Senate Bill sb1588

    Florida Senate - 2002                                  SB 1588

    By Senator Burt





    16-1003-02

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to public records; providing

  3         that the social security number of an agency

  4         officer or employee is exempt from the

  5         provisions of s. 24(a), Art. I of the State

  6         Constitution and s. 119.07, F.S.; providing a

  7         statement of public necessity; providing for

  8         future review and repeal; providing an

  9         effective date.

10

11  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

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13         Section 1.  Social security numbers held by an agency

14  are exempt from the requirements of section 119.07(1), Florida

15  Statutes, and Section 24 of Article I of the State

16  Constitution. This section applies to social security numbers

17  held by an agency before, on, or after the effective date of

18  this exemption. This section is subject to the Open Government

19  Sunset Review Act of 1995, in accordance with section 119.15,

20  Florida Statutes, and shall stand repealed on October 2, 2007,

21  unless reviewed and saved from repeal through reenactment by

22  the Legislature.

23         Section 2.  The Legislature finds that the exemption

24  from public-records requirements provided by this act is a

25  public necessity because a social security number can be used

26  in identity theft. A social security number is a personal

27  identification number that is required for tax purposes,

28  social security benefits, and other personal purposes. This

29  number is contained in many agency employment records, some of

30  which are available on-line. Social security numbers of other

31  individuals also are obtained by an agency in the performance

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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 2002                                  SB 1588
    16-1003-02




  1  of its official duties, and are available in many records, as

  2  well. As a result, social security numbers are readily

  3  available to the public to inspect or copy. Because a social

  4  security number is a fundamental means of identification and

  5  obtaining a person's social security number is a primary means

  6  of stealing that person's identity, the availability of social

  7  security numbers in public records places an agency officer or

  8  employee, as well as the public, at risk. Further, the

  9  Legislature finds that there are numerous provisions in the

10  statutes that create exemptions for social security numbers

11  obtained from some individuals and not others, and for social

12  security numbers obtained for some purposes and not others.

13  The Legislature finds that the social security numbers of all

14  individuals which are in the possession of an agency for all

15  purposes should be protected. Therefore, the Legislature finds

16  that the social security number of an agency officer or

17  employee, and the social security number of other individuals

18  which are obtained by an agency in the performance of its

19  official duties, must be kept confidential.

20         Section 3.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2002.

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23                          SENATE SUMMARY

24    Provides an exemption from public-records requirements
      for social security numbers held by an agency. Provides
25    for future review and repeal.

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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.