New House bill addresses Social Security numbers

By B.J. Pollock - Fort Bend Herald

March-07-07 Reprinted with permission

TEXAS - A press release issued Wednesday morning from the office of State Rep. Carl Isett, R-Lubbock states he has pre-filed House Bill 59, proposing protecting Social Security numbers and other sensitive information for Texans.

The bill would prohibit a state or local government entity from disclosing a Social Security number and other sensitive information unless authorized to do so by Attorney General Greg Abbott's office.

On Monday, the House of Representatives passed House Bill 2061 to protect county clerks across the state from liability when releasing Social Security numbers, declaring them not confidential.

Isett said the measure was proposed as a temporary fix to the closure of many county clerks' offices in response to Abbott's opinion issued las week, ruling it illegal for county clerks to post on their Web sites Public Records containing sensitive information.

Isett said the bill passed Monday by the House provides immediate protection from prosecution for county clerks, but intensifies the problem of easily accessible personal data such as Social Security numbers, bank account numbers. holdings and medical information.

"House Bill 59 represents three years of work and if adopted, will go long way towards (sic) protecting Social Security numbers and other sensitive, personal information," Isett said in the press release. "The Legislature is beginning to realize that there is a major problem."

Isett said the passing of House Bill 2061 "potentially makes it an even bigger problem," although he voted in favor of the bill as a "quick fix to the courthouse closures."

"But we have to pass something like HB 59 or else we're saying that federal privacy law from 1990 does not matter in Texas, and I think that's unacceptable," he added.

"Isett said state representatives need to work together to pass a bill that protects Texans "and doesn't cause an administrative nightmare at our courthouses."

"It's time to do what we should have been doing for the last 17 years," he said.

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