1319 Social security number exemption

Social Security Number Exemption

[44 Pa.B. 3823]
[Saturday, June 21, 2014]

 The Department of Public Welfare (Department) is announcing that it has been granted an extension of the exemption from the Title IV-D Child Support Enforcement law requiring the collection of Social Security Numbers (SSN) for the Commonwealth's recreational license applications.

 Under the Social Security Number Privacy Act (act) (71 P. S. §§ 2601—2608), the Department is required to apply to the United States Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) for an exemption from the Federal law that requires an individual applying for or renewing a recreational license for hunting and fishing to include the individual's SSN on the application. See section 466(a)(13)(A) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.A. § 666(a)(13)(A)). The act further provides that if the exemption is granted, an applicant shall be permitted to provide a driver's license number or a Department of Transportation (DOT)-issued nondriver identification card number as an alternative to disclosing the applicant's SSN. The Department's previous exemption requests were granted by DHHS. See 39 Pa.B. 2058 (April 18, 2009) and 41 Pa.B. 4917 (September 10, 2011).

 DHHS granted the Department's request to extend the exemption and continue the collection of a driver's license number or a DOT-issued nondriver identification card number instead of an SSN for any applicant applying for a recreational license. The Department's request was granted because of privacy concerns with the current collection process of SSNs on recreational license applications and because compliance with section 466(a)(13)(A) of the Social Security Act will not increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the Commonwealth's Title IV-D Child Support Enforcement Program. However, any recreational license applicant who does not possess a DOT-issued driver's license number or nondriver identification card number is required to supply an SSN on the recreational license application.

Fiscal Impact

 There is no fiscal impact.

Public Comment

 Interested persons are invited to submit written comments regarding this notice to the Department of Public Welfare, Bureau of Child Support Enforcement, ATTN: Kevin Guistwite, P. O. Box 8018, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8018.

 Persons with a disability who require an auxiliary aid or service can submit comments using the Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Service at [phone] (TDD users) or [phone] (voice users).

BEVERLY D. MACKERETH, 
Secretary

 Fiscal Note: 14-NOT-882. No fiscal impact; (8) recommends adoption.

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 14-1319. Filed for public inspection June 20, 2014, 9:00 a.m.]