S 141 ISCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend title 18, United States Code, to limit the misuse of Social Security numbers, to establish criminal penalties for such misuse, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

January 6, 2009CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself, Mr. GREGG, and Ms. SNOWE) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the JudiciaryCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend title 18, United States Code, to limit the misuse of Social Security numbers, to establish criminal penalties for such misuse, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

(a) Short Title- This Act may be cited as the ‘Protecting the Privacy of Social Security Numbers Act’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Table of Contents- The table of contents of this Act is as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 2. Findings.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 3. Prohibition of the display, sale, or purchase of Social Security numbers.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 4. Application of prohibition of the display, sale, or purchase of Social Security numbers to public records.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 5. Rulemaking authority of the Attorney General.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 6. Treatment of Social Security numbers on government documents.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 7. Limits on personal disclosure of a Social Security number for consumer transactions.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 8. Extension of civil monetary penalties for misuse of a Social Security number.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 9. Criminal penalties for the misuse of a Social Security number.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 10. Civil actions and civil penalties.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 11. Federal injunctive authority.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress makes the following findings:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) The inappropriate display, sale, or purchase of Social Security numbers has contributed to a growing range of illegal activities, including fraud, identity theft, and, in some cases, stalking and other violent crimes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) While financial institutions, health care providers, and other entities have often used Social Security numbers to confirm the identity of an individual, the general display to the public, sale, or purchase of these numbers has been used to commit crimes, and also can result in serious invasions of individual privacy.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) The Federal Government requires virtually every individual in the United States to obtain and maintain a Social Security number in order to pay taxes, to qualify for Social Security benefits, or to seek employment. An unintended consequence of these requirements is that Social Security numbers have become one of the tools that can be used to facilitate crime, fraud, and invasions of the privacy of the individuals to whom the numbers are assigned. Because the Federal Government created and maintains this system, and because the Federal Government does not permit individuals to exempt themselves from those requirements, it is appropriate for the Federal Government to take steps to stem the abuse of Social Security numbers.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) The display, sale, or purchase of Social Security numbers in no way facilitates uninhibited, robust, and wide-open public debate, and restrictions on such display, sale, or purchase would not affect public debate.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) No one should seek to profit from the display, sale, or purchase of Social Security numbers in circumstances that create a substantial risk of physical, emotional, or financial harm to the individuals to whom those numbers are assigned.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) Consequently, this Act provides each individual that has been assigned a Social Security number some degree of protection from the display, sale, and purchase of that number in any circumstance that might facilitate unlawful conduct.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 3. PROHIBITION OF THE DISPLAY, SALE, OR PURCHASE OF SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS.

(a) Prohibition-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- Chapter 47 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1028A the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘Sec. 1028B. Prohibition of the display, sale, or purchase of Social Security numbers

‘(a) Definitions- In this section:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) DISPLAY- The term ‘display’ means to intentionally communicate or otherwise make available (on the Internet or in any other manner) to the general public an individual’s Social Security number.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) PERSON- The term ‘person’ means any individual, partnership, corporation, trust, estate, cooperative, association, or any other entity.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) PURCHASE- The term ‘purchase’ means providing directly or indirectly, anything of value in exchange for a Social Security number.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(4) SALE- The term ‘sale’ means obtaining, directly or indirectly, anything of value in exchange for a Social Security number.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(5) STATE- The term ‘State’ means any State of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and any territory or possession of the United States.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(b) Limitation on Display- Except as provided in section 1028C, no person may display any individual’s Social Security number to the general public without the affirmatively expressed consent of the individual.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(c) Limitation on Sale or Purchase- Except as otherwise provided in this section, no person may sell or purchase any individual’s Social Security number without the affirmatively expressed consent of the individual.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(d) Prerequisites for Consent- In order for consent to exist under subsection (b) or (c), the person displaying or seeking to display, selling or attempting to sell, or purchasing or attempting to purchase, an individual’s Social Security number shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) inform the individual of the general purpose for which the number will be used, the types of persons to whom the number may be available, and the scope of transactions permitted by the consent; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) obtain the affirmatively expressed consent (electronically or in writing) of the individual.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(e) Exceptions- Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit or limit the display, sale, or purchase of a Social Security number--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) required, authorized, or excepted under any Federal law;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) for a public health purpose, including the protection of the health or safety of an individual in an emergency situation;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) for a national security purpose;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(4) for a law enforcement purpose, including the investigation of fraud and the enforcement of a child support obligation;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(5) if the display, sale, or purchase of the number is for a use occurring as a result of an interaction between businesses, governments, or business and government (regardless of which entity initiates the interaction), including, but not limited to--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) the prevention of fraud (including fraud in protecting an employee’s right to employment benefits);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) the facilitation of credit checks or the facilitation of background checks of employees, prospective employees, or volunteers;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) the retrieval of other information from other businesses, commercial enterprises, government entities, or private nonprofit organizations; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(D) when the transmission of the number is incidental to, and in the course of, the sale, lease, franchising, or merger of all, or a portion of, a business;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(6) if the transfer of such a number is part of a data matching program involving a Federal, State, or local agency; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(7) if such number is required to be submitted as part of the process for applying for any type of Federal, State, or local government benefit or program;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





