This bill aims to provide legal relief for individuals who have incurred coerced debt, which is defined as debt resulting from the unauthorized use of personal information, threats, or economic abuse. It prohibits any person from causing another to incur such debt and allows aggrieved individuals to seek relief in court. If a court finds a perpetrator of coerced debt, it is required to issue an order that absolves the aggrieved person of liability for the debt, prohibits creditors and collection agencies from pursuing the aggrieved person for payment, and ensures that credit reporting agencies do not factor the coerced debt into the aggrieved person's credit score. Additionally, the court can assign liability for the debt to the perpetrator and require them to reimburse the aggrieved person for any financial losses incurred.
The bill also mandates that aggrieved individuals notify relevant reporting agencies and creditors about the court order, which must be acted upon within ten days to remove any references to the coerced debt. Violations of the bill's provisions by creditors or reporting agencies can result in civil liability for actual damages and reasonable attorney's fees. However, the bill clarifies that it does not prevent creditors from pursuing debts from the perpetrators of coerced debt. Overall, this legislation seeks to protect victims of economic abuse and ensure they are not held responsible for debts incurred under coercive circumstances.