Title: Data Protection Act of 2020
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics

Summary:
Data Protection Act of 2020
This bill establishes in the executive branch an independent Data Protection Agency (DPA) to regulate the processing of personal data.
The DPA shall seek to protect individuals' privacy and limit the collection, disclosure, processing, and misuse of individuals' personal data by a covered entity (i.e., a person that collects, processes, or otherwise obtains personal data other than an individual processing personal data in the course of personal or household activity).
The DPA must examine and oversee high-risk data practices, which include
The DPA is authorized to (1) enforce federal privacy law, and (2) take specified actions to prevent a covered entity from committing or engaging in an unfair or deceptive act or practice.
The DPA shall establish procedures to provide consumers with a timely response to complaints against, or inquiries concerning, a covered entity.
The DPA may engage in joint investigations and requests for information and may issue subpoenas. The bill provides for civil monetary penalties for violations of privacy law and the use of such penalties, including as monetary relief for individuals affected by violations.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3300 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 3300

 To establish a Federal data protection agency, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           February 13, 2020

Mrs. Gillibrand introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
   referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To establish a Federal data protection agency, and for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) In General.--This Act may be cited as the ``Data Protection Act 
of 2020''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings and purpose.
Sec. 3. Definitions.
Sec. 4. Establishment of the Data Protection Agency.
Sec. 5. Executive and administrative powers.
Sec. 6. Purpose, objectives, and functions of the Agency.
Sec. 7. Rulemaking authority.
Sec. 8. Specific agency authorities.
Sec. 9. Enforcement powers.
Sec. 10. Preservation of State law.
Sec. 11. Reports and information.
Sec. 12. Transfers of functions.
Sec. 13. Authorization of appropriations.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            (1) Privacy is an important fundamental individual right 
        protected by the Constitution of the United States.
            (2) The right of privacy is widely recognized in 
        international legal instruments that the United States has 
        endorsed, ratified, or promoted.
            (3) The right to privacy protects the individual against 
        intrusions into seclusion, protects individual autonomy, 
        safeguards fair processing of data that pertains to the 
        individual, advances the just processing of data, and 
        contributes to respect for individual civil rights and 
        fundamental freedoms.
            (4) Privacy protections not only protect and benefit the 
        individual, but they also advance other societal interests, 
        including the protection of marginalized and vulnerable groups 
        of individuals, the safeguarding of other foundational values 
        of our democracy, such as freedom of information, freedom of 
        speech, justice, and human ingenuity and dignity, as well as 
        the integrity of democratic institutions, including fair and 
        open elections.
            (5) The privacy of an individual is directly affected by 
        the collection, maintenance, use, and dissemination of personal 
        data.
            (6) The increasing digitalization of information and its 
        application in classifying individuals and groups of 
        individuals has greatly magnified the harm to individual 
        privacy that can occur from the collection, maintenance, use, 
        or dissemination of personal data.
            (7) The opportunities for an individual to secure 
        employment, insurance, credit, and housing and the right to due 
        process and other legal protections are endangered by the 
        unrestricted collection, disclosure, processing, and misuse of 
        personal data.
            (8) Information systems lacking privacy protection amplify 
        bias.
            (9) In order to protect the privacy of individuals, it is 
        necessary and proper for Congress to regulate the collection, 
        maintenance, use, processing, storage, and dissemination of 
        information.
    (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to establish a data 
protection agency to--
            (1) safeguard privacy, promote innovation, ensure 
        compliance with the law, and promote best practices;
            (2) provide guidance on matters related to electronic data 
        storage, communication, and usage;
            (3) provide the public with information and guidance on 
        privacy protections and fair information practices and 
        principles;
            (4) oversee Federal agencies' implementation of section 
        552a of title 5, United States Code;
            (5) promote implementation of fair information practices in 
        the public and private sector; and
            (6) represent the United States in international forums.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Agency.--The term ``Agency'' means the Data Protection 
        Agency established under section 4.
            (2) Covered entity.--The term ``covered entity'' means any 
        person that collects, processes, or otherwise obtains personal 
        data with the exception of an individual processing personal 
        data in the course of personal or household activity.
            (3) Federal privacy law.--
                    (A) In general.--The term ``Federal privacy law'' 
                means the provisions of this Act, the laws specified in 
                subparagraph (B), and any rule or order prescribed by 
                the Agency under this Act or pursuant to the 
                authorities transferred under this Act. Such term shall 
                not include the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 
                41 et seq.).
                    (B) Specified laws.--The laws specified in this 
                subparagraph are the following laws (including any 
                amendments made by such laws):
                            (i) The Children's Online Privacy 
                        Protection Act (15 U.S.C. 6501 et seq.).
                            (ii) The CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 (15 U.S.C 
                        7701 et seq.).
                            (iii) The Do-Not-Call Implementation Act 
                        (15 U.S.C. 6152 et seq.) and Public Law 108-82 
                        (15 U.S.C. 6151).
                            (iv) The Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 
                        U.S.C. 1681 et seq.).
                            (v) Title V of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act 
                        (15 U.S.C. 6801 et seq.).
                            (vi) Subtitle D of the Health Information 
                        Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act 
                        (42 U.S.C. 17921 et seq.).
                            (vii) The Identity Theft Assumption and 
                        Deterrence Act of 1998 (Pub. L. 105-318).
                            (viii) The Telemarketing and Consumer Fraud 
                        and Abuse Prevention Act (15 U.S.C. 6101 et 
                        seq.).
