BILL NUMBER: AB 1220 ENROLLED BILL TEXT PASSED THE SENATE SEPTEMBER 11, 2013 PASSED THE ASSEMBLY MAY 28, 2013 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 20, 2013 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 6, 2013 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 22, 2013 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 21, 2013 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Skinner FEBRUARY 22, 2013 An act to add Section 1785.10.1 to the Civil Code, relating to consumer credit. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 1220, Skinner. Consumer credit reporting: adverse action. Existing law requires a consumer credit reporting agency, upon request and proper identification of any consumer, to allow the consumer to visually inspect all files maintained regarding that consumer at the time of the request. Existing law additionally grants a consumer the right to request and receive a written copy of the file. Existing federal law prohibits a consumer credit reporting agency from prohibiting a user of a consumer credit report furnished by the agency from disclosing the contents of the report to the consumer if adverse action has been taken against the consumer by the user based on the report. This bill would make it unlawful for a consumer credit reporting agency to prohibit, or to dissuade or attempt to dissuade, a user of a consumer credit report furnished by the credit reporting agency from providing a copy of the consumer's credit report to the consumer, upon the consumer's request, if the user has taken adverse action against the consumer based upon the report. The bill would authorize the Attorney General, among others, to bring a civil action, for a civil penalty not to exceed $5,000, against any credit reporting agency for a violation of these provisions. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 1785.10.1 is added to the Civil Code, to read: 1785.10.1. (a) It is unlawful for a consumer credit reporting agency to prohibit in any manner, including, but not limited to, in the terms of a contract enforceable in the state, or to dissuade or attempt to dissuade, a user of a consumer credit report furnished by the credit reporting agency from providing a copy of the consumer's credit report to the consumer, upon the consumer's request, if the user has taken adverse action against the consumer based in whole or in part upon information in the report. (b) The Attorney General, any district attorney or city attorney, or a city prosecutor in any city or city and county having a full-time city prosecutor, may bring a civil action in any court of competent jurisdiction against any credit reporting agency violating this section for a civil penalty not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000) which may be assessed and recovered in a civil action brought in the name of the people of the State of California.