117 HR 2547 IH: Comprehensive Debt Collection Improvement Act
U.S. House of Representatives
2021-04-15
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EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
1.Short title; table of contents(a)This Act may be cited as the Comprehensive Debt Collection Improvement Act
. (b)The table of contents for this Act is as follows:Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.Title I—Small Business Lending Fairness ActSec. 101. Short title.Sec. 102. Obligor transactions.Sec. 103. Enforcement of security interests.Title II —Fair Debt Collection Practices for Servicemembers ActSec. 201. Short title.Sec. 202. Enhanced protection against debt collector harassment of servicemembers.Sec. 203. GAO study and report.Title III—Private Loan Disability Discharge ActSec. 301. Short title.Sec. 302. Protections for obligors and cosigners in case of death or total and permanent disability.Title IV—Consumer Protection for Medical Debt Collections ActSec. 401. Short title.Sec. 402. Amendments to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.Sec. 403. Prohibition on consumer reporting agencies reporting certain medical debt.Sec. 404. Requirements for furnishers of medical debt information.Title V—Ending Debt Collection Harassment ActSec. 501. Short title.Sec. 502. Consumer protections relating to debt collection practices.Title VI—Stop Debt Collection Abuse ActSec. 601. Short title.Sec. 602. Definitions.Sec. 603. Debt collection practices for debt collectors hired by Federal agencies.Sec. 604. Unfair practices.Sec. 605. GAO study and report.Title VII—Debt Collection Practices Harmonization ActSec. 701. Short title.Sec. 702. Award of damages.Sec. 703. Prohibition on the referral of emergency individual assistance debt.Title VIII—Non-Judicial Foreclosure Debt Collection Clarification ActSec. 801. Short title.Sec. 802. Enforcement of security interests.Title IX—Effective DateSec. 901. Effective date.<enum>I</enum><header>Small Business Lending Fairness Act</header><section id="H2A97B3C8438A42BBB2AB355964113C94" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>101.</enum><header>Short title</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">This title may be cited as the <quote><short-title>Small Business Lending Fairness Act</short-title></quote>.</text></section><section id="H0E9FFC25D46D4B128C2925AAC01BA3C2"><enum>102.</enum><header>Obligor transactions</header><subsection id="H5CA4B1DD55AF43E9B7EA146CA0FBE155"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Chapter 2 of the Truth in Lending Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/1631">15 U.S.C. 1631</external-xref> et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE0C6B745982847649536350065BE94B4" style="USC"><section id="H6A6C911F594B466E99E21660546EAEDD"><enum>140B.</enum><header>Unfair credit practices</header><subsection id="H7F1401D40FC848499AE8E3BA629ABFFD"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In connection with the extension of credit or creation of debt in or affecting commerce, as defined in section 4 of the Federal Trade Commission Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/44">15 U.S.C. 44</external-xref>), including any advance of funds or sale or assignment of future income or receivables that may or may not be credit, no person may directly or indirectly take or receive from another person an obligation that constitutes or contains a cognovit or confession of judgment (for purposes other than executory process in the State of Louisiana), warrant of attorney, or other waiver of the right to notice and the opportunity to be heard in the event of suit or process thereon.</text></subsection><subsection id="H93C69AEF1F9A4399B70431401E95CCE9"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Exemption</header><text>The exemption in section 104(1) shall not apply to this section.</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection id="HA1BFC12FEF674C0F8AA0D13F267F16E9"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Technical and conforming amendments</header><paragraph id="H4F88FB430FDF458EBD53247324335C44"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Section 130(a) of the Truth in Lending Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/1640">15 U.S.C. 1640</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>creditor</quote> each place the term appears and inserting <quote>person</quote>.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H5D26B34266434A82AD393F28819359EA"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The table of sections in chapter 2 of the Truth in Lending Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/1631">15 U.S.C. 1631</external-xref> et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: </text><quoted-block style="USC" id="H78D5A57B280649EB9566C5F1A167EDE4" display-inline="no-display-inline"><toc regeneration="no-regeneration"><toc-entry level="section">140B. Unfair credit practices.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H0CC1AD5DCD4B4C319EE5EB22C2790710"><enum>103.</enum><header>Enforcement of security interests</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 103 of the Truth in Lending Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/1602">15 U.S.C. 1602</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF183DA4C4907430BA8FA6A6DB4C49258"><subsection id="H93A8E55AAF7B401EB04428CF623D9F94"><enum>(ff)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>debt</term> means any obligation of a person to pay to another person money—</text><paragraph id="H2BFFE5229A644FD7B46DE64F08E58E3E"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">regardless of whether such obligation is absolute or contingent;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H52C4D39AD26E4F9E90C46B3D1D9A8088"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">that includes the right of the person providing the money to an equitable remedy for breach of performance if the breach gives rise to a right to payment; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H5D8DABCE568A4233BB355979B8831A39"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">regardless of whether the obligation or right to an equitable remedy described in paragraph (2) has been reduced to judgment, fixed, contingent, matured, unmatured, disputed, undisputed, recourse, nonrecourse, secured, or unsecured.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section><enum>II</enum><header>Fair Debt Collection Practices for Servicemembers Act</header><section id="HCBEE4D7959414AB0BEE1D6EF603AE74F" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>201.</enum><header>Short title</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">This title may be cited as the <quote><short-title>Fair Debt Collection Practices for Servicemembers Act</short-title></quote>.</text></section><section id="H27C9ACB027E5476F97720A8A03BA14A3"><enum>202.