                            (ix) Section 227 of the Communications Act 
                        of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 227) (commonly known as the 
                        ``Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991'').
            (4) High-risk data practice.--The term ``high-risk data 
        practice'' means an action by a covered entity that involves--
                    (A) a systematic or extensive evaluation of 
                personal data that is based on automated processing, 
                including profiling, and on which decisions are based 
                that produce legal effects concerning the individual or 
                household or similarly significantly affect the 
                individual or household;
                    (B) sensitive data uses;
                    (C) a systemic monitoring of publicly accessible 
                data on a large scale;
                    (D) processing involving the use of new 
                technologies, or combinations of technologies, that 
                creates adverse consequences or potential adverse 
                consequences to an individual or society;
                    (E) decisions about an individual's access to a 
                product, service, opportunity, or benefit which is 
                based to any extent on automated processing;
                    (F) any profiling of individuals on a large scale;
                    (G) any processing of biometric data for the 
                purpose of uniquely identifying an individual;
                    (H) any processing of genetic data, other than data 
                processed by a health care professional for the purpose 
                of providing health care to the individual;
                    (I) combining, comparing, or matching personal data 
                obtained from multiple sources;
                    (J) processing the personal data of an individual 
                that has not been obtained directly from the 
                individual;
                    (K) processing which involves tracking an 
                individual's geolocation; or
                    (L) the use of personal data of children or other 
                vulnerable individuals for marketing purposes, 
                profiling, or automated processing.
            (5) Personal data.--The term ``personal data'' means any 
        information that identifies, relates to, describes, is capable 
        of being associated with, or could reasonably be linked, 
        directly or indirectly, with a particular individual or device, 
        including--
                    (A) an identifier such as a real name, alias, 
                signature, date of birth, gender identity, sexual 
                orientation, marital status, physical characteristic or 
                description, postal address, telephone number, unique 
                personal identifier, military identification number, 
                online identifier, Internet Protocol address, email 
                address, account name, mother's maiden name, social 
                security number, driver's license number, passport 
                number, or other similar identifiers;
                    (B) information such as employment status, 
                employment history, or other professional or 
                employment-related information;
                    (C) bank account number, credit card number, debit 
                card number, insurance policy number, or any other 
                financial information;
                    (D) medical information, mental health information, 
                or health insurance information;
                    (E) commercial information, including records of 
                personal property, products or services purchased, 
                obtained, or considered, or other purchasing or 
                consuming histories or tendencies;
                    (F) characteristics of protected classes under 
                Federal law, including race, color, national origin, 
                religion, sex, age, or disability;
                    (G) biometric information;
                    (H) internet or other electronic network activity 
                information, including browsing history, search 
                history, content, and information regarding an 
                individual's interaction with an internet website, 
                mobile application, or advertisement;
                    (I) historical or real-time geolocation data;
                    (J) audio, electronic, visual, thermal, olfactory, 
                or similar information;
                    (K) education records;
                    (L) political information;
                    (M) password-protected digital photographs and 
                digital videos not otherwise available to the public;
                    (N) information on criminal convictions or arrests;
                    (O) information (such as an Internet Protocol 
                address or other similar identifier) that allows an 
                individual or device to be singled out for interaction, 
                even without identification of such individual or 
                device; and
                    (P) inferences drawn from any of the information 
                identified in this subparagraph to create a profile 
                about an individual reflecting the individual's 
                preferences, characteristics, psychological trends, 
                predispositions, behavior, attitudes, intelligence, 
                abilities, and aptitudes.
            (6) Process.--The term ``process'' means to perform an 
        operation or set of operations on personal data, either 
        manually or by automated means, including but not limited to 
        collecting, recording, organizing, structuring, storing, 
        adapting or altering, retrieving, consulting, using, disclosing 
        by transmission, sorting, classifying, disseminating or 
        otherwise making available, aligning or combining, restricting, 
        erasing or destroying.
            (7) Profile.--The term ``profile'' means the use of an 
        automated means to process data (including personal data and 
        other data) to derive, infer, predict, or evaluate information 
        about an individual or group, such as the processing of data to 
        analyze or predict an individual's identity, attributes, 
        interests, or behavior.
            (8) Sensitive data use.--The term ``sensitive data use'' 
        means--
                    (A) the processing of data in a manner that reveals 
                an individual's race, color, ethnicity, religion or 
                creed, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender, gender 
                identity, sexuality, sexual orientation, political 
                beliefs, trade union membership, familial status, 
                lawful source of income, financial status (such as the 
                individual's income or assets), veteran status, 
                criminal convictions or arrests, citizenship, past, 
                present, or future physical or mental health or 
                condition, psychological states, disability, geospatial 
                data, or any other factor used as a proxy for 
                identifying any of these characteristics; or
                    (B) the use of the biometric or genetic data of an 
                individual.
            (9) Transfer date.--The term ``transfer date'' means the 
        date that is 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act.

SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE DATA PROTECTION AGENCY.

    (a) Establishment.--
            (1) In general.--There is established in the Executive 
        branch an agency to be known as the ``Data Protection Agency'' 
        which shall regulate the processing of personal data.
            (2) Status.--The Agency shall be an independent 
        establishment (as defined in section 104 of title 5, United 
        States Code).
    (b) Director and Deputy Director.--
            (1) In general.--There is established a position of the 
        Director of the United States Data Protection Agency (referred 
        to in this Act as the ``Director''), who shall serve as the 
        head of the Agency.
            (2) Appointment.--Subject to paragraph (3), the Director 
        shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and 
        consent of the Senate.
            (3) Qualification.--The President shall nominate the 
        Director from among members of the public at large who are well 
        qualified for service on the Agency by virtue of their 
        knowledge and expertise in--
                    (A) technology;
                    (B) protection of personal data;
                    (C) civil rights and liberties;
                    (D) law;
                    (E) social sciences; and
                    (F) business.
            (4) Compensation.--
                    (A) In general.--The Director shall be compensated 
                at the rate prescribed for level II of the Executive 
                Schedule under section 5313 of title 5, United States 
                Code.
                    (B) Conforming amendment.--Section 5313 of title 5, 
                United States Code, is amended by inserting after the 
                item relating to the Federal Transit Administrator the 
                following new item:
            ``Director of the United States Data Protection Agency.''.
            (5) Deputy director.--There is established the position of 
        Deputy Director, who shall--
                    (A) be appointed by the Director; and
                    (B) serve as acting Director in the absence or 
                unavailability of the Director.
    (c) Term.--
            (1) In general.--The Director shall serve for a term of 5 
        years.
            (2) Expiration of term.--An individual may serve as 
        Director after the expiration of the term for which appointed, 
        until a successor has been appointed and qualified.
            (3) Removal for cause.--The President may remove the 
        Director for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in 
        office.
    (d) Service Restriction.--No Director or Deputy Director may engage 
in any other employment during the period of service of such person as 
Director or Deputy Director.
    (e) Offices.--The principal office of the Agency shall be in the 
District of Columbia. The Director may establish regional offices of 
the Agency.

SEC. 5. EXECUTIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE POWERS.

    (a) Powers of the Agency.--The Director is authorized to establish 
the general polices of the Agency with respect to all executive and 
administrative functions, including--
            (1) the establishment of rules for conducting the general 
        business of the Agency, in a manner not inconsistent with this 
        Act;
            (2) to bind the Agency and enter into contracts;
            (3) directing the establishment and maintenance of 
        divisions or other offices within the Agency, in order to carry 
        out the responsibilities of the Agency under this Act and 
        Federal privacy law, and to satisfy the requirements of other 
        applicable law;
            (4) to coordinate and oversee the operation of all 
        administrative, enforcement, and research activities of the 
        Agency;
            (5) to adopt and use a seal;
            (6) to determine the character of and the necessity for the 
        obligations and expenditures of the Agency;
            (7) the appointment and supervision of personnel employed 
        by the Agency;
            (8) the distribution of business among personnel appointed 
        and supervised by the Director and among administrative units 
        of the Agency;
            (9) the use and expenditure of funds;
            (10) implementing this Act and the Federal privacy laws 
        through rules, orders, guidance, interpretations, statements of 
        policy, examinations, and enforcement actions; and
            (11) performing such other functions as may be authorized 
        or required by law.
    (b) Delegation of Authority.--The Director may delegate to any duly 
authorized employee, representative, or agent any power vested in the 
Agency by law.
    (c) Autonomy of Agency Regarding Recommendations and Testimony.--No 
officer or agency of the United States shall have any authority to 
require the Director or any other officer of the Agency to submit 
legislative recommendations, or testimony or comments on legislation, 
to any officer or agency of the United States for approval, comments, 
or review prior to the submission of such recommendations, testimony, 
or comments to the Congress, if such recommendations, testimony, or 
comments to the Congress include a statement indicating that the views 
expressed therein are those of the Director or such officer, and do not 
necessarily reflect the views of the President.

