Notice of Public Hearing - Regulation of Social Security Numbers and Personal Identifying Information

NYS Seal

ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE ON CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND PROTECTION

ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS

ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE ON BANKS

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

SUBJECT:	Regulation of Social Security Numbers and Personal Identifying Information.

PURPOSE:	To Examine Current Law Regulating the Use of Social Security Numbers and Personal Identifying Information by Businesses and State Agencies and the practical effect of such use on consumers.

New York City

Thursday
September 15, 2005
10:30 a.m.

250 Broadway
Assembly Hearing Room 1923, 19th Floor

This hearing will examine federal and state law regulating the use of social security numbers (SSNs) and other personal identifying information and how the practice regarding such use affects consumers, particularly whether such use increase the risk of identity theft. A number of bills have been introduced in the Committee on Consumer Affairs and the Committee on Governmental Operations seeking to regulate the use of SSNs and personal identifying information by businesses and state agencies. Issues of federal pre-emption, alternative identifiers and state actions regarding this issue will be addressed.

Bills seeking to regulate the use of social security numbers by businesses and state agencies include: A.638, A.3910, A.5390, A.6553, A.7866, A.7920, and A.8224. Bills seeking to regulate the use of personal identifying information by businesses and state agencies include: A.636, A.660, A.4038, A.6525, A.7013, A.7349-A, A.7670, and A.8456.

Please see below for a list of questions in response to which witnesses may direct their testimony, and a description of the bills that will be discussed at the hearing.

Persons wishing to present pertinent testimony to the Committee at the above hearing should complete and return the reply form found below as soon as possible. It is important that the reply form be fully completed and returned so that persons may be notified in the event of emergency postponement or cancellation.

Oral testimony will be limited to ten minute durations. 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 hearing 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.

Audrey I. Pheffer
Chair
Committee on Consumer Affairs and Protection

RoAnn M. Destito
Chair
Committee on Governmental Operations

Catherine T. Nolan
Chair
Committee on Banks

SELECTED ISSUES TO WHICH WITNESSES MAY DIRECT THEIR TESTIMONY:

To what extent is New York State pre-empted by federal law from regulating the use of social security numbers and other personal identifying information?
To what extent and in what circumstances are businesses and New York State agencies using social security numbers as identifiers?
To what extent are social security numbers and personal identifying information vulnerable to unlawful misappropriation? Have the number of incidents of identity theft increased due to such use of social security numbers?
What alternative methods of identification exist that are adequate to meet the needs of state agencies and private businesses?
What can New York State do to ensure that such information is not subject to unlawful misappropriation?
What has been the impact of Executive Order 122 creating the Task Force on Identity Security?

PUBLIC HEARING REPLY FORM Persons wishing to present testimony at the public hearing on the Regulation of Social Security Numbers and Personal Identifying Information are requested to complete this reply form as soon as possible and mail it to: Nichole Hedglin Legislative Associate Assembly Committee on Consumer Affairs and Protection Assembly Committee on Governmental Operations Room 513 - Capitol Albany, New York 12248 Phone: (518) 455-4355 Fax: (518) 455-4128

	I plan to attend the following public hearing on the Regulation of Social Security Numbers and Personal Identifying Information to be conducted by the Assembly Committees on Consumer Affairs and Protection and Governmental Operations on September 15, 2005.

	I plan to make a public statement at the hearing. My statement will be limited to ten of minutes, and I will answer any questions which may arise. I will provide 10 copies of my prepared statement.

	I will address my remarks to the following subjects:

	I do not plan to attend the above hearing.

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