Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 117.djvu/1987

 117 STAT. 1968

PUBLIC LAW 108–159—DEC. 4, 2003 to which the consumer would otherwise be entitled if the consumer were not a victim of identity theft, but wished to dispute the debt under provisions of law applicable to that person.’’.

SEC. 156. STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS.

Section 618 of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. 1681p) is amended to read as follows: ‘‘§ 618. Jurisdiction of courts; limitation of actions ‘‘An action to enforce any liability created under this title may be brought in any appropriate United States district court, without regard to the amount in controversy, or in any other court of competent jurisdiction, not later than the earlier of— ‘‘(1) 2 years after the date of discovery by the plaintiff of the violation that is the basis for such liability; or ‘‘(2) 5 years after the date on which the violation that is the basis for such liability occurs.’’. SEC. 157. STUDY ON THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY TO COMBAT IDENTITY THEFT.

Deadline.

(a) STUDY REQUIRED.—The Secretary of the Treasury shall conduct a study of the use of biometrics and other similar technologies to reduce the incidence and costs to society of identity theft by providing convincing evidence of who actually performed a given financial transaction. (b) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary of the Treasury shall consult with Federal banking agencies, the Commission, and representatives of financial institutions, consumer reporting agencies, Federal, State, and local government agencies that issue official forms or means of identification, State prosecutors, law enforcement agencies, the biometric industry, and the general public in formulating and conducting the study required by subsection (a). (c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of the Treasury for fiscal year 2004, such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this section. (d) REPORT REQUIRED.—Before the end of the 180-day period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a report to Congress containing the findings and conclusions of the study required under subsection (a), together with such recommendations for legislative or administrative actions as may be appropriate.

TITLE II—IMPROVEMENTS IN USE OF AND CONSUMER ACCESS TO CREDIT INFORMATION SEC. 211. FREE CONSUMER REPORTS.

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 612 of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. 1681j) is amended— (1) by redesignating subsection (a) as subsection (f), and transferring it to the end of the section; (2) by inserting before subsection (b) the following: ‘‘(a) FREE ANNUAL DISCLOSURE.— ‘‘(1) NATIONWIDE CONSUMER REPORTING AGENCIES.—

VerDate 11-MAY-2000

10:15 Aug 27, 2004

Jkt 019194

PO 00000

Frm 00920

Fmt 6580

Sfmt 6581

D:\STATUTES\2003\19194PT2.001

APPS10

PsN: 19194PT2

