II 

117TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 5288 

To require executive agencies and Federal courts to comply with address 

confidentiality programs, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

DECEMBER 15, 2022 

Ms. KLOBUCHAR (for herself, Mr. BLUNT, and Mrs. CAPITO) introduced the 

following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 

A BILL 

To require executive agencies and Federal courts to comply 

with address confidentiality programs, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Safe at Home Act’’. 

5 SEC. 2. EXECUTIVE AGENCY AND FEDERAL COURT COMPLI6 ANCE WITH STATE ADDRESS CONFIDEN7 TIALITY PROGRAMS. 

8 (a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
2 

•S 5288 IS

1 (1) ADDRESS CONFIDENTIALITY PROGRAM.— 

2 The term ‘‘address confidentiality program’’ means 

3 a program implemented pursuant to State law 

4 that— 

5 (A) provides a designated address; 

6 (B) provides a mail-forwarding service; and 

7 (C) is designated by a participant as the 

8 legal agent of the participant to receive service 

9 of process. 

10 (2) DESIGNATED ADDRESS.—The term ‘‘des11 ignated address’’ means an address assigned by an 

12 address confidentiality program for a participant to 

13 use in lieu of the physical address of the participant. 

14 (3) EXECUTIVE AGENCY.— 

15 (A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘executive 

16 agency’’ has the meaning given the term ‘‘Exec17 utive agency’’ in section 105 of title 5, United 

18 States Code. 

19 (B) EXCEPTION.—The term ‘‘executive 

20 agency’’ does not include the Census Bureau. 

21 (4) PARTICIPANT.—The term ‘‘participant’’ 

22 means an adult or minor who is enrolled in an ad23 dress confidentiality program. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
3 

•S 5288 IS

1 (5) PHYSICAL ADDRESS.—The term ‘‘physical 

2 address’’ means the actual home, school, or employ3 ment address of a participant. 

4 (6) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means each of 

5 the States, the District of Columbia, each territory 

6 or possession of the United States, and each feder7 ally recognized Indian Tribe. 

8 (b) ACCEPTANCE OF ADDRESS CONFIDENTIALITY

9 PROGRAM.—Each executive agency and Federal court 

10 shall accept, for any purpose for which an individual is 

11 required to provide an address to the agency or court, an 

12 address designated to that individual pursuant to an ad13 dress confidentiality program. 

14 (c) EXEMPTION FROM LIABILITY.—A participant 

15 shall not be subject to Federal regulatory, civil, or criminal 

16 penalties for providing a designated address in lieu of the 

17 physical address of the participant to an executive agency 

18 or Federal court. 

19 (d) REGULATORY COMPLIANCE WITH ADDRESS CON20 FIDENTIALITY PROGRAMS.—Not later than 1 year after 

21 the date of the enactment of this Act, each executive agen22 cy shall review and, as necessary, modify existing regula23 tions to comply with this Act. 

24 (e) COMPLIANCE WITH ADDRESS CONFIDENTIALITY

25 PROGRAM PROCEDURES AND EXEMPTION FROM FOIA.— 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
4 

•S 5288 IS

1 (1) IN GENERAL.—In the case of an executive 

2 agency or Federal court seeking to acquire the phys3 ical address of a participant, the agency or court 

4 shall comply with any applicable procedures of the 

5 applicable address confidentiality program for ac6 quiring such address. 

7 (2) FOIA EXEMPTION.— 

8 (A) IN GENERAL.—Upon acquiring a phys9 ical address under paragraph (1), the physical 

10 address— 

11 (i) shall be considered confidential; 

12 and 

13 (ii) subject to subparagraph (B), shall 

14 not be subject to any request pursuant to 

15 section 552 of title 5, United States Code 

16 (commonly referred to as the ‘‘Freedom of 

17 Information Act’’). 

18 (B) EXCEPTION.—In extreme cir19 cumstances, a court may order the disclosure of 

20 a physical address of a participant pursuant to 

21 a request pursuant to section 552 of title 5, 

22 United States Code, subject to a protective 

23 order against further disclosure. 

24 (f) PROMPT NOTIFICATION UPON TERMINATION

25 FROM PARTICIPATION.—If the participation of an indiVerDate Sep 11 2014 03:31 Dec 30, 2022 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S5288.IS S5288

kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
5 

•S 5288 IS

1 vidual in an address confidentiality program is terminated, 

2 that individual shall promptly notify each executive agency 

3 or Federal court that accepted a designated address under 

4 subsection (b). 

Æ 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS