (f) A clear and concise explanation of the contents of the written disclosure
16report.
SB39,3,1717 (g) A summary of rights.
SB39,3,21 18(3) Cost. A consumer reporting agency shall provide the written disclosure
19report required under sub. (1) free of charge, unless the individual has requested a
20written disclosure report from the consumer reporting agency during the preceding
2112 months.
SB39,3,23 22(4) Exceptions. A consumer reporting agency may not disclose to an individual
23making a request under sub. (1) any of the following:
SB39,3,2524 (a) The sources of any information that was both acquired solely for use in
25preparing an investigative consumer report and used for no other purpose.
SB39,4,1
1(b) Any credit score or other risk score or predictor relating to the consumer.
SB39,4,5 2224.997 Penalties. Any person who violates this subchapter may be fined not
3more than $500 for the first offense and may be fined not more than $1,000 or
4imprisoned for not more than 6 months or both for each subsequent offense occurring
5within 6 months.
SB39,4,66 (End)
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