SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — A plan moving to the Illinois House would ensure private identifiable information of drivers is protected.
The Secretary of State's office is required to disclose driver and vehicle data to authorized users such as insurance companies, car manufacturers and local governments under the federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act.
However, this legislation could ban third parties from selling or sharing this information with another business without approval from the Secretary of State. The proposal would also prohibit businesses from knowingly disclosing or providing private identifiable information to anyone not authorized to receive it.
"They want to be able to take enforcement against Company X if they were to give data outside of what's regulated," said Rep. Margaret Croke (D-Chicago).
Legal counsel for Alexi Giannoulias explained the bill would improve enforcement measures to properly allow the Attorney General's office to take action against violators. Third parties could be required to keep a written record of purchasers and customers as well as the authorized purpose for the information to be sold.
Yet, House Republicans oppose a portion of the bill that would prohibit the Secretary of State's office from providing social security numbers to the Illinois State Board of Elections for voter registration. GOP members feel this could allow "illegal immigrants" to vote in Illinois, but the Secretary of State's office said the language regarding voter registration is already state law.
Senate Bill 2978 passed out of the House Executive Committee on a partisan 8-4 vote. The legislation now moves to the House floor for further consideration. This plan passed out of the Senate on a 37-18 vote on May 2.
Copyright 2024. WAND TV. All rights reserved.