</enum><header>Enhanced protection against debt collector harassment of servicemembers</header><subsection id="HE865D87A13D3400D908116D187D2C36B"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Communication in connection with debt collection</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 805 of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/1692c">15 U.S.C. 1692c</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6943DAE2EAE54D40846F48C008E36C7B" style="OLC"><subsection id="H6F1D87E58AEF4507ACDEC7CBDC5C45B3"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Communications concerning servicemember debts</header><paragraph id="HF4E16BE3BE334DFDA36A14B9588B479C"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Definition</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In this subsection, the term <term>covered member</term> means—</text><subparagraph id="H47ED9FC23A454A3B9972E5E5258749EE"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a covered member or a dependent as defined in section 987(i) of title 10, United States Code; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8CD301BCFFAC46D18C3ED0B1BC1DC1DA"><enum>(B)</enum><clause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="HC4E99E27C68041DFA837E507120B3EA5"><enum>(i)</enum><text>an individual who was separated, discharged, or released from duty described in such section 987(i)(1), but only during the 365-day period beginning on the date of separation, discharge, or release; or</text></clause><clause id="H95C4F972658B43649D4BF3198777A25C" indent="up1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a person, with respect to an individual described in clause (i), described in subparagraph (A), (D), (E), or (I) of section 1072(2) of title 10, United States Code.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H8B23A9E93E554CD89AB528D711EF9355"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Prohibitions</header><text>A debt collector may not, in connection with the collection of any debt of a covered member—</text><subparagraph id="H20D25EBB801D468A98A7DE2A6D984572"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">threaten to have the covered member reduced in rank;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H0CB4572669244D9CB025B68025FB7B30"><enum>(B)</enum><text>threaten to have the covered member’s security clearance revoked; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1C7F5CE59E564954ABC285444984852C"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">threaten to have the covered member prosecuted under <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/10/47">chapter 47</external-xref> of title 10, United States Code (the Uniform Code of Military Justice).</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection id="HE24B0AF6A57A4E58AA148731AEBBFD92"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Unfair practices</header><text>Section 808 of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/1692f">15 U.S.C. 1692f</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H26A04BC3875A413585CB9866CFB7AE33" style="OLC"><paragraph id="H22D0BC9F982443BD89AF2187D20D0F61"><enum>(9)</enum><text>The representation to any covered member (as defined under section 805(e)(1)) that failure to cooperate with a debt collector will result in—</text><subparagraph id="HC21F251990484536AEFD13E7F2114F1B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a reduction in rank of the covered member;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE383A82D19FD4EF29434313000A481F6"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a revocation of the covered member’s security clearance; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H525D7BEDDEFD41A69486FC703E286594"><enum>(C)</enum><text>prosecution under <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/10/47">chapter 47</external-xref> of title 10, United States Code (the Uniform Code of Military Justice).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section><section id="HA3791EFBA43443339B2D765A88DA0AAA"><enum>203.</enum><header>GAO study and report</header><subsection id="H8ED194872AD84C478509002DB91A50F0"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Study</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study on the impact of debt collection on covered members (as defined under section 805(e)(1) of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, as added by section 202), which shall—</text><paragraph id="H810A8BCEEBF0424BBB53CE5C0E77B8FD"><enum>(1)</enum><text>identify types of false, deceptive, misleading, unfair, abusive, and harassing debt collection practices experienced by covered members and make recommendations to eliminate these practices;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H5D5B291E82E74B92BBC4A2BB8706B8F4"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">identify collection practices of creditors and debt collectors experienced by covered members;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H8BBC7CD3959D4A24AF03E2A8D0C82C45"><enum>(3)</enum><text>discuss the effect of these practices on military readiness; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H22917697B0774F4CBD83463745B2106F"><enum>(4)</enum><text>discuss any national security implications, including the extent to which covered members with security clearances would be impacted by uncollected debt.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H3F28FC814BD9433A864F7418734A79E9"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Report</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report on the completed study required under subsection (a).</text></subsection></section><enum>III</enum><header>Private Loan Disability Discharge Act</header><section id="H4EF7ABB9D40D4280A4D135DD50F86400" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>301.</enum><header>Short title</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">This title may be cited as the <quote><short-title>Private Loan Disability Discharge Act of 2021</short-title></quote>.</text></section><section id="H8ECC65BDA6B047168986E38BB1ADF998"><enum>302.</enum><header>Protections for obligors and cosigners in case of death or total and permanent disability</header><subsection id="H7A9F101956904709BC5D1954C596D854"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 140(g) of the Truth in Lending Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/1650">15 U.S.C. 1650(g)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="H8CD04CFC736F475F910E7B81D0D2DEE5"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in paragraph (2)—</text><subparagraph id="HA8293F32AA0F4D9DB332698DCC450D3F"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in the heading, by striking <quote><header-in-text level="paragraph" style="OLC">in case of death of borrower</header-in-text></quote>;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H97DC6B5682624F128A3C2BF4DB1F4D81"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in subparagraph (A), by inserting after <quote>of the death</quote>, the following: <quote>or total and permanent disability</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H39F2D3036C834CC7A0841DB8FFD3A8B3"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subparagraph (C), by inserting after <quote>of the death</quote>, the following: <quote>or total and permanent disability</quote>; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HB890ED052BA34E3DA474843C63636B14"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC328DD4DDAB744719C9790E5EC4E223D" style="OLC"><paragraph id="H78C250E83F4F454DB45F46605EFBC5A3"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Discharge in case of death or total and permanent disability of borrower</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The holder of a private education loan shall, when notified of the death or total and permanent disability of a student obligor, discharge the liability of the student obligor on the loan and may not, after such notification—</text><subparagraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HACDB615C28AB46F787EB4764FD9FB64F"><enum>(A)</enum><text>attempt to collect on the outstanding liability of the student obligor; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H836004B5BD794468A3018FE0675E1A5F"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in the case of total and permanent disability, monitor the disability status of the student obligor at any point after the date of discharge.