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- Referred to codes
- Referred to codes
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Restricts the availability and use of the entirety of a person's social security number
In Assembly Committee · Governmental Operations · Sponsor Keith L.T. Wright
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the civil rights law, in relation to social security number confidentiality
Purpose
This bill would restrict the availability and use of the entirety of a person's social security number.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 amends the Civil Rights Law by adding a new section 50-f in relation to social security number confidentiality.
Subsection 2 states that no person shall make the entirety of a social security number available to the general public.
Subsection 3 states that no person shall require use of the entirety of a social security number for an employment application, credit application or other transaction, except for law enforcement, social security, Medicare or Medicaid purposes.
Subsection 4 states that no person shall refuse to transact business because of refusal to provide social security number.
Subsection 5 states that no person shall transmit material that associates a social security number with an account number for a bank, savings and loan association or credit union.
Subsection 6 states when a person may use a social security number.
Subsection 7 states when a person may collect, use and release a social security number as required by law or for internal verification or administrative purposes.
Section 2 establishes an effective date of January 1, 2008.
Justification
This bill would restrict the availability and use of the entirety of a person's social security number. Identity theft occurs when someone uses your name, address, Social Security Number (SSN), bank, credit card number or other identifying information, without your knowledge, to commit fraud or other crimes. The magnitude of the problem is increasing. The Federal Trade Commission has stated in 2002 that identity theft was number 1 on its top 10 fraud issues and a whopping 43% of all complaints. The Department of Justice reports identity theft affects 500,000 and 700,000 annually with an average loss of $18,000.00.
Consumer Sentinel Trends reports that during the period January 1 December 2002, there were 12,698 identity theft complaints reported in New York State. Congress has introduced several bills that would eliminate the use of social security numbers.
Legislative history
2007-08: Referred to CODES 2005-06: Referred to CODES
Fiscal implications
None to the state.
Effective date
January 1, 2010.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.