Safeguarding Individual Privacy Against Government Invasion Act of 2014

Bill: 113-hr-5772
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Connolly, Gerald E. [D-VA-11]
Introduced: 2014-12-01
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Government liability

Right of privacy
Latest action: action_date: 2014-12-18
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.

Summaries:
action_date: 2014-12-01
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>Safeguarding Individual Privacy Against Government Invasion Act of 2014 - Amends the Privacy Act of 1974 to specify that the liability of the United States in a civil action brought by an individual adversely affected by a federal agency's intentional or willful failure to maintain accurate records concerning the individual is provable damages, including damages that are not pecuniary damages, sustained by the individual as a result of the refusal or failure, or $1,000, whichever is greater. (Currently, the United States is liable for actual damages, a term that is interpreted to be limited to economic harm or pecuniary damages, which excludes damages for mental or emotional distress.)</p>

tv_txt: I 113th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 5772 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES December 1, 2014 Mr. Connolly introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform , and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary , 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 amend section 552a of title 5, United States Code, to unequivocally authorize an award of provable damages, including damages that are not pecuniary damages.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Safeguarding Individual Privacy Against Government Invasion Act of 2014 . 2. Civil remedies under the Privacy Act Section 552a(g)(4)(A) of title 5, United States Code, is amended— (a) by striking actual damages and inserting provable damages, including damages that are not pecuniary damages, ; and (b) by striking , but in no case shall a person entitled to recovery receive less than the sum of $1,000 and inserting or the sum of $1,000, whichever is greater .