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The following was submitted by the Office of Sen. Jason Lewis:
State Sen. Jason Lewis joined his colleagues in the Massachusetts Senate to unanimously pass legislation to protect consumers and keep people from being pushed into financial ruin if they are sued for financial debt.
The new law would make debt collection practices fairer, protect wages, and make clear that no person can go to prison for their unpaid consumer debt.
The Debt Collection Fairness Act would strengthen consumer protections to ensure that individuals can retain some financial security when they are sued for debts that are frequently old and often purchased by debt collection companies for pennies on the dollar.
“Exploitative debt collection practices have been used for too long to harm low- and middle-income families,” said Lewis. “The Debt Collection Fairness Act creates much-needed safeguards to protect people from exorbitant charges by debt collection companies and open paths to recovery for those in financial distress.”
The legislation would protect thousands of families across Massachusetts by reducing the interest rate on consumer debt, exempting most wages and child support from garnishment, and establishing a five-year statute of limitations for legal claims.
The bill also prohibits employers from penalizing employees due to wage garnishment or personal debt, and adds further protections for individuals coping with financial hardship.
The bill now moves to the House of Representatives for further consideration.
