SF 2390

1st Engrossment - 85th Legislature (2007 - 2008) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to consumer protection; modifying restrictions on the collection and
use of Social Security numbers; amending Minnesota Statutes 2006, section
325E.59, subdivision 3; Minnesota Statutes 2007 Supplement, section 325E.59,
subdivision 1.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2007 Supplement, section 325E.59, subdivision 1, is
amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Generally.

(a) A person or entity, not including a government entity,
may not do any of the following:

(1) publicly post or publicly display in any manner an individual's Social Security
number. "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;

(3) require an individual to transmit the individual's Social Security number over
the Internet, unless the connection is secure or the Social Security number is encrypted,
except as required by titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act and by Code of
Federal Regulations, title 42, section 483.20;

(4) require an individual to use the individual's 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 a number that the person or entity knows to be 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. If, in
connection with a transaction involving or otherwise relating to an individual, a person
or entity receives a number from a third party, that person or entity is under no duty to
inquire or otherwise determine whether the number is or includes that individual's Social
Security number and may print that number on materials mailed to the individual, unless
the person or entity receiving the number has actual knowledge that the number is or
includes the individual's Social Security number;

(6) assign or use a number as the primary account identifier that is identical to or
incorporates an individual's complete Social Security number new text begin , except in conjunction with
an employee or member retirement or benefit plan new text end ; or

(7) sell Social Security numbers obtained from individuals in the course of business. new text begin
This clause does not prohibit the transfer or disclosure of an individual's Social Security
number to a third party if the transfer or disclosure of the Social Security number has no
independent economic value to the seller or is incidental to a larger transaction and if the
Social Security number is initially collected for the purpose of identifying the individual.
new text end

Notwithstanding clauses (1) to (5), 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. Nothing in this paragraph
authorizes inclusion of a Social Security number on the outside of a mailing or in the bulk
mailing of a credit card solicitation offer.

(b) A person or entity, not including a government entity, must restrict access to
individual Social Security numbers it holds so that only employees new text begin , agents, or contractors new text end
who require new text begin access to records containing new text end the numbers in order to perform their job duties
have access to the numbers, except as required by titles XVIII and XIX of the Social
Security Act and by Code of Federal Regulations, title 42, section 483.20.

(c) This section applies only to the use of Social Security numbers on or after July
1, 2008.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2008.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 325E.59, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Coordination with other law.

This section does not prevent the collection,
use, or release of a Social Security number as deleted text begin required deleted text end new text begin authorized or permitted new text end by
state or federal law or the use of a Social Security number for internal verification or
administrative purposes.