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HEE8CF7AB3DBF40AF8155DE0DA0291094"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Private discharge in cases of certain discharge for death or disability</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The holder of a private education loan shall, when notified of the discharge of liability of a student obligor on a loan described under <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/26/108">section 108(f)(5)(A)</external-xref> of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, discharge any liability of the student obligor (and any cosigner) on any private education loan which the private education loan holder holds and may not, after such notification—</text><subparagraph id="HC8E9F58982DD4542BF69911947BB0A1B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>attempt to collect on the outstanding liability of the student obligor; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HCA33A059999B4F798C85FA038FDB8CE1"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in the case of total and permanent disability, monitor the disability status of the student obligor at any point after the date of discharge.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H46D112F67F0545ADA60E997DD945936D"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Total and permanent disability defined</header><text>For the purposes of this subsection and with respect to an individual, the term <term>total and permanent disability</term> means the individual is totally and permanently disabled, as such term is defined in section 685.102(b) of title 34, Code of Federal Regulations.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HFEAA0EB02F394AF3B653B557862CF8FF"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Rulemaking</header><text>The Director of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection may issue rules to implement the amendments made by subsection (a) as the Director determines appropriate.</text></subsection></section><enum>IV</enum><header>Consumer Protection for Medical Debt Collections Act</header><section id="H6F0F8C5EF55B4279B799FE648D57423A" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>401.</enum><header>Short title</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">This title may be cited as the <quote><short-title>Consumer Protection for Medical Debt Collections Act</short-title></quote>.</text></section><section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H28D33133C67F4F0EA12C4A5B9A4D460C" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>402.</enum><header>Amendments to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act</header><subsection id="H2BE2C1CE686B46AA8B344FC7760BC82E"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definition</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 803 of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/1692a">15 U.S.C. 1692a</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="USC" id="H30395E96EA264D6190996845A986DDED" display-inline="no-display-inline"><paragraph id="HEB9D1EE8C1EB4BBF9E3BE93A4357242C" indent="down1"><enum>(9)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>medical debt</term> means a debt arising from the receipt of medical services, products, or devices.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection id="H4C2E3CFE62C844FC80A8E9A97EE8AC9F"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Unfair practices</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 808 of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/1692f">15 U.S.C. 1692f</external-xref>), as amended by section 202(b), is amended by adding at the end the following: </text><quoted-block style="USC" id="H1791065A7ED34429A2FF36C3A5CD6B3F" display-inline="no-display-inline"><paragraph id="H751A65EE898249048D4E2AA5BB264AC5" indent="down1"><enum>(10)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Engaging in activities to collect or attempting to collect a medical debt owed or due or asserted to be owed or due by a consumer, before the end of the 2-year period beginning on the date that the first payment with respect to such medical debt is due.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section><section id="H0636DE898507483EA773F8574A5F9F9B"><enum>403.</enum><header>Prohibition on consumer reporting agencies reporting certain medical debt</header><subsection id="H2FDA088AE1BA48CC897FE34C3B1B1084"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definition</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 603 of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/1681a">15 U.S.C. 1681a</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="USC" id="HEC8DD58EBA6343F8A4DBE874C528392B" display-inline="no-display-inline"><subsection id="H459B3392CA4B466CAF2D7F31CA060299"><enum>(bb)</enum><header>Medical debt</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>medical debt</term> means a debt arising from the receipt of medical services, products, or devices.</text></subsection><subsection id="H6A34363088F14EAFAE85525DA9AE6DE6"><enum>(cc)</enum><header>Medically necessary procedure</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>medically necessary procedure</term> means—</text><paragraph id="HCC29C9F4FCED4194A43DB5CF963DE746"><enum>(1)</enum><text>health care services or supplies needed to diagnose or treat an illness, injury, condition, disease, or its symptoms and that meet accepted standards of medicine; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H808CBD08A0F54F71B69546005079C767"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">health care to prevent illness or detect illness at an early stage, when treatment is likely to work best (including preventive services such as pap tests, flu shots, and screening mammograms). </text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection id="H5C7598A122A74C33818D2CDD205E784A"><enum>(b)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 605(a) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/1681c">15 U.S.C. 1681c(a)</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:</text><quoted-block style="USC" id="H7CEC4FE44D1F46518042264D148BAECF" display-inline="no-display-inline"><paragraph id="H5599EB764DAF4D76B5ED685ADD1B5DD9"><enum>(9)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any information related to a debt arising from a medically necessary procedure.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HED9B2A99002A4B419CDB9E0EAEA45055"><enum>(10)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any information related to a medical debt, if the date on which such debt was placed for collection, charged to profit or loss, or subjected to any similar action antedates the report by less than 365 calendar days.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section><section id="H88B874FCE8DD44EF81B915831271B1E4"><enum>404.