42 U.S.C. § 669a — Nonliability for financial institutions providing financial records to State child support enforcement agencies in child support cases

(a) Despite any Federal or State law, a financial institution is not liable to anyone for disclosing an individual’s financial record to a State child-support enforcement agency trying to establish, change, or enforce that individual’s child-support obligation, or to the Federal Parent Locator Service under section 666(a)(17)(A). (b) A State child-support enforcement agency that receives such a record may disclose it only to the extent and for the purpose needed to establish, change, or enforce that individual’s child-support obligation. (c)(1) If a person knowingly or negligently discloses the record in violation of subsection (b), the individual may sue that person for damages in a United States district court. (2) There is no liability for a disclosure caused by a good-faith but mistaken interpretation of subsection (b). (3) If the defendant is liable, the defendant must pay the greater of $1,000 for each liable unauthorized disclosure, or the plaintiff’s actual damages plus punitive damages if the disclosure was willful or caused by gross negligence. The defendant must also pay the action’s costs, including attorney fees. (d)(1) “Financial institution” means a depository institution defined in 12 U.S.C. 1813(c); an institution-affiliated party defined in 12 U.S.C. 1813(u); a Federal or State credit union defined in 12 U.S.C. 1752, including its institution-affiliated party defined in 12 U.S.C. 1786(r); or a benefit association, insurance company, safe-deposit company, money-market mutual fund, or similar entity authorized to do business in the State. (2) “Financial record” has the meaning given in 12 U.S.C. 3401.