I 
115TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7239 
To prohibit requests for the disclosure of a social security account number 
in commercial transactions, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 10, 2018 
Ms. LOFGREN introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on 
Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within 
the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To prohibit requests for the disclosure of a social security 
account number in commercial transactions, and for 
other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Securing Social Secu-
rity Numbers Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON REQUESTING DISCLOSURE OF A 
SOCIAL SECURITY ACCOUNT NUMBER FOR 
CONSUMER TRANSACTIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—A commercial entity shall not re-
quest that an individual provide the individual’s social se-
curity account number when purchasing a commercial 
good or service or deny an individual the good or service 
for refusing to provide that number except— 
(1) for any purpose relating to— 
(A) obtaining a consumer report for any 
purpose permitted under the Fair Credit Re-
porting Act; 
(B) a background check of the individual 
conducted by a landlord, lessor, employer, or 
voluntary service agency; 
(C) law enforcement; or 
(D) a Federal, State, or local law require-
ment; or 
(2) if the social security account number is nec-
essary to verify the identity of the consumer to ef-
fect, administer, or enforce the specific transaction 
requested or authorized by the consumer, or to pre-
vent fraud. 
(b) PURGING OF COLLECTED SOCIAL SECURITY AC-
COUNT NUMBERS.—A commercial entity that has ac-
quired social security account numbers prior to the enact-
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ment of this Act is prohibited from intentional continued 
possession of such social security account numbers and 
must purge all such social security account numbers from 
its records not later than 180 days after the effective date 
of this Act, unless the commercial entity would qualify for 
an exception under subsection (a). 
(c) LIMITATION
ON
PREDISPUTE
ARBITRATION 
AGREEMENTS.—No predispute arbitration agreement 
shall be valid or enforceable if it requires arbitration of 
a violation of this section. 
(d) STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL ENFORCEMENT.— 
In any case in which the attorney general of a State has 
reason to believe that an interest of the residents of that 
State has been or is threatened or adversely affected by 
the engagement of any person in a practice that is prohib-
ited under this section, the State, as parens patriae, may 
bring a civil action on behalf of the residents of the State 
in a district court of the United States of appropriate ju-
risdiction to— 
(1) enjoin that practice; 
(2) enforce compliance with such section; 
(3) obtain damages, restitution, or other com-
pensation on behalf of residents of the State; or 
(4) obtain such other relief as the court may 
consider appropriate. 
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SEC. 3. CIVIL ACTIONS AND CIVIL PENALTIES. 
(a) CIVIL ACTION IN STATE COURTS.— 
(1) STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS.—An action may 
be commenced under this subsection not later than 
the earlier of— 
(A) 5 years after the date on which the al-
leged violation occurred; or 
(B) 3 years after the date on which the al-
leged violation was or should have been reason-
ably discovered by the aggrieved individual. 
(2) NONEXCLUSIVE REMEDY.—The remedy pro-
vided under this subsection shall be in addition to 
any other remedies available to the individual. 
(b) CIVIL PENALTIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Any person who the Attor-
ney General determines has violated any section of 
this Act or of any amendments made by this Act 
shall be subject, in addition to any other penalties 
that may be prescribed by law— 
(A) to a civil penalty of not more than 
$5,000 for each such violation; and 
(B) to a civil penalty of not more than 
$50,000, if the violations have occurred with 
such frequency as to constitute a pattern or 
practice of violations. 
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(2) DETERMINATION OF VIOLATIONS.—Any in-
tentional violation committed contemporaneously 
with respect to the social security account numbers 
of 2 or more individuals shall be treated as a sepa-
rate violation with respect to each such individual. 
SEC. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE. 
The amendment made by this Act shall be in effect 
1 year after the date of enactment of this Act. 
Æ 
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