Hoosier Officials Step up for Their Consumers

July 2006
On Saturday, July 1 2006, Indiana joined the growing list of states which have implemented laws requiring companies to disclose security breaches of data that may hold a customer's personal identifying information. It doesn't matter where the company is based. If the information belongs to an Indiana consumer it must be disclosed.

As reported by the Tribune-Star on July 3rd, at a Terre Haute press conference, Attorney General Steve Carter said, "We no longer have to rely on out-of-states laws to protect Indiana consumers,"

According to the Attorney General in a June 16th press release, "A key component of avoiding identity theft is knowing that your information is vulnerable so that appropriate steps can be taken to monitor and flag your accounts against fraud."
 
"The general assembly took an important step of requiring businesses to ensure their customers are one of the first to know about security breaches that have placed their personal information in jeopardy," stated Carter.

House Bill 1101 was authored by State Representative Jackie Walorski (R-South Bend) and was passed unanimously by the Indiana General Assembly.  The attorney general's office will enforce the law, and can seek up to $150,000 for data breaches that have not been properly disclosed to Indiana customers.

"Indiana is not immune to identity theft, but our legislature has taken action to help protect consumers against this growing and sometimes financially devastating crime," Carter added.