except that, nothing in this subsection shall be construed as permitting a professional or commercial user to display or sell a Social Security number to the general public.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(f) Limitation- Nothing in this section shall prohibit or limit the display, sale, or purchase of Social Security numbers as permitted under title V of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, or for the purpose of affiliate sharing as permitted under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, except that no entity regulated under such Acts may make Social Security numbers available to the general public, as may be determined by the appropriate regulators under such Acts. For purposes of this subsection, the general public shall not include affiliates or unaffiliated third-party business entities as may be defined by the appropriate regulators.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENT- The chapter analysis for chapter 47 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1028 the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘1028B. Prohibition of the display, sale, or purchase of Social Security numbers.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Study; Report-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- The Attorney General shall conduct a study and prepare a report on all of the uses of Social Security numbers permitted, required, authorized, or excepted under any Federal law. The report shall include a detailed description of the uses allowed as of the date of enactment of this Act, the impact of such uses on privacy and data security, and shall evaluate whether such uses should be continued or discontinued by appropriate legislative action.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) REPORT- Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Attorney General shall report to Congress findings under this subsection. The report shall include such recommendations for legislation based on criteria the Attorney General determines to be appropriate.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Effective Date- The amendments made by this section shall take effect on the date that is 30 days after the date on which the final regulations promulgated under section 5 are published in the Federal Register.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 4. APPLICATION OF PROHIBITION OF THE DISPLAY, SALE, OR PURCHASE OF SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS TO PUBLIC RECORDS.

(a) Public Records Exception-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- Chapter 47 of title 18, United States Code (as amended by section 3(a)(1)), is amended by inserting after section 1028B the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘Sec. 1028C. Display, sale, or purchase of public records containing Social Security numbers

