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[115th Congress Public Law 59]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

[[Page 131 STAT. 1152]]

Public Law 115-59
115th Congress

                                 An Act

 
To restrict the inclusion of social security account numbers on Federal 
   documents sent by mail, and for other purposes. <<NOTE: Sept. 15, 
                          2017 -  [H.R. 624]>> 

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Social Security 
Number Fraud Prevention Act of 2017. 42 USC 405 note.>> 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Social Security Number Fraud 
Prevention Act of 2017''.
SEC. 2. RESTRICTION OF SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS ON DOCUMENTS SENT 
                    BY MAIL.

    (a) <<NOTE: Determination.>>  Restriction.--An agency may not 
include the social security account number of an individual on any 
document sent by mail unless the head of the agency determines that the 
inclusion of the social security account number on the document is 
necessary.

    (b) <<NOTE: Deadline.>>  Regulations.--Not later than 5 years after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the head of each CFO Act agency 
shall issue regulations specifying the circumstances under which 
inclusion of a social security account number on a document sent by mail 
is necessary. Such regulations shall include--
            (1) instructions for the partial redaction of social 
        security account numbers where feasible; and
            (2) a requirement that social security account numbers not 
        be visible on the outside of any package sent by mail.

    (c) Report.--Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, and not later than the first, second, third, fourth, and 
fifth-year anniversary of such date of enactment, the head of each CFO 
Act agency shall submit to the Committee on Ways and Means and the 
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of 
Representatives, the Committee on Finance and the Committee on Homeland 
Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, and any other 
appropriate authorizing committees of the House of Representatives and 
the Senate, a report on the implementation of subsection (a) that 
includes the following:
            (1) The title and identification number of any document used 
        by the CFO Act agency during the previous year that includes the 
        complete social security account number of an individual.
            (2) <<NOTE: Plan.>>  For the first report submitted, a plan 
        that describes how the CFO Act agency will comply with the 
        requirements of subsection (a).
            (3) For the final report submitted, the title and 
        identification number of each document used by the CFO Act 
        agency

[[Page 131 STAT. 1153]]

        for which the head of the agency has determined, in accordance 
        with regulations issued pursuant to subsection (b), that the 
        inclusion of a social security account number on such document 
        is necessary, and the rationale for such determination.
            (4) <<NOTE: Update.>>  For any other report that is not the 
        first or final report submitted, an update on the implementation 
        of the plan described under paragraph (2).

    (d) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Agency.--The term ``agency'' has the meaning given that 
        term in section 551 of title 5, United States Code, but includes 
        an establishment in the legislative or judicial branch of the 
        Government (except the Senate, the House of Representatives, and 
        the Architect of the Capitol, and any activities under the 
        direction of the Architect of the Capitol).
            (2) CFO act agency.--The term ``CFO Act agency'' means the 
        agencies listed in paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 901(b) of 
        title 31, United States Code.

    (e) Effective Date.--Subsection (a) shall apply with respect to any 
document sent by mail on or after the date that is 5 years after the 
date of the enactment of this Act.

    Approved September 15, 2017.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 624:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

HOUSE REPORTS: No. 115-150, Pt. 1 (Comm. on Oversight and Government 
Reform).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 163 (2017):
            May 24, considered and passed House.
            Sept. 6, considered and passed Senate.

                                  <all>
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