ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE ON CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND PROTECTION
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
Recently, several major retailers have revealed that the security of certain personal information stored by such retailers and relating to consumers, including credit card information, had been compromised through a series of large-scale data breaches. In such instances, hackers have used sophisticated methods to bypass what were thought to be comprehensive security methods in place by retailers to prevent such crimes to gain access to highly sensitive personal information. These crimes have left consumers vulnerable to identity theft and/or financial fraud and skeptical as to whether retailers are capable of protecting their sensitive personal data going forward. Considering the extent of such breaches to date, the Committee wishes to understand how such breaches occur, how A.10190 (Dinowitz) could address these issues, what other proactive measures can be undertaken, and how the Department of State can use existing resources to assist effected consumers and whether any additional legislative or budgetary measures are required.
Oral testimony will be limited to five (5) minutes' duration. In preparing the order of witnesses, the Committee will attempt to accommodate individual requests to speak at particular times in view of special circumstances. These requests should be made on the attached reply form or communicated to Committee staff as early as possible.
Ten copies of any prepared testimony should be submitted at the hearing registration desk. The Committee would appreciate advance receipt of prepared statements.
In order to further publicize these hearings, please inform interested parties and organizations of the Committee's interest in receiving written testimony from all sources.
In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the Assembly, in accordance with its policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to Assembly facilities and activities.