SEC. 6. PURPOSE, OBJECTIVES, AND FUNCTIONS OF THE AGENCY.

    (a) Purpose.--The Agency shall seek to protect individuals' privacy 
and limit the collection, disclosure, processing, and misuse of 
individuals' personal data by covered entities, and is authorized to 
exercise its authorities under this Act for such purposes.
    (b) Functions.--The primary functions of the agency are--
            (1) providing leadership and coordination to the efforts of 
        all Federal departments and agencies to enforce all Federal 
        statutes, Executive orders, regulations and policies which 
        involve privacy or data protection;
            (2) maximizing effort, promoting efficiency, and 
        eliminating conflict, competition, duplication, and 
        inconsistency among the operations, functions, and 
        jurisdictions of Federal departments and agencies responsible 
        for privacy or data protection, data protection rights and 
        standards, and fair information practices and principles;
            (3) providing active leadership, guidance, education, and 
        appropriate assistance to private sector businesses, and 
        organizations, groups, institutions, and individuals regarding 
        privacy, data protection rights and standards, and fair 
        information practices and principles;
            (4) requiring and overseeing ex-ante impact assessments and 
        ex-post outcomes audits of high-risk data practices by covered 
        entities to advance fair and just data practices;
            (5) examining the social, ethical, economic, and civil 
        rights impacts of high-risk data practices and propose 
        remedies;
            (6) ensuring that privacy practices and processing are 
        fair, just, and comply with fair information practices;
            (7) ensuring fair contract terms in the market, including 
        the prohibition of ``pay-for-privacy provisions'' and ``take-
        it-or leave it'' terms of service;
            (8) promoting privacy enhancing techniques, such as privacy 
        by design and data minimization techniques;
            (9) collecting, researching, and responding to consumer 
        complaints;
            (10) initiating a formal public rulemaking process at the 
        Agency before any new high-risk data practice or other related 
        profiling technique can be implemented;
            (11) reviewing and approving new high-risk techniques or 
        applications, giving special consideration to minors and 
        sensitive data uses;
            (12) regulating consumer scoring and other business 
        practices that pertain to the eligibility of an individual for 
        rights, benefits, or privileges in employment (including 
        hiring, firing, promotion, demotion, and compensation), credit 
        and insurance (including denial of an application or obtaining 
        less favorable terms), housing, education, professional 
        certification, or the provision of health care and related 
        services;
            (13) developing model privacy, data protection, and fair 
        information practices, standards, guidelines, policies, and 
        routine uses for use by the private sector;
            (14) issuing rules, orders, and guidance implementing 
        Federal privacy law;
            (15) upon written request, providing appropriate assistance 
        to the private sector in implementing privacy, data protection, 
        and fair information practices, principles, standards, 
        guidelines, policies, or routine uses of privacy and data 
        protection, and fair information; and
            (16) enforce other privacy statutes and rules as authorized 
        by Congress.

SEC. 7. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY.

    (a) In General.--The Agency is authorized to exercise its 
authorities under this Act and Federal privacy law to administer, 
enforce, and otherwise implement the provisions of this Act and Federal 
privacy law.
    (b) Rulemaking, Orders, and Guidance.--
            (1) General authority.--The Director may prescribe rules 
        and issue orders and guidance, as may be necessary or 
        appropriate to enable the Agency to administer and carry out 
        the purposes and objectives of this Act and Federal privacy 
        law, and to prevent evasions thereof.
            (2) Regulations.--The Agency may issue such regulations, 
        after notice and comment in accordance with section 553 of 
        title 5, United States Code, as may be necessary to carry out 
        this Act.
            (3) Standards for rulemaking.--In prescribing a rule under 
        the Federal privacy laws--
                    (A) the Agency shall consider--
                            (i) the potential benefits and costs to 
                        individuals or groups of individuals; and
                            (ii) the impact of proposed rules on 
                        individuals or groups of individuals;
                    (B) the Agency may provide that a rule shall only 
                apply to a subcategory of covered entities, as defined 
                by the Agency; and
                    (C) the Agency shall consult with civil society 
                groups and members of the public.
    (c) Monitoring.--In order to support its rulemaking and other 
functions, the Agency shall monitor for risks to individuals in the 
collection, disclosure, processing, and misuse of personal data.

SEC. 8. SPECIFIC AGENCY AUTHORITIES.

