1568 Social Security Number exemption

DEPARTMENT OF
PUBLIC WELFARE

Social Security Number Exemption

[41 Pa.B. 4917]
[Saturday, September 10, 2011]

 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 collection of Social Security Numbers (SSN) for Commonwealth license applications for recreational licenses.

 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 applicant applying for or renewing a recreational license (hunting and fishing) to include the applicant'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 Department of Transportation (DOT) issued nondriver identification card number as an alternative to disclosing the applicant's SSN. The Department's previous exemption request was granted by DHHS. See 39 Pa.B. 2058 (April 18, 2009).

 The DHHS granted the Department's request to extend the exemption to continue the collection of a driver's license number or DOT-issued nondriver identification card number instead of an SSN for any applicant for a recreational license. The Department's request was granted because of privacy concerns with the current collection process for SSNs on recreational license applications and that compliance with section 466 (a)(13)(A) of the Social Security Act would 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: Thomas Sheaffer, P. O. Box 8018, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8018.

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

GARY D. ALEXANDER, 
Secretary

 Fiscal Note: 14-NOT-714. No fiscal impact; (8) recommends adoption.

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 11-1568. Filed for public inspection September 9, 2011, 9:00 a.m.]