NYS Seal

SENATE STANDING COMMITTEE ON CONSUMER PROTECTION
ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE ON CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND PROTECTION

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
Oral Testimony by Invitation Only


SUBJECT:

Security Freeze

PURPOSE:

To examine the need for security freezes to combat identity theft.

Albany
Monday, February 6, 2006
11:00 a.m.

Legislative Office Building, 2nd Floor
Van Buren Hearing Room A
Albany, NY


Identity theft costs consumers and businesses millions of dollars each year. In 2004, the Federal Trade Commission received more than 17,000 complaints of identity theft from New York residents. One potential tool in the fight against identity theft is locking, or freezing, access to consumer credit reports. This prevents identity thieves from taking out new loans and credit in the name of their victim. A consumer who places a security freeze is provided a unique PIN or password that must be given to a credit reporting agency each time the consumer wants to allow access to their credit information.

In November 2005, the Senate Committee on Consumer Protection and the Assembly Committee on Consumer Affairs and Protection held a joint public hearing to examine the need for a security freeze law to combat identity theft in New York State. The purpose of this hearing is to address questions which were raised during the initial hearing.

Oral testimony will be by invitation only and limited to ten minute durations. Ten copies of any prepared testimony should be submitted at the hearing registration desk. The Committees would appreciate advance receipt of prepared statements. Written testimony will also be accepted and may be sent to the contact persons listed on the reply form. In order to publicize the hearing further, please inform interested parties of the Committees' interest in receiving written testimony from all sources.

In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the Senate and Assembly, in accordance with their policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to Senate and Assembly facilities and activities.


Senator Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr.,
Chair,
Committee on Consumer Protection


Assemblywoman Audrey I. Pheffer,
Chair,
Committee on Consumer Affairs and Protection


PUBLIC HEARING REPLY FORM

Persons invited to present testimony at the public hearing on Security Freeze to be held on February 6, 2006, or who wish to submit written testimony only, are requested to complete and return this reply form to:

Robert Caroppoli
Office of Senator Charles J. Fuschillo Jr.
30 South Ocean Avenue
Freeport, NY 11520
Phone: (516) 546-4100
Fax: (516) 546-4334

Jeff O'Donnell
Assembly Committee on Consumer Affairs and Protection
Room 513 - Capitol
Albany, New York 12248
Phone: (518) 455-4355
Fax: (518) 455-4128


box I plan to attend the public hearing on Security Freeze to be conducted by the Senate Committee on Consumer Protection and the Assembly Committee on Consumer Affairs and Protection on February 6, 2006.

box I have been invited to make a public statement at the hearing. My statement will be limited to 10 minutes, and I will answer any questions which may arise. I will provide 10 copies of my prepared statement.

box

I will address my remarks to the following subjects:



box I do not plan to attend the above hearing.

box I would like to be added to the Committee mailing list for notices and reports.

box I would like to be removed from the Committee mailing list.

box

I will require assistance and/or handicapped accessibility information. Please specify the type of assistance required:




NAME:

TITLE:

ORGANIZATION:

ADDRESS:

E-MAIL:

TELEPHONE:

FAX TELEPHONE:

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