; additional protections for credit reports of minor consumers (1) Definition In this subsection, the term freeze alert means a restriction placed on the file of a consumer, prohibiting the ability of a consumer reporting agency to furnish to any person, for the purpose of opening a new account involving the extension of credit, the consumer report of the consumer. (2) Free annual freeze alert (A) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of State law, once every calendar year, free of charge, upon the direct request of a consumer, or an individual acting on behalf of or as a personal representative of the consumer, a consumer reporting agency that maintains a file on the consumer and has received appropriate proof of the identity of the requester shall provide 1 freeze alert in the file of that consumer that shall remain in effect until the consumer or requester requests that such freeze alert be removed. (B) Removal of alert Notwithstanding any other provision of State law, once every calendar year, free of charge, upon the direct request of a consumer, or an individual acting on behalf of or as a personal representative of the consumer, a consumer reporting agency that receives a request to remove a freeze alert provided under paragraph (1) shall remove such a freeze alert. (C) Rule of construction Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to limit the authority of a State to require consumer reporting agencies to require freeze alerts free of charge. (3) Additional protections for credit reports of minor consumers (A) In general Upon the direct request of an individual acting on behalf of or as a personal representative of a minor, a consumer reporting agency that maintains a file on the minor and has received appropriate proof of the identity of the requester shall include a freeze alert, free of charge, in the file of that minor that shall remain in effect until an individual acting on behalf of or as a personal representative of the minor, or in the case of a minor who is no longer a minor, the