    (a) Supervision of Very Large Covered Entities.--
            (1) In general.--This subsection shall apply to any covered 
        entity that satisfies one or more of the following thresholds:
                    (A) The entity has annual gross revenues that 
                exceed $25,000,000.
                    (B) The entity annually buys, receives for the 
                covered entity's commercial purposes, sells, or 
                discloses for commercial purposes, alone or in 
                combination, the personal information of 50,000 or more 
                individuals, households, or devices.
                    (C) The entity derives 50 percent or more of its 
                annual revenues from the sale of personal data.
            (2) Supervision.--The Agency may require reports and 
        conduct examinations on a periodic basis of covered entities 
        described in paragraph (1) for purposes of--
                    (A) assessing compliance with the requirements of 
                Federal privacy laws;
                    (B) obtaining information about the activities 
                subject to such laws and the associated compliance 
                systems or procedures of such entities;
                    (C) detecting and assessing associated risks to 
                individuals and groups of individuals; and
                    (D) requiring and overseeing ex-ante impact 
                assessments and ex-post outcome audits of high-risk 
                data practices to advance fair and just data practices.
    (b) Prohibiting Unfair or Deceptive Acts and Practices.--
            (1) In general.--The Agency may take any action authorized 
        under this Act to prevent a covered entity from committing or 
        engaging in an unfair or deceptive act or practice (as defined 
        by the Agency under this subsection) in connection with the 
        collection, disclosure, processing, and misuse of personal 
        data.
            (2) Rulemaking.--The Agency may prescribe rules applicable 
        to a covered entity identifying as unlawful, unfair, or 
        deceptive acts or practices in connection with the collection, 
        disclosure, processing, and misuse of personal data. Rules 
        under this section may include requirements for the purpose of 
        preventing such acts or practices.
            (3) Unfairness.--
                    (A) In general.--The Agency shall have no authority 
                under this section to declare an act or practice in 
                connection with the collection, disclosure, processing, 
                and misuse of personal data to be unlawful on the 
                grounds that such act or practice is unfair, unless the 
                Agency has a reasonable basis to conclude that--
                            (i) the act or practice causes or is likely 
                        to cause substantial injury to consumers which 
                        is not reasonably avoidable by consumers; and
                            (ii) such substantial injury is not 
                        outweighed by countervailing benefits to 
                        consumers or to competition.
                    (B) Consideration of public policies.--In 
                determining whether an act or practice is unfair, the 
                Agency may consider established public policies as 
                evidence to be considered with all other evidence. Such 
                public policy considerations may not serve as a primary 
                basis for such determination.
    (c) Response to Consumer Complaints and Inquiries.--
            (1) Timely regulator response to consumers.--The Agency 
        shall establish, in consultation with the appropriate Federal 
        regulatory agencies, reasonable procedures to provide a timely 
        response to consumers, in writing where appropriate, to 
        complaints against, or inquiries concerning, a covered entity, 
        including--
                    (A) steps that have been taken by the regulator in 
                response to the complaint or inquiry of the consumer;
                    (B) any responses received by the regulator from 
                the covered entity; and
                    (C) any follow-up actions or planned follow-up 
                actions by the regulator in response to the complaint 
                or inquiry of the consumer.
            (2) Timely response to regulator by covered entity.--A 
        covered entity subject to supervision and primary enforcement 
        by the Agency pursuant to this Act shall provide a timely 
        response to the Agency, in writing where appropriate, 
        concerning a consumer complaint or inquiry, including--
                    (A) steps that have been taken by the covered 
                entity to respond to the complaint or inquiry of the 
                consumer;
                    (B) responses received by the covered entity from 
                the consumer; and
                    (C) follow-up actions or planned follow-up actions 
                by the covered entity to respond to the complaint or 
                inquiry of the consumer.
            (3) Routing complaints to states.--To the extent 
        practicable, State agencies may receive appropriate complaints 
        from the systems established by the Agency under this 
        subsection, if--
                    (A) the State agency system has the functional 
                capacity to receive calls or electronic reports routed 
                by the Agency systems;
                    (B) the State agency has satisfied any conditions 
                of participation in the system that the Agency may 
                establish, including treatment of personal information 
                and sharing of information on complaint resolution or 
                related compliance procedures and resources; and
                    (C) participation by the State agency includes 
                measures necessary to provide for protection of 
                personal information that conform to the standards for 
                protection of the confidentiality of personal 
                information and for data integrity and security that 
                apply to Federal agencies.

SEC. 9. ENFORCEMENT POWERS.

