You Can Protect Your Children Against Identity Theft

There has been a concerning trend across the United States of young adults being denied credit cards or loans because their identity was stolen when they were too young to even own a credit card.

After learning about this trend, I decided to introduce this legislation after hearing multiple stories of parents being refused the ability to freeze their own child’s credit by the credit bureaus. There are also incidents where adults attempted to take out student loans, but were denied by lenders because identity thieves had ruined their credit when they were children. Sadly, there was a boy who was in the foster care system who also was taken advantage by credit thieves.

I can happily report that my bill, AB 1580, was signed into law last month by Gov. Brown. This new law allows a parent to freeze their child’s credit with the three credit bureaus, preventing identity thieves from opening fraudulent credit accounts and ruining their child’s credit at an early age.

AB 1580 is a common-sense proposal that provides parents the tools to proactively protect their child’s financial future. As a parent, this issue is close to my heart. I want to make sure that I can protect my children against identity theft, and help other parents do the same. It will let us sleep better at night knowing our child’s identity is protected.

Mike Gatto is the Chairman of the Utilities & Commerce Committee and the longest-serving current member of the State Assembly. He represents California’s 43rd Assembly District, which includes Los Angeles, Glendale and Burbank. www.asm.ca.gov/gatto