NCISS Legislative Update - New
Bill Restricting Accessing to SSN's by Prisoners
Colleagues:
Representative Earl Pomeroy (D-ND) introduced a bill yesterday,
HR 5854 to prohibit prisoners from accessing Social Security
numbers. The Social Security Administration’s Inspector General
had previously found that in 13 states prisoners had access to
the numbers and other personal information through their prison
work programs. The IG reported that “prisoners had access to
SSNs by performing such duties as data processing, optical
imaging, scanning, and records conversion of documents for State
agencies, universities, hospitals, and private businesses. The
types of documents inmates viewed included marriage, birth, and
death certificates; vehicle accident reports; tax appeal
documents; and medical claims, all of which generally contained
personal identifying information (including SSNs).“
HR 5854 is limited to prisoner access to SSN’s, but the bill has
been referred to the House Ways and Means Committee, where
Representative Pomeroy chairs the Social Security Subcommittee.
The NCISS legislative committee will remain vigilant to assure
that the legislation does not become a vehicle for a broader
restriction on access to the data.
Keeping the profession informed,
(Permission granted to repost to other email lists and PI
association newsletters)
Jimmie Mesis, LPI
NCISS Legislative Chairman
jim@nciss.orgNCISS
7501 Sparrows Point Blvd.
Baltimore, Maryland 21219-1927
(800) 445-8408 . Fax: (410) 388-9746
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