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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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CONTACT: Amy Giancoli
Hartman |
State Rep. Frank Dermody |
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Bill would protect Pennsylvanians' confidential information disclosed to the state
HARRISBURG, March 2 -- State Rep. Frank Dermody, D-Oakmont, has introduced legislation that would keep the state from selling or disclosing confidential information about its citizens.
"It's a privacy issue. With identity theft as rampant as it is today, this bill will protect our people from their own state government agencies selling their private information," Dermody said.
Under the bill, no government agency would be allowed to sell, disclose or give access to confidential information to a nongovernmental agency, business or person unless authorized by law. Such confidential information would include information gathered or given to the state in order to obtain benefits or to qualify for a program, such as welfare and food stamps, or PACE and the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program; or to comply with legal requirements, such as obtaining a driver's license or photo ID.
In addition, the bill would cancel out any current contracts with the state that go against this restriction.
"Pennsylvania should not be using this information other than for which it was intended," Dermody said. "We should not be trading our citizens' private information in order to earn a few bucks, especially when people are required to regularly submit this information to the state.
"Currently, Pennsylvania has no legislation that prevents this type of transaction from happening. I am trying to change that," Dermody said.
The bill (H.B. 438) has been referred to the House State Government Committee.
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