‘(a) Definition- In this section, the term ‘public record’ means any governmental record that is made available to the general public.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(b) In General- Except as provided in subsections (c), (d), and (e), section 1028B shall not apply to a public record.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(c) Public Records on the Internet or in an Electronic Medium-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) IN GENERAL- Section 1028B shall apply to any public record first posted onto the Internet or provided in an electronic medium by, or on behalf of a government entity after the date of enactment of this section, except as limited by the Attorney General in accordance with paragraph (2).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) EXCEPTION FOR GOVERNMENT ENTITIES ALREADY PLACING PUBLIC RECORDS ON THE INTERNET OR IN ELECTRONIC FORM- Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Attorney General shall issue regulations regarding the applicability of section 1028B to any record of a category of public records first posted onto the Internet or provided in an electronic medium by, or on behalf of a government entity prior to the date of enactment of this section. The regulations will determine which individual records within categories of records of these government entities, if any, may continue to be posted on the Internet or in electronic form after the effective date of this section. In promulgating these regulations, the Attorney General may include in the regulations a set of procedures for implementing the regulations and shall consider the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) The cost and availability of technology available to a governmental entity to redact Social Security numbers from public records first provided in electronic form after the effective date of this section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) The cost or burden to the general public, businesses, commercial enterprises, non-profit organizations, and to Federal, State, and local governments of complying with section 1028B with respect to such records.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) The benefit to the general public, businesses, commercial enterprises, non-profit organizations, and to Federal, State, and local governments if the Attorney General were to determine that section 1028B should apply to such records.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Nothing in the regulation shall permit a public entity to post a category of public records on the Internet or in electronic form after the effective date of this section if such category had not been placed on the Internet or in electronic form prior to such effective date.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(d) Harvested Social Security Numbers- Section 1028B shall apply to any public record of a government entity which contains Social Security numbers extracted from other public records for the purpose of displaying or selling such numbers to the general public.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(e) Attorney General Rulemaking on Paper Records-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) IN GENERAL- Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Attorney General shall determine the feasibility and advisability of applying section 1028B to the records listed in paragraph (2) when they appear on paper or on another nonelectronic medium. If the Attorney General deems it appropriate, the Attorney General may issue regulations applying section 1028B to such records.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) LIST OF PAPER AND OTHER NONELECTRONIC RECORDS- The records listed in this paragraph are as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) Professional or occupational licenses.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) Marriage licenses.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) Birth certificates.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(D) Death certificates.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(E) Other short public documents that display a Social Security number in a routine and consistent manner on the face of the document.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) CRITERIA FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL REVIEW- In determining whether section 1028B should apply to the records listed in paragraph (2), the Attorney General shall consider the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) The cost or burden to the general public, businesses, commercial enterprises, non-profit organizations, and to Federal, State, and local governments of complying with section 1028B.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) The benefit to the general public, businesses, commercial enterprises, non-profit organizations, and to Federal, State, and local governments if the Attorney General were to determine that section 1028B should apply to such records.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENT- The chapter analysis for chapter 47 of title 18, United States Code (as amended by section 3(a)(2)), is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1028B the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘1028C. Display, sale, or purchase of public records containing Social Security numbers.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Study and Report on Social Security Numbers in Public Records-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) STUDY- The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study and prepare a report on Social Security numbers in public records. In developing the report, the Comptroller General shall consult with the Administrative Office of the United States Courts, State and local governments that store, maintain, or disseminate public records, and other stakeholders, including members of the private sector who routinely use public records that contain Social Security numbers.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) REPORT- Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report on the study conducted under paragraph (1). The report shall include a detailed description of the activities and results of the study and recommendations for such legislative action as the Comptroller General considers appropriate. The report, at a minimum, shall include--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) a review of the uses of Social Security numbers in non-federal public records;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) a review of the manner in which public records are stored (with separate reviews for both paper records and electronic records);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) a review of the advantages or utility of public records that contain Social Security numbers, including the utility for law enforcement, and for the promotion of homeland security;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) a review of the disadvantages or drawbacks of public records that contain Social Security numbers, including criminal activity, compromised personal privacy, or threats to homeland security;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(E) the costs and benefits for State and local governments of removing Social Security numbers from public records, including a review of current technologies and procedures for removing Social Security numbers from public records; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(F) an assessment of the benefits and costs to businesses, their customers, and the general public of prohibiting the display of Social Security numbers on public records (with separate assessments for both paper records and electronic records).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Effective Date- The prohibition with respect to electronic versions of new classes of public records under section 1028C(b) of title 18, United States Code (as added by subsection (a)(1)) shall not take effect until the date that is 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 5. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