</enum><header>Requirements for furnishers of medical debt information</header><subsection id="HCA6BCE6A773C4FCA9F207549138555DD"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Additional notice requirements for medical debt</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 623 of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/1681s-2">15 U.S.C. 1681s–2</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HB989370868A848ACBC03ABCF1BDC8B14" style="OLC"><subsection id="H3049E585316A42B4AA8F4281121E7A56"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Additional notice requirements for medical debt</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Before furnishing information regarding a medical debt of a consumer to a consumer reporting agency, the person furnishing the information shall send a statement to the consumer that includes the following:</text><paragraph id="H66122482DE924E5B90E7901479DAEAF8"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A notification that the medical debt—</text><subparagraph id="HB4970808F43B4B45A63BB2257A2F0B8E"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">may not be included on a consumer report made by a consumer reporting agency until the later of the date that is 365 days after—</text><clause id="HA163F1A26C10487AA156572041F8AA90"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the date on which the person sends the statement;</text></clause><clause id="H78A468F2EFBB4B29B82F8B2143A85C57"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">with respect to the medical debt of a borrower demonstrating hardship, a date determined by the Director of the Bureau; or</text></clause><clause id="HFD83469F308B4B14B9BDBAE933A1348F"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the date described under section 605(a)(10); and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H921F745FE0F44A7DA7D4E13E2DBDEBCE"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">may not ever be included on a consumer report made by a consumer reporting agency, if the medical debt arises from a medically necessary procedure.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H2F859E93DD7A47F399341075CDE1AE93"><enum>(2)</enum><text>A notification that, if the debt is settled or paid by the consumer or an insurance company before the end of the period described under paragraph (1)(A), the debt may not be reported to a consumer reporting agency.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H5DBD3BED9E8E424C8C9DBD3406F41087"><enum>(3)</enum><text>A notification that the consumer may—</text><subparagraph id="H468D42FB5B924C16AD6558889E97695A"><enum>(A)</enum><text>communicate with an insurance company to determine coverage for the debt; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H412029B8BB364C04BEDBEF0D165C2F9F"><enum>(B)</enum><text>apply for financial assistance.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection id="HFA7D684DBAA2470DB6E504426DA74B7C"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Furnishing of medical debt information</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 623 of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/1681s-2">15 U.S.C. 1681s–2</external-xref>), as amended by subsection (a), is further amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="USC" id="H86B824FAF8304FDFA3E38433DF9E5817" display-inline="no-display-inline"><subsection id="HD8A915CA46CF4C27B4DA6A5B7EAAA150"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Furnishing of medical debt information</header><paragraph id="H4129159883B64D41BA5D0AD245037DF8"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Prohibition on reporting debt related to medically necessary procedures</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">No person shall furnish any information to a consumer reporting agency regarding a debt arising from a medically necessary procedure.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H940B15AE288F44DB91F2E4AB89C59ED4"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Treatment of other medical debt information</header><text>With respect to a medical debt not described under paragraph (1), no person shall furnish any information to a consumer reporting agency regarding such debt before the end of the 365-day period beginning on the later of—</text><subparagraph id="H2E13A06F54EB40A2BB5D996C4F0B168A"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the date on which the person sends the statement described under subsection (f) to the consumer;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6BF460AB550348FAB2669DB2B540158A"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">with respect to the medical debt of a borrower demonstrating hardship, a date determined by the Director of the Bureau; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H7890BC86752B4F3A951BFA31F4AC29C7"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the date described in section 605(a)(10).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HCA23690C18394918AB786029F0B68EDC" commented="no"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Treatment of settled or paid medical debt</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">With respect to a medical debt not described under paragraph (1), no person shall furnish any information to a consumer reporting agency regarding such debt if the debt is settled or paid by the consumer or an insurance company before the end of the 365-day period described under paragraph (2).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H3CC54908DB114377B2B7E92597D3C8BC"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Borrower demonstrating hardship defined</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In this subsection, and with respect to a medical debt, the term <term>borrower demonstrating hardship</term> means a borrower or a class of borrowers who, as determined by the Director of the Bureau, is facing or has experienced extenuating life circumstances or events that result in severe financial or personal barriers such that the borrower or class of borrowers does not have the capacity to repay the medical debt.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section><enum>V</enum><header>Ending Debt Collection Harassment Act</header><section id="H19D60B1088404AB4AB0BB6D7186AB727" section-type="subsequent-section" commented="no"><enum>501.</enum><header>Short title</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">This title may be cited as the <quote><short-title>Ending Debt Collection Harassment Act of 2021</short-title></quote>. </text></section><section id="H6C02657E51014E17ABFE6ACDAC9EBBFB"><enum>502.</enum><header>Consumer protections relating to debt collection practices</header><subsection id="H9571FDF1AB9D445089C25D7596F1B688"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Reports on debt collection complaints and enforcement actions</header><paragraph id="H74F2E27B66BA455B91D9F14E35FAC3D3"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Semi-annual report</header><text>Section 1016(c) of the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/12/5496">12 U.S.C. 5496(c)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><subparagraph id="H925D08870E6248168F31B897D5E7AAD6"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph (8), by striking <quote>and</quote> at the end;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5373EDB38AAB4029BF26F9A2D7E986F5"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (9), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6CD2235133D84BE99FF9FA1B2687A9F5"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="H4E4E31EFD10E4EB08C2B2C89D6C05F95" display-inline="no-display-inline"><paragraph id="H4D02AC5A63884DA6A673F3A42A6E69A1"><enum>(10)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">an analysis of the consumer complaints received by the Bureau with respect to debt collection, including a State-by-State breakdown of such complaints; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H61C22C71A0BE4FB2B15760DCBF0FD38D"><enum>(11)</enum><text>a list of enforcement actions taken against debt collectors during the preceding year.