    (a) Joint Investigations.--The Agency or, where appropriate, an 
Agency investigator, may engage in joint investigations and requests 
for information, as authorized under this Act.
    (b) Subpoenas.--
            (1) In general.--The Agency or an Agency investigator may 
        issue subpoenas for the attendance and testimony of witnesses 
        and the production of relevant papers, books, documents, or 
        other material in connection with hearings under this Act.
            (2) Failure to obey.--In the case of contumacy or refusal 
        to obey a subpoena issued pursuant to this paragraph and served 
        upon any person, the district court of the United States for 
        any district in which such person is found, resides, or 
        transacts business, upon application by the Agency or an Agency 
        investigator and after notice to such person, may issue an 
        order requiring such person to appear and give testimony or to 
        appear and produce documents or other material.
            (3) Contempt.--Any failure to obey an order of the court 
        under this subsection may be punished by the court as a 
        contempt thereof.
    (c) Litigation Authority.--
            (1) In general.--If any covered entity violates a Federal 
        privacy law, the Agency may commence a civil action against 
        such covered entity to impose a civil penalty or to seek all 
        appropriate legal and equitable relief including a permanent or 
        temporary injunction as permitted by law.
            (2) Representation.--The Agency may act in its own name and 
        through its own attorneys in enforcing any provision of this 
        Act, rules thereunder, or any other law or regulation, or in 
        any action, suit, or proceeding to which the Agency is a party.
            (3) Compromise of actions.--The Agency may compromise or 
        settle any action if such compromise is approved by the court.
            (4) Notice to the attorney general.--
                    (A) In general.--When commencing a civil action 
                under Federal privacy law, or any rule thereunder, the 
                Agency shall notify the Attorney General.
                    (B) Notice and coordination.--
                            (i) Notice of other actions.--In addition 
                        to any notice required under subparagraph (A), 
                        the Agency shall notify the Attorney General 
                        concerning any action, suit, or proceeding to 
                        which the Agency is a party.
                            (ii) Coordination.--In order to avoid 
                        conflicts and promote consistency regarding 
                        litigation of matters under Federal law, the 
                        Attorney General and the Agency shall consult 
                        regarding the coordination of investigations 
                        and proceedings, including by negotiating an 
                        agreement for coordination by not later than 
                        180 days after the transfer date. The agreement 
                        under this clause shall include provisions to 
                        ensure that parallel investigations and 
                        proceedings involving the Federal privacy laws 
                        are conducted in a manner that avoids conflicts 
                        and does not impede the ability of the Attorney 
                        General to prosecute violations of Federal 
                        criminal laws.
                            (iii) Rule of construction.--Nothing in 
                        this subparagraph shall be construed to limit 
                        the authority of the Agency under this Act, 
                        including the authority to interpret Federal 
                        privacy law.
            (5) Forum.--Any civil action brought under this Act may be 
        brought in a United States district court or in any court of 
        competent jurisdiction of a state in a district in which the 
        defendant is located or resides or is doing business, and such 
        court shall have jurisdiction to enjoin such person and to 
        require compliance with any Federal privacy law.
            (6) Time for bringing action.--
                    (A) In general.--Except as otherwise permitted by 
                law or equity, no action may be brought under this Act 
                more than 3 years after the date of discovery of the 
                violation to which an action relates.
                    (B) Limitations under other federal laws.--
                            (i) In general.--An action arising under 
                        this Act does not include claims arising solely 
                        under the Federal privacy laws.
                            (ii) Agency authority.--In any action 
                        arising solely under a Federal privacy law, the 
                        Agency may commence, defend, or intervene in 
                        the action in accordance with the requirements 
                        of that provision of law, as applicable.
                            (iii) Transferred authority.--In any action 
                        arising solely under laws for which authorities 
                        were transferred under this Act, the Agency may 
                        commence, defend, or intervene in the action in 
                        accordance with the requirements of that 
                        provision of law, as applicable.
    (d) Relief Available.--
            (1) Jurisdiction.--The court (or the Agency, as the case 
        may be) in an action or adjudication proceeding brought under 
        Federal privacy law, shall have jurisdiction to grant any 
        appropriate legal or equitable relief with respect to a 
        violation of Federal privacy law, including a violation of a 
        rule or order prescribed under a Federal privacy law.
            (2) Relief.--Relief under this section may include, without 
        limitation--
                    (A) rescission or reformation of contracts;
                    (B) refund of moneys;
                    (C) restitution;
                    (D) disgorgement or compensation for unjust 
                enrichment;
                    (E) payment of damages or other monetary relief;
                    (F) public notification regarding the violation, 
                including the costs of notification;
                    (G) limits on the activities or functions of the 
                covered entity; and
                    (H) civil money penalties, as set forth more fully 
                in subsection (f).
            (3) No exemplary or punitive damages.--Nothing in this 
        subsection shall be construed as authorizing the imposition of 
        exemplary or punitive damages.
    (e) Recovery of Costs.--In any action brought by the Agency, a 
State attorney general, or any State regulator to enforce any Federal 
privacy law, the Agency, the State attorney general, or the State 
regulator may recover its costs in connection with prosecuting such 
action if the Agency, the State attorney general, or the State 
regulator is the prevailing party in the action.
    (f) Civil Money Penalty in Court and Administrative Actions.--
            (1) In general.--Any person that violates, through any act 
        or omission, any provision of Federal privacy law shall forfeit 
        and pay a civil penalty pursuant to this subsection.
            (2) Penalty amounts.--
                    (A) First tier.--For any violation of a law, rule, 
                or final order or condition imposed in writing by the 
                Agency, a civil penalty may not exceed $5,000 for each 
                day during which such violation or failure to pay 
                continues.
                    (B) Second tier.--Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), 
                for any person that recklessly engages in a violation 
                of a Federal privacy law, a civil penalty may not 
                exceed $25,000 for each day during which such violation 
                continues.
                    (C) Third tier.--Notwithstanding subparagraphs (A) 
                and (B), for any person that knowingly violates a 
                Federal privacy law, a civil penalty may not exceed 
                $1,000,000 for each day during which such violation 
                continues.
            (3) Mitigating factors.--In determining the amount of any 
        penalty assessed under paragraph (2), the Agency or the court 
        shall take into account the appropriateness of the penalty with 
        respect to--
                    (A) the size of financial resources and good faith 
                of the person charged;
                    (B) the gravity of the violation or failure to pay;
                    (C) the severity of the risks to or losses of the 
                individual or group of individuals affected by the 
                violation;
                    (D) the history of previous violations; and
                    (E) such other matters as justice may require.
            (4) Authority to modify or remit penalty.--The Agency may 
        compromise, modify, or remit any penalty which may be assessed 
        or had already been assessed under paragraph (2). The amount of 
        such penalty, when finally determined, shall be exclusive of 
        any sums owed by the covered entity to the United States in 
        connection with the costs of the proceeding, and may be 
        deducted from any sums owing by the United States to the 
        covered entity charged.
            (5) Notice and hearing.--No civil penalty may be assessed 
        under this subsection with respect to a violation of any 
        Federal privacy law, unless--
                    (A) the Agency gives notice and an opportunity for 
                a hearing to the person accused of the violation; or
                    (B) the appropriate court has ordered such 
                assessment and entered judgment in favor of the Agency.
    (g) Referrals for Criminal Proceedings.--If the Agency obtains 
evidence that any person, domestic or foreign, has engaged in conduct 
that may constitute a violation of Federal criminal law, the Agency 
shall transmit such evidence to the Attorney General of the United 
States, who may institute criminal proceedings under appropriate law. 
Nothing in this section affects any other authority of the Agency to 
disclose information.
    (h) Data Protection Relief Fund.--
            (1) Establishment of relief fund.--There is established in 
        the Treasury of the United States a separate fund to be known 
        as the ``Data Protection Relief Fund'' (referred to in this 
        subsection as the ``Relief Fund'').
            (2) Deposits.--
                    (A) Deposits from the agency.--The Agency shall 
                deposit into the Relief Fund the amount of any civil 
                penalty obtained against any covered entity in any 
                judicial or administrative action the Agency commences 
                to enforce this Act, a regulation promulgated under 
                this Act, or a Federal privacy law.
                    (B) Deposits from the attorney general.--The 
                Attorney General of the United States shall deposit 
                into the Relief Fund the amount of any civil penalty 
                obtained against any covered entity in any judicial or 
                administrative action the Attorney General commences on 
                behalf of the Agency to enforce this Act, a regulation 
                promulgated under this Act, or a Federal privacy law.
            (3) Use of fund amounts.--Notwithstanding section 3302 of 
        title 31, United States Code, amounts in the Relief Fund shall 
        be available to the Agency, without fiscal year limitation, to 
        provide redress, payments or compensation, or other monetary 
        relief to individuals affected by an act or practice for which 
        civil penalties have been obtained under this Act. To the 
        extent that individuals cannot be located or such redress, 
        payments or compensation, or other monetary relief are 
        otherwise not practicable, the Agency may use such funds for 
        the purpose of consumer or business education relating to data 
        protection or for the purpose of engaging in technological 
        research that the Agency considers necessary to enforce this 
        Act and Federal privacy laws.
            (4) Amounts not subject to apportionment.--Notwithstanding 
        any other provision of law, amounts in the Relief Fund shall 
        not be subject to apportionment for purposes of chapter 15 of 
        title 31, United States Code, or under any other authority.