(a) In General- Except as provided in subsection (b), the Attorney General may prescribe such rules and regulations as the Attorney General deems necessary to carry out the provisions of section 1028B(e)(5) of title 18, United States Code (as added by section 3(a)(1)).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Display, Sale, or Purchase Rulemaking With Respect to Interactions Between Businesses, Governments, or Business and Government-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Attorney General, in consultation with the Commissioner of Social Security, the Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission, and such other heads of Federal agencies as the Attorney General determines appropriate, shall conduct such rulemaking procedures in accordance with subchapter II of chapter 5 of title 5, United States Code, as are necessary to promulgate regulations to implement and clarify the uses occurring as a result of an interaction between businesses, governments, or business and government (regardless of which entity initiates the interaction) permitted under section 1028B(e)(5) of title 18, United States Code (as added by section 3(a)(1)).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) FACTORS TO BE CONSIDERED- In promulgating the regulations required under paragraph (1), the Attorney General shall, at a minimum, consider the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) The benefit to a particular business, to customers of the business, and to the general public of the display, sale, or purchase of an individual’s Social Security number.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) The costs that businesses, customers of businesses, and the general public may incur as a result of prohibitions on the display, sale, or purchase of Social Security numbers.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) The risk that a particular business practice will promote the use of a Social Security number to commit fraud, deception, or crime.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) The presence of adequate safeguards, procedures, and technologies to prevent--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) misuse of Social Security numbers by employees within a business; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) misappropriation of Social Security numbers by the general public, while permitting internal business uses of such numbers.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(E) The presence of procedures to prevent identity thieves, stalkers, and other individuals with ill intent from posing as legitimate businesses to obtain Social Security numbers.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(F) The impact of such uses on privacy.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 6. TREATMENT OF SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS ON GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS.

(a) Prohibition of Use of Social Security Account Numbers on Checks Issued for Payment by Governmental Agencies-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- Section 205(c)(2)(C) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 405(c)(2)(C)) is amended by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(x) No Federal, State, or local agency may display the Social Security account number of any individual, or any derivative of such number, on any check issued for any payment by the Federal, State, or local agency.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) EFFECTIVE DATE- The amendment made by this subsection shall apply with respect to violations of section 205(c)(2)(C)(x) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 405(c)(2)(C)(x)), as added by paragraph (1), occurring after the date that is 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Prohibition of Inmate Access to Social Security Account Numbers-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- Section 205(c)(2)(C) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 405(c)(2)(C)) (as amended by subsection (b)) is amended by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(xi) No Federal, State, or local agency may employ, or enter into a contract for the use or employment of, prisoners in any capacity that would allow such prisoners access to the Social Security account numbers of other individuals. For purposes of this clause, the term ‘prisoner’ means an individual confined in a jail, prison, or other penal institution or correctional facility pursuant to such individual’s conviction of a criminal offense.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) EFFECTIVE DATE- The amendment made by this subsection shall apply with respect to employment of prisoners, or entry into contract with prisoners, after the date that is 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 7. LIMITS ON PERSONAL DISCLOSURE OF A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER FOR CONSUMER TRANSACTIONS.

(a) In General- Part A of title XI of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1301 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘SEC. 1150A. LIMITS ON PERSONAL DISCLOSURE OF A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER FOR CONSUMER TRANSACTIONS.

