1. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), a consumer reporting agency shall place a security freeze on a protected consumer's consumer file if:

   1. (1) the consumer reporting agency receives a request from the protected consumer's representative for the placement of the security freeze as provided by this section; and

   2. (2) the protected consumer's representative:

      1. (A) submits the request to the consumer reporting agency at the address or other point of contact of and in the manner specified by the consumer reporting agency;
      2. (B) provides to the consumer reporting agency sufficient proof of identification of the protected consumer and the representative;
      3. (C) provides to the consumer reporting agency sufficient proof of authority to act on behalf of the protected consumer; and
      4. (D) pays to the consumer reporting agency a fee as provided by Section 20.29.
2. (b) If a consumer reporting agency does not have a consumer file pertaining to a protected consumer when the consumer reporting agency receives a request under Subsection (a) and if the requirements of Subsection (a) are met, the consumer reporting agency shall create a record for the protected consumer and place a security freeze on the protected consumer's record.
3. (c) The consumer reporting agency shall place the security freeze on the protected consumer's consumer file or record, as applicable, not later than the 30th day after receiving a request that meets the requirements of Subsection (a).

Added by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 64 (S.B. 60), Sec. 1, eff. January 1, 2014.