Date: Tue, 24 Mar 1998 23:32:31 -0800 (PST)
From: bb074@scn.org (SCN User)
To: local-computer-activists@scn.org
Subject: Privacy--Locke to sign 6418--veto request letter
Reply-To: bb074@scn.org
Sender: owner-local-computer-activists@scn.org


Wednesday afternoon, 3/25, Governor Locke will sign a bill requiring
Social Security numbers for professional, occupational, driver and
recreational licenses.  This was our veto request letter: 


March 23, 1998

Governor Gary Locke
via FAX 

RE: ESSB 6418 -- Veto of Sections 6 and 7 

Dear Governor Locke,

I am writing on behalf of the Seattle chapter of Computer
Professionals for Social Responsibility, a national alliance of
computer professionals concerned about the social effects of
technology.  CPSR has a history of interest in privacy issues and
is deeply concerned about growing misuse of Social Security
numbers.

We strongly urge you to protect the privacy of Washington
citizens by vetoing Sections 6 and 7 of ESSB 6418, which direct
the state to require Social Security numbers on all applications
for professional, occupational, driver and recreational licenses. 

Social Security numbers are frequently the master key to medical,
financial, and other sensitive records.  Keying more and more
licensing systems to the number increases its dossier-building
capacity and increases the risk of fraud, both inside and outside
the system.      

Once Social Security Number collection becomes mandatory under
ESSB 6418, other state and federal laws already on the books 
require release of the numbers to various government agencies,
businesses and the public.  RCW 42.17, for example, requires
public disclosure of all government-held records not specifically
protected by law.  Since ESSB 6418 does not include language
declaring the release of Social Security numbers to be "highly
offensive to a reasonable person" and "not of legitimate concern
to the public", there is no clear evidence of an exemption to the
Public Disclosure Act.  Public disclosure of Social Security
numbers alone is an unacceptable threat to the privacy of
Washington citizens.  

Until this month, Washington State seemed to be on the horns of a
dilemma:  violate privacy by requiring Social Security numbers on
license applications or forego federal welfare funds. It now
appears this choice will be unnecessary.  On March 5th, the U.S.
House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed H.R. 3130 to
modify or eliminate various penalties related to the 1996 federal
Welfare Reform Act.  This federal bill is expected to rapidly
become law because many states still have not completed the new
computer systems and other data changes necessary to avoid
federal penalties imposed by the Act.
   
Section 401 of H.R. 3130 will remove requirements for Social
Security numbers on license applications until October 1, 2000.  

If the deadline changes through this federal legislation, but
Sections 6 and 7 of ESSB 6418 already have become state law,
Washington citizens will be bound unnecessarily by privacy-
invasive law they do not support.  Federal legislation does not
automatically change state statute.    

Further, once Social Security numbers collected under the new
state law are released, they will not be "returned" even if the
law is changed later.      

We urge you, as a Governor who cares about privacy, to protect
Washington citizens by vetoing Sections 6 and 7 of ESSB 6418.

Sincerely,

Aki Namioka
President


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