SELLER CAN’T REQUIRE PURCHASER TO DISCLOSE SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER AS CONDITION OF SALE

Senate Bill 657 as passed by the Senate

Sponsor:  Sen. Cameron S. Brown

Senate Committee:  Judiciary

House Committee:  Criminal Justice

Complete to 9-13-04

A SUMMARY OF SENATE BILL 657 AS PASSED BY THE SENATE

The bill would amend the Michigan Consumer Protection Act to make it unlawful to require a consumer to disclose his or her Social Security number as a condition of sale, unless the transaction involved an extension of credit or related to the administration of an employer-provided health-related benefit, or disclosure was required or authorized by law. The bill would take effect on March 31, 2004.

The act provides that unfair, unconscionable, or deceptive methods, acts, or practices in the conduct of trade or commerce are unlawful, and includes a list of such practices. The bill would include in that list requiring a consumer to disclose his or her Social Security number as a condition of selling goods or providing a service to the consumer, unless the transaction included an extension of credit to the consumer or disclosure was required or authorized by applicable state or federal statute, rule, or regulation.

MCL 445.903

FISCAL IMPACT:

Senate Bill 657 would have an indeterminate fiscal impact on state and local units of government.  It is not known what costs for enforcement would be, and the amount of revenue generated from penalty fines would depend on the number of violations.

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   Susan Stutzky

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   Robin Risko

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.