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H756A415DE5614A08A1C6D5280FDB2DC0"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Annual report</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 815(a) of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/1692m">15 U.S.C. 1692m(a)</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following new sentence: <quote>Each such report shall also include an analysis of the impact of electronic communications by debt collectors on consumer experiences with debt collection, including a consideration of consumer complaints about the use of electronic communications in debt collection.</quote>.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HABC9A9570C01453F83BAFBEF587F228F"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Limitation on debt collection rules</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1022 of the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/12/5512">12 U.S.C. 5512</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="HD437C928020C45489AD5A8D72171D6AA" display-inline="no-display-inline"><subsection id="HF68AF51633C6404A8852AE4080405C57"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Limitation on debt collection rules</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Director may not issue any rule with respect to debt collection that allows a debt collector to send unlimited email and text messages to a consumer.</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection id="HD279BA37772D43C995B0FB583542D7D6"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Protection of consumers from unlimited texts and emails used in debt collection</header><text>Section 806 of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/1692d">15 U.S.C. 1692d</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:</text><quoted-block id="HE8A9EBF726CC45A8802E89E6F956C4D2" style="OLC"><paragraph id="H17D63BF347CF46178F00C55ED12D1EED"><enum>(7)</enum><text>Contacting the consumer electronically (including by email or text message) without consent of the consumer to communicate via that method, after such consent has been withdrawn, or more frequently than the consumer consents to be contacted.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection id="H148D6D7242324F0C9A37971B268BBAE5"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Ensuring consumers receive notice of debt collection protections</header><text>Section 809(a) of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/1692g">15 U.S.C. 1692g(a)</external-xref>) is amended in the matter preceding paragraph (1)—</text><paragraph id="H42ADB4EE766C40C8832625F886F8AC4C"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking <quote>Within five days</quote> and all that follows through <quote>debt,</quote> and inserting the following: <quote><header-in-text level="subsection" style="OLC">Notice of debt; contents.—</header-in-text>Within five days after the initial communication with a consumer in connection with the collection of any debt,</quote>; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H9DA49BCC24A448BBA7DF7331F4B791A9"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking <quote>, unless the following information is contained in the initial communication or the consumer has paid the debt,</quote>. </text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HF9E66307DB0D4978B83299AFCCFB0E0C" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Improved limitations on debt collection rules</header><text>Section 814(d) of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/1692l">15 U.S.C. 1692l(d)</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following: </text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="H8B079FF645704765A76BF2AB3DF902BF" display-inline="yes-display-inline"><text>Such rules—</text><paragraph id="HCC899B0F07AD44B6A3998C05435A8447"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">may not allow a debt collector to send unlimited electronic communications to a consumer;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HF58616B6FA8A4BBD83393DF507C799A1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>shall require debt collectors to obtain consent directly from consumers before contacting them using a method other than by postal mail or by phone;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H84DF7F82D3734E2EAD5A4EB1EE6EFBC0"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">may not waive the requirements of the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/7001">15 U.S.C. 7001</external-xref> et seq.); and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H1EEE33C7AEA64EE8AF935BDF6062C0C3" commented="no"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">shall allow consumers to opt out of any method of communication that the debt collector uses to communicate with consumers, including a method for which such consumer had given prior consent.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section><enum>VI</enum><header>Stop Debt Collection Abuse Act</header><section id="HBBC33D828AE641B0BA9EACEA1526F1EC" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>601.</enum><header>Short title</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">This title may be cited as the <quote><short-title>Stop Debt Collection Abuse Act of 2021</short-title></quote>.</text></section><section id="H27861EFA3037477B96F67F190414EDB3"><enum>602.</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 803 of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/1692a">15 U.S.C. 1692a</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="HD00B3A76D87948148A9F85D950A56D09"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (4), by striking <quote>facilitating collection of such debt for another</quote> and inserting <quote>collection of such debt</quote>;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HFA578012317F45728E0E0ADF66D7441C"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by amending paragraph (5) to read as follows:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0362B02C0A6E4D1ABD965CF1389AC6F1" style="OLC"><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H8F7AA35F9BAC4562AABF7B44C4200221"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>debt</term> means any obligation or alleged obligation of a consumer—</text><subparagraph id="H3E7897C2473E47069BA775B48CE43489"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to pay money arising out of a transaction in which the money, property, insurance or services which are the subject of the transaction are primarily for personal, family, or household purposes, whether or not such obligation has been reduced to judgment;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H7565620FE4A640F7A5A4D87CC2C0166A"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to pay a loan, overpayment, fine, penalty, restitution, fee, or other money currently or originally owed to or guaranteed by a Federal or State government, including any courts or agencies; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H04CDB90573D142E68C253FD586658604" commented="no"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">which is secured by real or personal property that is used or was obtained primarily for personal, family, or household purposes, where such property is subject to forfeiture or repossession upon nonpayment of the obligation or alleged obligation.