WEST virginia legislature

2023 regular session

Committee Substitute

for

House Bill 3480

By Delegates Hite, Horst, Miller, Hornby, Linville and Cannon

[Originating in the Committee on the Judiciary; Reported on February 24, 2023]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §46A-6O-1, §46A-6O-2, and §46A-6O-3, all relating to the enactment of the West Virginia Consumer Privacy Act of 2023; providing definitions; providing prohibitions on disclosures or sales of certain consumer financial information; providing for civil remedies; and providing for enforcement actions of the Attorney General.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 6O. THE WEST VIRGINIA CONSUMER PRIVACY ACT OF 2023.

§46A-6O-1. Definitions; prohibitions on disclosure or sale of financial information.

(a) For purposes of this article:

(1) "Consumer" means a natural person to whom a sale, lease, or offer of a line of credit is made in a consumer transaction.

(2) “Consumer financial information” means any personally identifiable financial information unless the information is otherwise publicly available, and includes information that a credit report was obtained by a financial institution, creditor, mortgage lender, or mortgage broker.

(b) A credit reporting agency which receives consumer financial information resulting from an application for a line of credit from any financial institution or any creditor utilizing any credit reporting agency shall not disclose or sell such consumer financial information without the consent of the consumer, except as required to process the line of credit application.

§46A-6O-2. Enforcement.

The Attorney General may enforce the provisions of this article and may bring an action seeking either:

(1) Injunctive or other appropriate equitable relief;

(2) Civil penalties of no more than $10,000 for each violation of this article and all costs and attorney’s fees associated with bringing the action; or

(3) Both the equitable relief and civil penalties described in subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection, including costs and attorney’s fees. This action must be brought in the name of the state and instituted in the circuit court of Kanawha County. The Attorney General may negotiate a settlement with any alleged violator in the course of his or her enforcement of this article.

§46A-6O-3. Civil remedies.

(a) A consumer may bring a civil action for damages against any credit reporting agency that violates the provisions of this article. For each violation, the individual may recover:

(1) Against any person who negligently or recklessly violates this article, liquidated damages of $1,000 or actual damages, whichever is greater; or

(2) Against any person who intentionally violates this article, liquidated damages of $5,000 for each or actual damages, whichever is greater.

(b) If a court finds that a violation of this article has occurred as the result of a civil action filed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, the court shall award reasonable attorney’s fees to the aggrieved party. A court may order such other relief, including an injunction, as the court may consider appropriate.

(c) Any action under this article is barred unless the action is commenced within two years after the aggrieved party either knew or, through reasonable diligence, should have known of the violation.