‘(a) In General- A commercial entity may not require an individual to provide the individual’s Social Security number when purchasing a commercial good or service or deny an individual the good or service for refusing to provide that number except--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) for any purpose relating to--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) obtaining a consumer report for any purpose permitted under the Fair Credit Reporting Act;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) a background check of the individual conducted by a landlord, lessor, employer, voluntary service agency, or other entity as determined by the Attorney General;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) law enforcement; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(D) a Federal, State, or local law requirement; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) if the Social Security number is necessary to verify the identity of the consumer to effect, administer, or enforce the specific transaction requested or authorized by the consumer, or to prevent fraud.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(b) Application of Civil Money Penalties- A violation of this section shall be deemed to be a violation of section 1129(a)(3)(F).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(c) Application of Criminal Penalties- A violation of this section shall be deemed to be a violation of section 208(a)(8).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(d) Limitation on Class Actions- No class action alleging a violation of this section shall be maintained under this section by an individual or any private party in Federal or State court.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(e) State Attorney General Enforcement-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) IN GENERAL-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) CIVIL ACTIONS- In any case in which the attorney general of a State has reason to believe that an interest of the residents of that State has been or is threatened or adversely affected by the engagement of any person in a practice that is prohibited under this section, the State, as parens patriae, may bring a civil action on behalf of the residents of the State in a district court of the United States of appropriate jurisdiction to--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) enjoin that practice;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) enforce compliance with such section;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(iii) obtain damages, restitution, or other compensation on behalf of residents of the State; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(iv) obtain such other relief as the court may consider appropriate.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) NOTICE-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) IN GENERAL- Before filing an action under subparagraph (A), the attorney general of the State involved shall provide to the Attorney General--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(I) written notice of the action; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(II) a copy of the complaint for the action.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) EXEMPTION-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(I) IN GENERAL- Clause (i) shall not apply with respect to the filing of an action by an attorney general of a State under this subsection, if the State attorney general determines that it is not feasible to provide the notice described in such subparagraph before the filing of the action.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(II) NOTIFICATION- With respect to an action described in subclause (I), the attorney general of a State shall provide notice and a copy of the complaint to the Attorney General at the same time as the State attorney general files the action.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) INTERVENTION-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) IN GENERAL- On receiving notice under paragraph (1)(B), the Attorney General shall have the right to intervene in the action that is the subject of the notice.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) EFFECT OF INTERVENTION- If the Attorney General intervenes in the action under paragraph (1), the Attorney General shall have the right to be heard with respect to any matter that arises in that action.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) CONSTRUCTION- For purposes of bringing any civil action under paragraph (1), nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent an attorney general of a State from exercising the powers conferred on such attorney general by the laws of that State to--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) conduct investigations;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) administer oaths or affirmations; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) compel the attendance of witnesses or the production of documentary and other evidence.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(4) ACTIONS BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES- In any case in which an action is instituted by or on behalf of the Attorney General for violation of a practice that is prohibited under this section, no State may, during the pendency of that action, institute an action under paragraph (1) against any defendant named in the complaint in that action for violation of that practice.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(5) VENUE; SERVICE OF PROCESS-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) VENUE- Any action brought under paragraph (1) may be brought in the district court of the United States that meets applicable requirements relating to venue under section 1391 of title 28, United States Code.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) SERVICE OF PROCESS- In an action brought under paragraph (1), process may be served in any district in which the defendant--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) is an inhabitant; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) may be found.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(f) Sunset- This section shall not apply on or after the date that is 6 years after the effective date of this section.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Evaluation and Report- Not later than the date that is 6 years and 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Attorney General, in consultation with the chairman of the Federal Trade Commission, shall issue a report evaluating the effectiveness and efficiency of section 1150A of the Social Security Act (as added by subsection (a)) and shall make recommendations to Congress as to any legislative action determined to be necessary or advisable with respect to such section, including a recommendation regarding whether to reauthorize such section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Effective Date- The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply to requests to provide a Social Security number occurring after the date that is 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 8. EXTENSION OF CIVIL MONETARY PENALTIES FOR MISUSE OF A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER.