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="H901A140AC2DC43B0BEE2737B9136F69A" commented="no"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (6)—</text><subparagraph id="H33FDF43DAE6B4FC484BFB32B97F48947" commented="no"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (F) as clauses (i) through (vi), respectively;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HDDA40A4F3E444C4D93BA05762CDDED35" commented="no"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in clause (iii), as so redesignated, by inserting <quote>(not including an independent contractor)</quote> after <quote>any State</quote>;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5AA7B6D9252C48E985801FFC958B97E5" commented="no"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by amending clause (vi), as so redesignated, to read as follows:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="HE04FB13A696F43BFA8D117724F0FF549" display-inline="no-display-inline"><clause id="HAC19429661DB479B90F38532002054B3" indent="up1" commented="no"><enum>(vi)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any person collecting or attempting to collect any debt owed or due or asserted to be owed or due another to the extent such activity—</text><subclause id="HDF48220A286F49E4AA2D171F6E0959E8" commented="no"><enum>(I)</enum><text>is incidental to a bona fide fiduciary obligation or a bona fide escrow arrangement;</text></subclause><subclause id="H395F2D086B4840E88C596A63A6CC8A7F" commented="no"><enum>(II)</enum><text>concerns a debt which was originated by such person;</text></subclause><subclause id="H832D73BBF5CD45E0B64D76C4284D80B7" commented="no"><enum>(III)</enum><text>concerns a debt which was not in default at the time it was obtained by such person; or</text></subclause><subclause id="HBFD79C2CF50D4B7EA5D6FAD8ED18BC30" commented="no"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>concerns a debt obtained by such person as a secured party in a commercial credit transaction involving the creditor.</text></subclause></clause><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H34C12FD2F1ED49CF84ECAE22C90688F4" commented="no"><enum>(D)</enum><text>by striking the first and second sentences and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="H77A0EB8CEDBD4A1E8A91A652022B541C" display-inline="no-display-inline"><paragraph id="H50EE49A7C9A74361A74F00B68D0B2B25" commented="no"><enum>(6)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="HD1DA65DF153246B48F3BE031A0165E58"><enum>(A)</enum><text>The term <term>debt collector</term> means—</text><clause id="H7CDF9DA557C64FEEBF50C50105FE218E" indent="up1" commented="no"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any person who uses any instrumentality of interstate commerce or the mails in any business the principal purpose of which is the collection of any debts;</text></clause><clause id="H9BC8EE99211742118E99406C1BC37E0A" indent="up1" commented="no"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any person who regularly collects or attempts to collect, directly or indirectly, by the person’s own means or by hiring another debt collector, debts owed or due or asserted to be owed or due another or that have been obtained by assignment or transfer from another; </text></clause><clause id="H14E8DB2D982A4CE28A644ACEC4D9AEA4" indent="up1" commented="no"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any person who regularly collects debts currently or originally owed or allegedly owed to a Federal or State agency or court; or</text></clause><clause id="H55E05B4C40454969B46C13BA0F188385" indent="up1" commented="no"><enum>(iv)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">notwithstanding subparagraph (B)(vi), any creditor who in the process of collecting debts of such creditor, uses another name that would indicate that a third person is collecting or attempting to collect such debts.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H05F72FB3DC3D46B880440CEA121FCC8B" commented="no"><enum>(E)</enum><text>in the fourth sentence, by striking <quote>The term does not</quote> and inserting the following: </text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="H033AFEE6E6794F9C974F0BB29ADF5D34" display-inline="no-display-inline"><subparagraph id="H3A4689DB290F401192E32B83D958769D" indent="up1" commented="no"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term does not</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph></section><section id="HCC1353E8246344A7A2F6B27ED125475B"><enum>603.</enum><header>Debt collection practices for debt collectors hired by Federal agencies</header><subsection id="HF114E570AE7A4BDF88BA05FCB695DB02"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/1692">15 U.S.C. 1692</external-xref> et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 812 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/1692j">15 U.S.C. 1692j</external-xref>) the following:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HB8427FB963B24BCBAB9F3AAB2CFA9519" style="USC"><section id="H0A8D70C84749482E87DADEE749E262F7"><enum>812A.</enum><header>Debt collection practices for debt collectors hired by Federal agencies</header><subsection id="HE82658C7873A45909CCE4EDA94B7D64B"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Limitation on time To turn debt over to debt collector</header><text>A Federal agency that is a creditor may sell or transfer a debt described in section 803(5)(B) to a debt collector not earlier than 90 days after the date on which the obligation or alleged obligation becomes delinquent or defaults.</text></subsection><subsection id="H1BFE1397AA1446ADB4E8EEB335C3FC27"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Required notice</header><paragraph id="H88C117E440814A899FE5720CD8194C1E"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Before transferring or selling a debt described in section 803(5)(B) to a debt collector or contracting with a debt collector to collect such a debt, a Federal agency shall notify the consumer not fewer than 3 times that the Federal agency will take such action.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H5F4424497C17448DA9F62CB59F07BB3B"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Frequency of notifications</header><text>The second and third notifications described in paragraph (1) shall be made not less than 30 days after the date on which the previous notification is made.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection id="HC5172D1B330E40BD952969335489D6A3"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Clerical amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The table of contents for the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 812 the following:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0472F4F7192447A2AF1FC5EC23C5BEB0" style="USC"><toc regeneration="no-regeneration"><toc-entry level="section">812A. Debt collection practices for debt collectors hired by Federal agencies.