Senate Bill Threatens Social Security Death Master List Access
Legislation that is intended to prevent tax fraud includes provisions to restrict access to the death master list and Social Security numbers. The "Identity Theft and Tax Fraud Prevention Act (S-676)" was introduced by Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL.) It includes some common sense provisions, including removing Social Security numbers from Medicare cards and increasing penalties for tax fraud.
It is important to note that a business to business provision specified in the bill is one NCISS has fought hard and long the past several years. We are thankful the business to business language is included.
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| Larry SabbathNCISS Legislative Advocate |
However, in an effort to reduce identity theft, the bill also would deny access to information on the death master list except for those who obtain certification from the Department of Commerce. The NCISS Legislative Committee is reviewing that provision in detail, but it appears highly restrictive and sets a high burden for anyone attempting to gain access to the list.
NCISS provided testimony last year to the House Ways and Means Committee opposing similar legislation to restrict such access to the list. That bill was also opposed by genealogists and data brokers. We will work with these groups to assure that private investigators retain access to the list.
S-676 also contains restrictions on access to Social Security numbers. Those restrictions are similar to legislation to restrict SSN access that has been offered by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) for several years. It includes significant "business to business" exceptions to the restrictions. The NCISS Legislative Committee is reviewing those exceptions to ascertain whether they are sufficient. We prefer an exception similar to that in the Drivers' Privacy Protection Act.
NCISS will continue to fight to assure that private investigators retain the ability access both the death master list and Social Security numbers.
