WILLIAMS SUPPORTS ADDED CONSUMER PROTECTION

 HARRISBURG, NOV. 17 – Legislation that would prohibit the posting of an individual’s Social Security number on documents that could be viewed publicly was advanced Tuesday, according to state Sen. Connie Williams, a bill co-sponsor.

 “Identity theft can happen to anyone,” Williams said. “For the past several years, consumers have been warned to properly destroy documents that contain their address or personal information. This legislation would add a new layer of protection by ensuring that organizations, businesses, agencies or individuals that routinely include Social Security numbers on documents no longer do so.”

The bill (S.B. 703) would prohibit doing any of the following:

·        Publicly posting or displaying in any manner an individual’s Social Security number.

·        In any way printing a person’s Social Security number on a document so that person can use or access a product or service.

·        Requiring a person to transmit his or her Social Security number over the Internet unless that connection is secure or the message is encrypted.

·        Requiring a person to use his or her Social Security number to access the World Wide Web.

·        Printing a person’s Social Security number on any material that is mailed to the individual unless required by federal or state law. This would not apply to forms and applications that are mailed.

·        Requiring an individual to use his or her Social Security number to access products or services.

 The legislation was voted out of the Senate Communications and Technology Committee today. Williams is Democratic chair of the committee.