[115th Congress Public Law 59]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[[Page 131 STAT. 1152]]
Public Law 115-59
115th Congress
An Act
To restrict the inclusion of social security account numbers on Federal
documents sent by mail, and for other purposes. <<NOTE: Sept. 15,
2017 - [H.R. 624]>>
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Social Security
Number Fraud Prevention Act of 2017. 42 USC 405 note.>>
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Social Security Number Fraud
Prevention Act of 2017''.
SEC. 2. RESTRICTION OF SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS ON DOCUMENTS SENT
BY MAIL.
(a) <<NOTE: Determination.>> Restriction.--An agency may not
include the social security account number of an individual on any
document sent by mail unless the head of the agency determines that the
inclusion of the social security account number on the document is
necessary.
(b) <<NOTE: Deadline.>> Regulations.--Not later than 5 years after
the date of the enactment of this Act, the head of each CFO Act agency
shall issue regulations specifying the circumstances under which
inclusion of a social security account number on a document sent by mail
is necessary. Such regulations shall include--
(1) instructions for the partial redaction of social
security account numbers where feasible; and
(2) a requirement that social security account numbers not
be visible on the outside of any package sent by mail.
(c) Report.--Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment
of this Act, and not later than the first, second, third, fourth, and
fifth-year anniversary of such date of enactment, the head of each CFO
Act agency shall submit to the Committee on Ways and Means and the
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of
Representatives, the Committee on Finance and the Committee on Homeland
Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, and any other
appropriate authorizing committees of the House of Representatives and
the Senate, a report on the implementation of subsection (a) that
includes the following:
(1) The title and identification number of any document used
by the CFO Act agency during the previous year that includes the
complete social security account number of an individual.
(2) <<NOTE: Plan.>> For the first report submitted, a plan
that describes how the CFO Act agency will comply with the
requirements of subsection (a).
(3) For the final report submitted, the title and
identification number of each document used by the CFO Act
agency
[[Page 131 STAT. 1153]]
for which the head of the agency has determined, in accordance
with regulations issued pursuant to subsection (b), that the
inclusion of a social security account number on such document
is necessary, and the rationale for such determination.
(4) <<NOTE: Update.>> For any other report that is not the
first or final report submitted, an update on the implementation
of the plan described under paragraph (2).
(d) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Agency.--The term ``agency'' has the meaning given that
term in section 551 of title 5, United States Code, but includes
an establishment in the legislative or judicial branch of the
Government (except the Senate, the House of Representatives, and
the Architect of the Capitol, and any activities under the
direction of the Architect of the Capitol).
(2) CFO act agency.--The term ``CFO Act agency'' means the
agencies listed in paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 901(b) of
title 31, United States Code.
(e) Effective Date.--Subsection (a) shall apply with respect to any
document sent by mail on or after the date that is 5 years after the
date of the enactment of this Act.
Approved September 15, 2017.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 624:
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HOUSE REPORTS: No. 115-150, Pt. 1 (Comm. on Oversight and Government
Reform).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 163 (2017):
May 24, considered and passed House.
Sept. 6, considered and passed Senate.
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