The Alaska Senate has given unanimous approval to a bill that allows parents to request a credit freeze on their child’s behalf. The bill was one of two that passed the Senate during a floor session Wednesday.
The Senate voted 16-0 in favor of Senate bills 121 and 142 with four members absent.
“An area of growing concern is child identity theft,” said Sen. Cathy Giessel, R-Anchorage and a co-sponsor of SB 121. The lead sponsor was Senate President Kevin Meyer, R-Anchorage.
For children who do not yet have a credit report, the legislation allows parents or guardians to create a credit report for the child in order to put a freeze on it.
Sen. Bill Wielechowski, D-Anchorage and a co-sponsor of the bill, said there are “horror stories” of children, who upon turning 18 and applying for a credit card, suddenly find that someone has been using their identity for years to accrue debt.
“I think this is a good piece of legislation, and I’m willing to support it,” Wielechowski said.
Senate Bill 142, which also passed without opposition Wednesday, forbids insurance companies from charging more for intravenous chemotherapy than cancer treatments administered through pills or medicines taken by the patient.
The bill was sponsored by Giessel, who wrote in her sponsor statement, “This bill asks for parity, or fairness, to the consumer, as they choose the treatment option that is right for them.”
On Monday, the Senate passed Senate Bill 72 in a 19-0 vote. That bill, also sponsored by Giessel, allows hospital patients to name a caregiver in charge of the patient’s post-hospital care. The bill requires hospitals to produce written plans for discharging patients and shields them from lawsuits if something goes wrong in the discharge process.
All three bills now head to the House for consideration. Before becoming law, they must garner approval by House committees and a vote of the full House. Gov. Bill Walker would have the final word on signing the bills into law or vetoing them.
• Contact reporter James Brooks at james.k.brooks@juneauempire.com.