(a) Treatment of Withholding of Material Facts-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) CIVIL PENALTIES- The first sentence of section 1129(a)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320a-8(a)(1)) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) by striking ‘who’ and inserting ‘who--’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) by striking ‘makes’ and all that follows through ‘shall be subject to’ and inserting the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) makes, or causes to be made, a statement or representation of a material fact, for use in determining any initial or continuing right to or the amount of monthly insurance benefits under title II or benefits or payments under title VIII or XVI, that the person knows or should know is false or misleading;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) makes such a statement or representation for such use with knowing disregard for the truth; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) omits from a statement or representation for such use, or otherwise withholds disclosure of, a fact which the individual knows or should know is material to the determination of any initial or continuing right to or the amount of monthly insurance benefits under title II or benefits or payments under title VIII or XVI and the individual knows, or should know, that the statement or representation with such omission is false or misleading or that the withholding of such disclosure is misleading, shall be subject to’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) by inserting ‘or each receipt of such benefits while withholding disclosure of such fact’ after ‘each such statement or representation’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) by inserting ‘or because of such withholding of disclosure of a material fact’ after ‘because of such statement or representation’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(E) by inserting ‘or such a withholding of disclosure’ after ‘such a statement or representation’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE FOR IMPOSING PENALTIES- The first sentence of section 1129A(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320a-8a(a)) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) by striking ‘who’ and inserting ‘who--’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) by striking ‘makes’ and all that follows through ‘shall be subject to’ and inserting the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) makes, or causes to be made, a statement or representation of a material fact, for use in determining any initial or continuing right to or the amount of monthly insurance benefits under title II or benefits or payments under title VIII or XVI, that the person knows or should know is false or misleading;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) makes such a statement or representation for such use with knowing disregard for the truth; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) omits from a statement or representation for such use, or otherwise withholds disclosure of, a fact which the individual knows or should know is material to the determination of any initial or continuing right to or the amount of monthly insurance benefits under title II or benefits or payments under title VIII or XVI and the individual knows, or should know, that the statement or representation with such omission is false or misleading or that the withholding of such disclosure is misleading, shall be subject to’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Application of Civil Money Penalties to Elements of Criminal Violations- Section 1129(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320a-8(a)), as amended by subsection (a)(1), is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (4);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by redesignating the last sentence of paragraph (1) as paragraph (2) and inserting such paragraph after paragraph (1); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) by inserting after paragraph (2) (as so redesignated) the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) Any person (including an organization, agency, or other entity) who--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) uses a Social Security account number that such person knows or should know has been assigned by the Commissioner of Social Security (in an exercise of authority under section 205(c)(2) to establish and maintain records) on the basis of false information furnished to the Commissioner by any person;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) falsely represents a number to be the Social Security account number assigned by the Commissioner of Social Security to any individual, when such person knows or should know that such number is not the Social Security account number assigned by the Commissioner to such individual;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) knowingly alters a Social Security card issued by the Commissioner of Social Security, or possesses such a card with intent to alter it;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(D) knowingly displays, sells, or purchases a card that is, or purports to be, a card issued by the Commissioner of Social Security, or possesses such a card with intent to display, purchase, or sell it;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(E) counterfeits a Social Security card, or possesses a counterfeit Social Security card with intent to display, sell, or purchase it;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(F) discloses, uses, compels the disclosure of, or knowingly displays, sells, or purchases the Social Security account number of any person in violation of the laws of the United States;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(G) with intent to deceive the Commissioner of Social Security as to such person’s true identity (or the true identity of any other person) furnishes or causes to be furnished false information to the Commissioner with respect to any information required by the Commissioner in connection with the establishment and maintenance of the records provided for in section 205(c)(2);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(H) offers, for a fee, to acquire for any individual, or to assist in acquiring for any individual, an additional Social Security account number or a number which purports to be a Social Security account number; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(I) being an officer or employee of a Federal, State, or local agency in possession of any individual’s Social Security account number, willfully acts or fails to act so as to cause a violation by such agency of clause (vi)(II) or (x) of section 205(c)(2)(C), shall be subject to, in addition to any other penalties that may be prescribed by law, a civil money penalty of not more than $5,000 for each violation. Such person shall also be subject to an assessment, in lieu of damages sustained by the United States resulting from such violation, of not more than twice the amount of any benefits or payments paid as a result of such violation.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Clarification of Treatment of Recovered Amounts- Section 1129(e)(2)(B) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320a-8(e)(2)(B)) is amended by striking ‘In the case of amounts recovered arising out of a determination relating to title VIII or XVI,’ and inserting ‘In the case of any other amounts recovered under this section,’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Conforming Amendments-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) Section 1129(b)(3)(A) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320a-8(b)(3)(A)) is amended by striking ‘charging fraud or false statements’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) Section 1129(c)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320a-8(c)(1)) is amended by striking ‘and representations’ and inserting ‘, representations, or actions’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) Section 1129(e)(1)(A) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320a-8(e)(1)(A)) is amended by striking ‘statement or representation referred to in subsection (a) was made’ and inserting ‘violation occurred’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(e) Effective Dates-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- Except as provided in paragraph (2), the amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to violations of sections 1129 and 1129A of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320-8 and 1320a-8a), as amended by this section, committed after the date of enactment of this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) VIOLATIONS BY GOVERNMENT AGENTS IN POSSESSION OF SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS- Section 1129(a)(3)(I) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320a-8(a)(3)(I)), as added by subsection (b), shall apply with respect to violations of that section occurring on or after the effective date described in section 3(c).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(f) Repeal- Section 201 of the Social Security Protection Act of 2004 is repealed.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 9. CRIMINAL PENALTIES FOR THE MISUSE OF A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER.

