This session, Jamie has filed the following pieces of legislation to increase protections for consumers:

An Act protecting the privacy of consumer financial information (“Massachusetts Financial Privacy Act”)

Modeled after California’s strongest-in-the-nation consumer financial privacy law, this bill gives consumers control over their nonpublic financial information. Financial institutions would be required to get consumers’ permission (“opt-in”) before sharing consumer nonpublic financial information with outside companies, and to notify consumers and give them the opportunity to halt information-sharing (“opt-out”) with affiliate companies.

An Act to regulate debt collection activity

The vast majority of American households pay their bills on time.  Nearly all of those who do fall behind on their bills were current until they faced a financial catastrophe such as unemployment, illness, or disability. Financially-distressed families struggling with unmanageable debt deserve to be treated fairly.

This bill would:

1)      Provide greater protections for consumers – particularly the elderly and disabled – from the often abusive practices of debt collectors.

2)      Require debt collectors to provide consumers with certain information, such as a copy of the contract they have allegedly violated if they are being sued, or notice if their debt has been purchased by another party.

3)      Include measures to make it easier for already financially-distressed households to pay off their debts and reach financial stability.

An Act to Protect Victims of Unlicensed Debt Collections

This bill clarifies the Attorney General’s power to seek damages for victims of unlicensed debt collection and gives the Attorney General’s office the authority help people who have been harassed by unlicensed debt collectors to gain compensation for damages.