SEC. 10. PRESERVATION OF STATE LAW.

    (a) Relation to State Law.--
            (1) Rule of construction.--This Act may not be construed as 
        annulling, altering, or affecting, or exempting any person 
        subject to the provisions of this title from complying with, 
        the statutes, regulations, orders, or interpretations in effect 
        in any State, except to the extent that any such provision of 
        law is inconsistent with the provisions of this title, and then 
        only to the extent of the inconsistency.
            (2) Greater protection under state law.--For purposes of 
        this paragraph, a statute, regulation, order, or interpretation 
        in effect in any State is not inconsistent with the provisions 
        of this title if the protection that such statute, regulation, 
        order, or interpretation affords to individuals is greater than 
        the protection provided under this Act. A determination 
        regarding whether a statute, regulation, order, or 
        interpretation in effect in any State is inconsistent with the 
        provisions of this title may be made by the Agency on its own 
        motion or in response to a nonfrivolous petition initiated by 
        any interested person.
    (b) Relation to Other Provisions of Federal Privacy Laws That 
Relate to State Law.--No provision of this Act shall be construed as 
modifying, limiting, or superseding the operation of any provision of a 
Federal privacy law that relates to the application of a law in effect 
in any State with respect to such Federal law.
    (c) Preservation of Enforcement Powers of States.--The attorney 
general (or the equivalent thereof) of any State may bring a civil 
action in the name of such State in any district court of the United 
States in that State or in State court that is located in that State 
and that has jurisdiction over the defendant, to enforce provisions of 
this title or regulations issued under this Act, and to secure remedies 
under provisions of this title or remedies otherwise provided under 
other law. A State regulator may bring a civil action or other 
appropriate proceeding to enforce the provisions of this title or 
regulations issued under this Act with respect to any entity that is 
State-chartered, incorporated, licensed, or otherwise authorized to do 
business under State law (except as provided in paragraph (2)), and to 
secure remedies under provisions of this title or remedies otherwise 
provided under other provisions of law with respect to such an entity.
    (d) Preservation of State Authority.--
            (1) State claims.--No provision of this section shall be 
        construed as altering, limiting, or affecting the authority of 
        a State attorney general or any other regulatory or enforcement 
        agency or authority to bring an action or other regulatory 
        proceeding arising solely under the law in effect in that 
        State.
            (2) State consumer protection, privacy, and data 
        regulators.--No provision of this title shall be construed as 
        altering, limiting, or affecting the authority of a State 
        consumer protection, data protection, or privacy agency (or any 
        agency or office performing like functions) under State law to 
        adopt rules, initiate enforcement proceedings, or take any 
        other action with respect to a person regulated by such 
        commission or authority.

SEC. 11. REPORTS AND INFORMATION.

    (a) Reports Required.--Not later than 6 months after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, and every 6 months thereafter, the Director 
shall submit a report to the President and to the Committee on Energy 
and Commerce, the Committee on the Judiciary, and the Committee on 
Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation, the Committee on the Judiciary, 
and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, and shall publish 
such report on the website of the Agency.
    (b) Contents.--Each report required by subsection (a) shall 
include--
            (1) a discussion of the significant problems faced by 
        individuals with respect to the privacy or security of personal 
        information;
            (2) a justification of the budget request of the Agency for 
        the preceding year, unless a justification for such year was 
        included in the preceding report submitted under such 
        subsection;
            (3) a list of the significant rules and orders adopted by 
        the Agency, as well as other significant initiatives conducted 
        by the Agency, during the preceding 6-month period and the plan 
        of the Agency for rules, orders, or other initiatives to be 
        undertaken during the upcoming 6-month period;
            (4) an analysis of complaints about the privacy or security 
        of personal information that the Agency has received and 
        collected in the database described in section 8 during the 
        preceding 6-month period;
            (5) a list, with a brief statement of the issues, of the 
        public enforcement actions to which the Agency was a party 
        during the preceding 6-month period; and
            (6) an assessment of significant actions by State attorneys 
        general or State agencies relating to this Act or the rules 
        prescribed under this Act during the preceding 6-month period.

SEC. 12. TRANSFERS OF FUNCTIONS.

    (a) Federal Trade Commission.--The authority of the Federal Trade 
Commission under a Federal privacy law specified in section 3(3)(B) to 
prescribe rules, issue guidelines, or conduct a study or issue a report 
mandated under such law shall be transferred to the Agency on the 
transfer date. Nothing in this title shall be construed to require a 
mandatory transfer of any employee of the Federal Trade Commission.
    (b) Agency Authority.--
            (1) In general.--The Agency shall have all powers and 
        duties under the Federal privacy laws to prescribe rules, issue 
        guidelines, or to conduct studies or issue reports mandated by 
        such laws, that were vested in the Federal Trade Commission on 
        the day before the transfer date.
            (2) Federal trade commission act.--The Agency may enforce a 
        rule prescribed under the Federal Trade Commission Act (45 
        U.S.C. 41 et seq.) by the Federal Trade Commission with respect 
        to the collection, disclosure, processing, and misuse of 
        personal data.
    (c) Authority of the Federal Trade Commission.--No provision of 
this title shall be construed as modifying, limiting, or otherwise 
affecting the authority of the Federal Trade Commission (including its 
authority with respect to very large entities described in section 
8(a)(1)) under the Federal Trade Commission Act or any other law, other 
than the authority under a Federal privacy law to prescribe rules, 
issue official guidelines, or conduct a study or issue a report 
mandated under such law.
    (d) Authority of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.--No 
provision of this title shall be construed as modifying, limiting, or 
otherwise affecting the authority of the Consumer Financial Protection 
Bureau under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection 
Act (Public Law 111-203) or any other law.

SEC. 13. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    For fiscal year 2020 and each subsequent fiscal year, there are 
authorized to be appropriated to the Agency such sums as may be 
necessary to carry out this Act.
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