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section><section id="HACA2A06E6D414CB79A6D35F9B7958068"><enum>604.</enum><header>Unfair practices</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 808 of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/1692f">15 U.S.C. 1692f</external-xref>) is amended by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6F681A8D88DE4DBC9886010A8757081E" style="OLC"><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF8F612B777BA4882AFED1EC203C6F9E8"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The collection of any amount (including any interest, fee, charge, or expense incidental to the principal obligation) unless—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HED4872CA10404469AFA086912C83F764"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">such amount is expressly authorized by the agreement creating the debt or permitted by law; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA1152834B7C64341BC5887FA9421517B"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in the case of any amount charged by a debt collector collecting a debt described in section 803(5)(B), such amount is—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE7EB2370E6E24051B22E4BF70EC87736"><enum>(i)</enum><text>reasonable in relation to the actual costs of the collection;</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H76927D84A3484469B2727E018A77ECA7"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>authorized by a contract between the debt collector and the Federal or State government; and</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD488728FA1AE4C8285ADF7074733FF1B"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>not greater than 10 percent of the amount collected by the debt collector.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section><section id="H5AD44A450FCC4C5499D3707DE314F304"><enum>605.</enum><header>GAO study and report</header><subsection id="HDEE6A6FCF5124C2AA19869CA13BA5094"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Study</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Comptroller General of the United States shall commence a study on the use of debt collectors by Federal, State, and local government agencies, including—</text><paragraph id="HCC8CE032E1EE4D3AB414BC040B168459"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the powers given to the debt collectors by Federal, State, and local government agencies;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H6B57D1F032264FC394FE0C12FA253D73"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the contracting process that allows a Federal, State, or local government agency to award debt collection to a certain company, including the selection process;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HDF88BC7CA30C4E41B4FD99F0274F733C"><enum>(3)</enum><text>any fees charged to debtors in addition to principal and interest on the outstanding debt;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H417213E17DE143B0A096320F6E24C21F"><enum>(4)</enum><text>how the fees described in paragraph (3) vary from State to State;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H9C21C2222588467F84736DA5052EE583"><enum>(5)</enum><text>consumer protection at the State level that offer recourse to those whom debts have been wrongfully attributed;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HFDC965A2C2AE40E4B735EFA464DE10DD"><enum>(6)</enum><text>the revenues received by debt collectors from Federal, State, and local government agencies;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H42619206A0124ADD9D8A2CB949F47E00"><enum>(7)</enum><text>the amount of any revenue sharing agreements between debt collectors and Federal, State, and local government agencies;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H64E0C90F69D64696A976D3E573DD0A18"><enum>(8)</enum><text>the difference in debt collection procedures across geographic regions, including the extent to which debt collectors pursue court judgments to collect debts;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H7B990D01BFE746EC963E657F18687D39"><enum>(9)</enum><text>information regarding the amount collected by Federal, State, and local government agencies through debt collectors, including the total amount and the percentage of the amount referred to the debt collectors;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H8E203EE55E2B419F980C0F9198FC4707"><enum>(10)</enum><text>the full cost of outsourcing collection to debt collectors;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HC8A4C59516824BA7880E69B74F0A9509"><enum>(11)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">government agency oversight of debt collectors to ensure that the rights of a consumer (as defined in section 803(3) of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/1692a">15 U.S.C. 1692a(3)</external-xref>)) are protected and that any debt relief and payment options legally available to consumers is effectively communicated and made available;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H21094761E5C2436E9B661D75EED907EB"><enum>(12)</enum><text>the extent to which Federal, State, and local contracts with debt collectors reflect or omit effective measures to encourage debt collectors to align their practices with public policy concerns (including relief for consumers experiencing financial hardship) beyond maximizing debt collection;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HB636A1CA6EDC4444BC390AFA00B54052"><enum>(13)</enum><text>the extent to which debt collectors induce payment through use or threat of adverse government actions, such as arrest warrants or suspension of licenses or vehicle registration; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HA873F947BB6D491CA5AA9408A1A454CA"><enum>(14)</enum><text>demographic data, including race and income information, regarding the individuals subject to private collection of debts owed to government entities.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H3D3AC47D07A644C1B7DB39E1C2446E29"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report on the completed study required under subsection (a).</text></subsection></section><enum>VII</enum><header>Debt Collection Practices Harmonization Act</header><section id="HC7E1B0D0E6164E929CCE929C8586E83B" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>701.</enum><header>Short title</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">This title may be cited as the <quote><short-title>Debt Collection Practices Harmonization Act</short-title></quote>.</text></section><section id="H5511D228DECF4F499A82ADD50ECD9593"><enum>702.