Villages of Woodland Springs Homeowners Association

Senator Jane Nelson re: Social Security Number release

Apr 04, 2007

From: Alternate ID Sen. Jane Nelson [mailto:Jane.Nelson@senate.state.tx.us]
Sent: Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Subject: Social Security Number release


Thank you for contacting me regarding the confidentiality of documents maintained by county clerks. I agree wholeheartedly that our personal information must be protected.

This session I filed SB 48 prohibiting county clerks from posting Social Security numbers (SSNs) and other confidential information on the Internet. It also requires that this information be redacted before a document is released to the public.

HB 2061 was approved by the Legislature in response to a recent ruling by the Attorney General's Office about the handling of SSNs. Some county clerks closed their offices due to questions about whether they must retroactively redact SSNs from every document in their possession, especially because many documents in their possession must contain SSNs under federal law. HB 2061 allows citizens to request that their SSNs be redacted from specific documents, but it releases county and district clerks from their responsibility to redact SSNs from all documents in their possession.

I will continue to press forward with SB 48 to provide citizens greater assurances that their private information is protected. Please do not hesitate to contact me again on this or any other issue as the session continues.

Very truly yours,
Senator Jane Nelson