HB4712eng 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB4712 Engrossed LRB093 19712 WGH 45453 b

AN ACT concerning consumer protection.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act is amended by adding Section 2QQ as follows:

(815 ILCS 505/2QQ new)

Sec. 2QQ. Use of Social Security numbers.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, a person may not do any of the following:

(1) Publicly post or publicly display in any manner an individual's social security number. As used in this Section, "publicly post" or "publicly display" means to intentionally communicate or otherwise make available to the general public.

(2) Print an individual's social security number on any card required for the individual to access products or services provided by the person or entity; however, a person or entity that provides an insurance card must print on the card an identification number unique to the holder of the card in the format prescribed by Section 15 of the Uniform Prescription Drug Information Card Act.

(3) Require an individual to transmit his or her social security number over the Internet, unless the connection is secure or the social security number is encrypted.

(4) Require an individual to use his or her social security number to access an Internet web site, unless a password or unique personal identification number or other authentication device is also required to access the Internet Web site.

(5) Print an individual's social security number on any materials that are mailed to the individual, unless State or federal law requires the social security number to be on the document to be mailed. Notwithstanding any provision in this Section to the contrary, social security numbers may be included in applications and forms sent by mail, including documents sent as part of an application or enrollment process or to establish, amend, or terminate an account, contract, or policy or to confirm the accuracy of the social security number. A social security number that may permissibly be mailed under this Section may not be printed, in whole or in part, on a postcard or other mailer that does not require an envelope or be visible on an envelope or visible without the envelope having been opened.

(b) A person that used, before July 1, 2005, an individual's social security number in a manner inconsistent with subsection (a) may continue using that individual's social security number in the same manner on or after July 1, 2005 if all of the following conditions are met:

(1) The use of the social security number is continuous. If the use is stopped for any reason, subsection (a) shall apply.

(2) The individual is provided an annual disclosure that informs the individual that he or she has the right to stop the use of his or her social security number in a manner prohibited by subsection (a).

A written request by an individual to stop the use of his or her social security number in a manner prohibited by subsection (a) shall be implemented within 30 days of the receipt of the request. There shall be no fee or charge for implementing the request. A person shall not deny services to an individual because the individual makes such a written request.

(c) This Section does not apply to the collection, use, or release of a social security number as required by State or federal law or the use of a social security number for internal verification or administrative purposes. This Section does not apply to the collection, use, or release of a social security number by the State, a subdivision of the State, or an individual in the employ of the State or a subdivision of the State in connection with his or her official duties.

(d) This Section does not apply to documents that are recorded or required to be open to the public under State or federal law, applicable case law, Supreme Court Rule, or the Constitution of the State of Illinois.

(e) If a federal law takes effect requiring the United States Department of Health and Human Services to establish a national unique patient health identifier program, any person who complies with the federal law shall be deemed to be in compliance with this Section.

(f) A person may not encode or embed a social security number in or on a card or document, including, but not limited to, using a bar code, chip, magnetic strip, or other technology, in place of removing the social security number as required by this Section.

(g) Any person who violates this Section commits an unlawful practice within the meaning of this Act.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, 2006.