[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1331 Introduced in House (IH)]







105th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1331

 To require the Commissioner of Social Security to assemble a panel of 
experts to assist the Commissioner in developing appropriate mechanisms 
  and safeguards to ensure confidentiality and integrity of personal 
         Social Security records made accessible to the public.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 15, 1997

Mrs. Kennelly introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                      Committee on Ways and Means

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To require the Commissioner of Social Security to assemble a panel of 
experts to assist the Commissioner in developing appropriate mechanisms 
  and safeguards to ensure confidentiality and integrity of personal 
         Social Security records made accessible to the public.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Social Security Information 
Safeguards Act of 1997''.

SEC. 2. SOCIAL SECURITY INFORMATION SAFEGUARDS PANEL.

    (a) Establishment and Membership.--Not later than June 1, 1997, the 
Commissioner of Social Security shall convene a Social Security 
Information Safeguards Panel (hereinafter referred to as the 
``Panel''). Members of the Panel shall include experts in the fields of 
computer security, information systems, privacy, law, and law 
enforcement.
    (b) Purpose.--The purpose of the Panel shall be to provide to the 
Commissioner, upon request, advice regarding appropriate mechanisms for 
ensuring, by means of the most advanced technology available, the 
security and confidentiality of personal social security records made 
accessible to the public by electronic means, including the Internet. 
The Commissioner shall request such advice in advance of any 
reinstitution of access to such information via the Internet.

SEC. 3. SPECIFIC ISSUES TO BE ADDRESSED.

    (a) In General.--Specific matters to be addressed, in requesting 
advice pursuant to section 2 relating to safeguards for electronic 
access to personal social security records, shall include--
            (1) appropriate means of assuring confidentiality, 
        security, and authentication of transmission and storage of 
        such records,
            (2) appropriate techniques for authenticating the identity 
        of individuals requesting such records, and
            (3) appropriate procedures for detecting unauthorized 
        access to such records and appropriate penalties for 
        unauthorized use and disclosure of such records.
    (b) Advice Regarding Verification by Individuals of Personal Social 
Security Information.--In addition to advice otherwise to be requested 
pursuant to this Act, the Commissioner shall request of the Panel 
advice regarding the most appropriate means of assuring that 
individuals have the ability to verify the accuracy of personal social 
security information about themselves and to correct errors contained 
in such information.
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