Senate Bill 548
By: Senators Summers of the 13th, Dickerson of the 21st, Hodges of the 3rd, Williams of the
25th, Still of the 48th and others
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Article 4 of Chapter 9 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,
relating to fraud and related offenses, so as to exempt certain for profit organizations from
the term "credit repair services organization"; to provide for related matters; to repeal
conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Article 4 of Chapter 9 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to fraud
and related offenses, is amended by adding a new subparagraph to paragraph (2) of
subsection (a) of Code Section 16-9-59, relating to operation of credit repair services
organization, as follows:
<ins>"(C) 'Credit repair services organization' also does not include any credit repair
organization, as defined by 15 U.S.C. Section 1679a, that complies with the following
consumer protections:
(i) Obtains a bond in the amount of $50,000.00, which shall be filed with the office
of the Attorney General pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated by such
department and shall remain in place for at least one year after the credit repair
services organization has ceased all activities in this state, and which shall be used to
</ins>
<ins>cover administrative fines or civil damages suffered by any buyer or through any
enforcement action; and
(ii) Provides:
(I) A written contract to the buyer setting out the services such credit repair services
organization provides and the amount that will be due each month for such services;
(II) An information statement informing the buyer of the buyer's right to challenge
and dispute items on a credit report on his or her own; stating that the credit repair
services organization will only challenge or dispute items that the buyer affirms are
either unfair, inaccurate, or unsubstantiated; and informing the buyer of the right to
proceed against the bond along with the name and address of the bond surety; and
(III) A notice of cancellation that informs the buyer of the right to rescind the
agreement within ten business days after entering into the contract and the right to
cancel services at any time, along with a preprinted form containing the mailing
address of the credit repair services organization."
</ins> SECTION 2.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.