(a) Prohibition of Wrongful Use as Personal Identification Number- No person may obtain any individual’s Social Security number for purposes of locating or identifying an individual with the intent to physically injure, harm, or use the identity of the individual for any illegal purpose.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Criminal Sanctions- Section 208(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 408(a)) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) in paragraph (8), by inserting ‘or’ after the semicolon; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by inserting after paragraph (8) the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(9) except as provided in subsections (e) and (f) of section 1028B of title 18, United States Code, knowingly and willfully displays, sells, or purchases (as those terms are defined in section 1028B(a) of title 18, United States Code) any individual’s Social Security account number without having met the prerequisites for consent under section 1028B(d) of title 18, United States Code; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(10) obtains any individual’s Social Security number for the purpose of locating or identifying the individual with the intent to injure or to harm that individual, or to use the identity of that individual for an illegal purpose;’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 10. CIVIL ACTIONS AND CIVIL PENALTIES.

(a) Civil Action in State Courts-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- Any individual aggrieved by an act of any person in violation of this Act or any amendments made by this Act may, if otherwise permitted by the laws or rules of the court of a State, bring in an appropriate court of that State--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) an action to enjoin such violation;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) an action to recover for actual monetary loss from such a violation, or to receive up to $500 in damages for each such violation, whichever is greater; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) both such actions.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





It shall be an affirmative defense in any action brought under this paragraph that the defendant has established and implemented, with due care, reasonable practices and procedures to effectively prevent violations of the regulations prescribed under this Act. If the court finds that the defendant willfully or knowingly violated the regulations prescribed under this subsection, the court may, in its discretion, increase the amount of the award to an amount equal to not more than 3 times the amount available under subparagraph (B).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS- An action may be commenced under this subsection not later than the earlier of--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) 5 years after the date on which the alleged violation occurred; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) 3 years after the date on which the alleged violation was or should have been reasonably discovered by the aggrieved individual.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) NONEXCLUSIVE REMEDY- The remedy provided under this subsection shall be in addition to any other remedies available to the individual.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Civil Penalties-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- Any person who the Attorney General determines has violated any section of this Act or of any amendments made by this Act shall be subject, in addition to any other penalties that may be prescribed by law--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) to a civil penalty of not more than $5,000 for each such violation; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) to a civil penalty of not more than $50,000, if the violations have occurred with such frequency as to constitute a general business practice.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) DETERMINATION OF VIOLATIONS- Any willful violation committed contemporaneously with respect to the Social Security numbers of 2 or more individuals by means of mail, telecommunication, or otherwise, shall be treated as a separate violation with respect to each such individual.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES- The provisions of section 1128A of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320a-7a), other than subsections (a), (b), (f), (h), (i), (j), (m), and (n) and the first sentence of subsection (c) of such section, and the provisions of subsections (d) and (e) of section 205 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 405) shall apply to a civil penalty action under this subsection in the same manner as such provisions apply to a penalty or proceeding under section 1128A(a) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1320a-7a(a)), except that, for purposes of this paragraph, any reference in section 1128A of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1320a-7a) to the Secretary shall be deemed to be a reference to the Attorney General.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 11. FEDERAL INJUNCTIVE AUTHORITY.

In addition to any other enforcement authority conferred under this Act or the amendments made by this Act, the Federal Government shall have injunctive authority with respect to any violation by a public entity of any provision of this Act or of any amendments made by this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink