LRB-1484/1
MES/JTK/RAC:wlj:jf
2001 - 2002 LEGISLATURE
March 8, 2001 - Introduced by Representative Powers, by request of Governor's
Task Force on Privacy. Referred to Committee on Personal Privacy.
AB192,1,4
1An Act to create 19.68, 66.0118 and 895.66 of the statutes;
relating to:
2encouraging governmental entities and businesses to consider the use of
3unique personal identifiers and to discontinue the use of social security
4numbers.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, educational institutions (the University of Wisconsin
System, technical college districts, and public and private schools) are prohibited
from assigning to any student an identification number that is identical to or
incorporates the student's social security number. Educational institutions may also
assign to each of their enrolled students a unique identification number.
This bill requires each political subdivision (a city, village, town, or county) and
state governmental entity to investigate the feasibility of developing and using a
unique personal identifier for any individual who receives or may receive any type
of service from the political subdivision or state governmental entity. A unique
personal identifier is defined as any combination of numbers, letters, or characters,
other than a social security number, that may be used to identify a particular
individual. The bill also requires a political subdivision and state governmental
entity, where appropriate, to consider substituting the use of a unique personal
identifier for the use of a social security number.
In addition, the bill requires that every business entity doing business in this
state investigate the feasibility of developing and using a unique personal identifier
for any individual who receives or may receive any type of service or product from
the business entity. Under the bill, unless otherwise required by law to use a social
security number, if a business entity determines that a unique personal identifier
may be appropriately substituted for an individual's social security number, the
business entity must consider using the unique personal identifier rather than the
social security number for all purposes relating to sending documents to an
individual and for identifying an individual.
For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be
printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB192, s. 1
1Section
1. 19.68 of the statutes is created to read:
AB192,2,5
219.68 Unique personal identifiers, social security numbers. (1) In this
3section, "unique personal identifier" means any combination of numbers, letters, or
4characters, other than a social security number, that may be used to identify a
5particular individual.
AB192,2,14
6(2) Each state authority shall investigate the feasibility of developing and
7using a unique personal identifier for any individual who receives or may receive any
8type of service from the state authority. Unless required by law to use a social
9security number, if a state authority determines that a unique personal identifier
10may be appropriately substituted for an individual's social security number, the state
11authority shall consider removing social security numbers from data bases that
12contain information on, or documents that are mailed to, any individual to whom the
13state authority provides, or may provide, services and shall consider substituting a
14unique personal identifier for the individual's social security number.
AB192, s. 2
15Section
2. 66.0118 of the statutes is created to read:
AB192,2,17
1666.0118 Unique personal identifiers, social security numbers. (1) 17Definitions. In this section:
AB192,2,1818
(a) "Political subdivision" means a city, village, town, or county.
AB192,3,3
1(b) "Unique personal identifier" means any combination of numbers, letters, or
2characters, other than a social security number, that may be used to identify a
3particular individual.
AB192,3,13
4(2) Development of unique personal identifiers. A political subdivision shall
5investigate the feasibility of developing and using a unique personal identifier for
6any individual who receives or may receive any type of service from the political
7subdivision. Unless otherwise required by law to use a social security number, if a
8political subdivision determines that a unique personal identifier may be
9appropriately substituted for an individual's social security number, the political
10subdivision shall consider removing social security numbers from data bases that
11contain information on, or documents that are mailed to, any individual to whom the
12political subdivision provides, or may provide, services and shall consider
13substituting a unique personal identifier for the individual's social security number.
AB192, s. 3
14Section
3. 895.66 of the statutes is created to read:
AB192,3,16
15895.66 Unique personal identifiers, social security numbers. (1) In this
16section:
AB192,3,1717
(a) "Business entity" has the meaning given in s. 13.62 (5).
AB192,3,2018
(b) "Unique personal identifier" means any combination of numbers, letters, or
19characters, other than a social security number, that may be used to identify a
20particular individual.
AB192,4,4
21(2) Development of unique personal identifiers. Every business entity shall
22investigate the feasibility of developing and using a unique personal identifier for
23any individual who receives or may receive any type of service or product from the
24business entity. Unless otherwise required by law to use a social security number,
25if a business entity determines that a unique personal identifier may be
1appropriately substituted for an individual's social security number, the business
2entity shall consider using the unique personal identifier rather than the social
3security number for all purposes relating to sending documents to an individual and
4for identifying an individual.