</enum><header>Award of damages</header><subsection id="H7E017199F1AC4CA5ABB89537B07B4697"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Additional damages indexed for inflation</header><paragraph id="H9533A966EA2D411F8E425F15BEEF7DF3"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 813 of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/1692k">15 U.S.C. 1692k</external-xref>) is amended—</text><subparagraph id="HB440F8AD8A5B4DDAAFD58A1C2C90A8D4"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subsection (a)(2)—</text><clause id="H6D5ECDF579EA41A782C5295AA2C9B87B"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in subparagraph (A), by striking <quote>; or</quote> and inserting the following: <quote>with respect to any one action taken by a debt collector in violation of this subchapter; or</quote>; and</text></clause><clause id="H634F6200B3EF4E4EAF20B2935A76CF74"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subparagraph (B)(ii), by striking <quote>or 1 per centum of the net worth of the debt collector; and</quote> and inserting the following: <quote>or 5 percent of the gross annual revenue of the debt collector: and</quote>;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9B0AE94C3216442FB3CC5E1A6C13290B" commented="no"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in subsection (b), by inserting <quote>the maximum amount of statutory damages at the time of noncompliance,</quote> before <quote>the frequency</quote> each place it appears; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC109A416482F4BF29532D1118EAE912A"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H65B5DD15F387481CACF4FB589A086ABB" style="OLC"><subsection id="HEF47EC2BFB3B446180986678A8640704"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Adjustment for inflation</header><paragraph id="H98BC5F3CA93B4148A1227614F0F6C798"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Initial adjustment</header><text>Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this subsection, the Bureau shall provide a percentage increase (rounded to the nearest multiple of $100 or $1,000, as applicable) in the amounts set forth in this section equal to the percentage by which—</text><subparagraph id="H637B842005454BFCA98E4B991D70EB1D"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (all items, United States city average) for the 12-month period ending on the June 30 preceding the date on which the percentage increase is provided, exceeds</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H2D74B197D4874B759887E76596E93F91"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the Consumer Price Index for the 12-month period preceding January 1, 1978.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HEA21A5C235514F5EB87DC85F5E03EBA0"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Annual adjustments</header><text>With respect to any fiscal year beginning after the date of the increase provided under paragraph (1), the Bureau shall provide a percentage increase (rounded to the nearest multiple of $100 or $1,000, as applicable) in the amounts set forth in this section equal to the percentage by which—</text><subparagraph id="HF224AB424FFA43FF90E2523995E885DF"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (all items, United States city average) for the 12-month period ending on the June 30 preceding the beginning of the fiscal year for which the increase is made, exceeds</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HBF7D259820A04DAAA218528CD4E7D9C4"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the Consumer Price Index for the 12-month period preceding the 12-month period described in subparagraph (A).</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H950A92BEC55148BDBC6D79A6D5670460"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Applicability</header><text>The increases made under section 813(f) of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, as added by paragraph (1)(C) of this subsection, shall apply with respect to failures to comply with a provision of such Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/1601">15 U.S.C. 1601</external-xref> et seq.) occurring on or after the date of enactment of this section.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HEDC2DE61A07E41338E280576E27E4C52"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Injunctive relief</header><text>Section 813(d) of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/1692k">15 U.S.C. 1692k(d)</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following: <quote>In a civil action alleging a violation of this title, the court may award appropriate relief, including injunctive relief.</quote>.</text></subsection></section><section id="H74002DC77EB54AADB90C6B4DFF8BA0A0"><enum>703.</enum><header>Prohibition on the referral of emergency individual assistance debt</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline"><external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/31/3">Chapter 3</external-xref> of title 31, United States Code, is amended—</text><paragraph id="HA5D54D4C72BD452F922A430611C51DB6"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subchapter II, by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA74E074D457C4973AD420D39B3D78720" style="USC"><section id="HFFE17F39070A4D5E9B4C227DCC259257"><enum>334.</enum><header>Prohibition on the referral of emergency individual assistance debt</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">With respect to any assistance provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to an individual or household pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5122">42 U.S.C. 5122</external-xref> et seq.), if the Secretary of the Treasury seeks to recoup any amount of such assistance because of an overpayment, the Secretary may not contract with any debt collector as defined in section 803(6) of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/1692a">15 U.S.C. 1692a(6)</external-xref>) or other private party to collect such amounts, unless the overpayment occurred because of fraud or deceit and the recipient of such assistance knew or should have known about such fraud or deceit.</text></section><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="H95EFC66AAE91485D8D18D86A466D4587"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in the table of contents for such chapter, by inserting after the item relating to section 333 the following:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H55EDBDA2E196431B804AE2B05A2CDA25" style="USC"><toc regeneration="no-regeneration"><toc-entry level="section">334. Prohibition on the referral of emergency individual assistance debt.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></section><enum>VIII</enum><header>Non-Judicial Foreclosure Debt Collection Clarification Act</header><section id="HFA3FAD6B15344637A2A7CB738BDE8FFB" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>801.</enum><header>Short title</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">This title may be cited as the <quote><short-title>Non-Judicial Foreclosure Debt Collection Clarification Act</short-title></quote>.</text></section><section id="HB60C873F7CB941BC98A736D21CB0E753"><enum>802.</enum><header>Enforcement of security interests</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline"> Section 803(6) of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/1692a">15 U.S.C. 1692a(6)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>For the purpose of section 808(6), such term also includes any person who uses any instrumentality of interstate commerce or the mails in any business the principal purpose of which is the enforcement of security interests.</quote>. </text></section><enum>IX</enum><header>Effective Date</header><section id="H5A9D86901AF2422C9855E24DF6CB852A"><enum>901.</enum><header>Effective date</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall take effect on the date that is 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act.</text></section>