HBA-JRA, MPM H.B. 692 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 692 By: Janek Public Health 6/24/1999 Enrolled BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Prior to the 76th Legislature, anyone could obtain the social security number of an applicant for or holder of a license or other legal authorization to practice an occupation or profession by calling the licensing agency, a practice which may have made a physician susceptible to fraud. The attorney general has ruled that a social security number is not considered confidential data, although current state law provides protection for an individual's social security number by labeling it as "personal information," thus qualifying it as confidential. H.B. 692 provides for the confidentiality of the social security number of an applicant for or holder of a license, certificate of registration, or other legal authorization issued by a profession. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. CONFIDENTIALITY OF SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER. Provides that the social security number provided by an applicant for or holder of a license, certificate of registration, or other legal authorization issued by a profession is confidential and not subject to disclosure under the open records law. SECTION 2. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.