Test Drive Our New Site! We have some improvements in the works that we're excited for you to experience. Click here to try our new, faster, mobile friendly beta site. We will be maintaining our current version of the site thru mid 2025, so you can switch back as our improvements continue.
Legislation Quick Search
11/11/2024 10:24 AM
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20170&cosponId=23535
Share:
Home / House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

Subscribe to PaLegis Notifications
NEW!

Subscribe to receive notifications of new Co-Sponsorship Memos circulated

By Member | By Date | Keyword Search


House of Representatives
Session of 2017 - 2018 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: April 7, 2017 09:11 AM
From: Representative David S. Hickernell
To: All House members
Subject: Legislation to Require Redaction of Social Security Numbers before Release of Public Record (Former HB 381 - 2015-2016 Legislative Session)
 
As you likely know, under Pennsylvania’s Right-to-Know law, Social Security numbers are exempt from public access. However, while the law provides that agencies are permitted to redact Social Security numbers when they appear on an otherwise accessible record, agencies are not required under the law to redact Social Security numbers.

While one could argue in light of the well-known risks of identity theft that common sense would prevail when it comes to redacting Social Security numbers. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. I recently discovered that several mortgage documents containing my Social Security number were on file at the county courthouse and posted online for all to see. After some research, I found that this is a common practice and that the numbers will only be removed upon request.

I intend to re-introduce legislation that would amend the Right-to-Know law to require that agencies must redact Social Security numbers from otherwise accessible records before they are released or posted on the Internet. This legislation will also require all agencies to redact any Social Security numbers from records already placed online by the agency within six months.

Previous Cosponsors: HICKERNELL, METCALFE, BAKER, BENNINGHOFF, BOBACK, V. BROWN, CALTAGIRONE, CARROLL, D. COSTA, CUTLER, M. DALEY, DEASY, DONATUCCI, FEE, GABLER, GILLEN, GOODMAN, GREINER, HARKINS, A. HARRIS, JAMES, KAUFFMAN, LAWRENCE, MATZIE, McCARTER, MENTZER, MILLARD, MURT, PICKETT, RAPP, READSHAW, SAMUELSON, SAYLOR, SCHLOSSBERG, SCHWEYER, THOMAS, WATSON, ZIMMERMAN and HAHN




Introduced as HB1277


Memo Updated: April 7, 2017 09:12 AM