PERSONAL INFORMATION DISCLOSURE - S.B. 385: COMMITTEE SUMMARY
Senate Bill 385 (as introduced 2-24-99)
Sponsor: Senator Loren Bennett
Committee: Local, Urban and State Affairs
Date Completed: 4-30-99
CONTENT
The bill would create a new act to prohibit a State agency or a local governmental unit from delivering or causing to be delivered an envelope or package that included on its outside personal information about the recipient, or contained on the inside personal information that was visible from the outside of the envelope or package.
"Personal information" would mean personal nonpublic information, excluding a person's name and address, including but not limited to a Social Security number and a driver license number. "Local governmental unit" would mean a school district, intermediate school district, city, village, township, county, authority, or other political subdivision of the State. "State agency" would mean a department, board, commission, office, agency, authority, or other unit of State government in the executive, legislative, or judicial branch.
- Legislative Analyst: L. Arasim
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have an indeterminate impact on the State and local units of government. The bill does not provide an all-inclusive definition of "personal information"; therefore, the scope of the prohibition cannot be determined. Boilerplate language in the General Government appropriation bill, Section 958 of Public Act 310 of 1998, provides that local units of government that receive revenue sharing funds and distribute property tax statements or income tax forms shall not visibly include on the external address Social Security numbers. The Department of State reports that the new digital driver's license is contained in a tri-fold envelope and the license will not show. However, the Department also mails numerous documents that could have visible information that could come within the open definition of "personal information" under the bill. These include registrations, titles, and other documents. Local governments that mail utility bills (water, sewer, etc.) could be affected if they send bills in the form of open cards.
Provisions of this bill may contain a mandated cost on units of local government pursuant to Section 29 of Article IX of the State Constitution of 1963.
- Fiscal Analyst: B. BowermanS9900\s385sa
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.