(815 ILCS 122/2-17)

Sec. 2-17. Consumer reporting services qualification and bonding.

(a) Each consumer reporting service shall have at all times a net worth of not less than $1,000,000 calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

(b) Each application for certification under this Act shall be accompanied by a surety bond acceptable to the Department in the amount of $1,000,000. The surety bond shall be in a form satisfactory to the Department and shall run to the State of Illinois for the benefit of any claimants against the consumer reporting service to secure the faithful performance of its obligations under this Act. The aggregate liability of the surety may exceed the principal sum of the bond. Claimants against the consumer reporting service may themselves bring suit directly on the surety bond or the Department may bring suit on behalf of claimants, either in one action or in successive actions.

(c) The surety bond shall remain in effect until cancellation, which may occur only after 90 days' written notice to the Department. Cancellation shall not affect any liability incurred or accrued during that period.

(d) The surety bond shall remain in place for 5 years after the consumer reporting service ceases operation in the State.

(e) The surety bond proceeds and any cash or other collateral posted as security by a consumer reporting service shall be deemed by operation of law to be held in trust for any claimants under this Act in the event of the bankruptcy of the consumer reporting service.

(f) To the extent that any indemnity or fine exceeds the amount of the surety bond described under this Section, the consumer reporting service shall be liable for that amount.

(g) Each application for certification under this Act shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable investigation fee of $2,500, together with an initial certification fee of $1,000.

(h) On or before March 1 of each year, each consumer reporting service qualified under this Section shall pay to the Department a certification fee in the amount of $1,000.

(i) Each consumer reporting service shall maintain at all times an ID Theft Red Flag Program that meets the standards established by the Federal Trade Commission's Red Flags Rule, promulgated under the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003.

(Source: P.A. 96-936, eff. 3-21-11.)