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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the use and disclosure of social security numbers by |
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institutions of higher education. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 51.981 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 51.981. USE AND DISCLOSURE OF STUDENT'S SOCIAL |
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SECURITY NUMBER. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher |
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Education Coordinating Board. |
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(2) "Institution of higher education" means: |
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(A) an institution of higher education as defined |
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by Section 61.003; or |
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(B) a private or independent institution of |
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higher education as defined by Section 61.003. |
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(b) An institution of higher education may not: |
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(1) use a student's social security number, or another |
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number that includes four or more consecutive digits of a student's |
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social security number, as the student's identification number; |
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(2) print or include in electronic, magnetic, or other |
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machine-readable form a student's social security number on a card |
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or document required for a student to use or access the |
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institution's services, information, or facilities; |
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(3) require a student, former student, or applicant |
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for admission to the institution to use or transmit the |
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individual's social security number over the telephone or Internet |
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to obtain information or access services, unless the connection is |
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secure or the number is encrypted in a manner approved by rule of |
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the coordinating board; |
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(4) post or display a student or former student's |
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social security number, with or without the individual's name, in |
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any place or manner accessible to the public or to students or |
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personnel of the institution generally; or |
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(5) include the social security number of a student, |
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former student, or applicant for admission to the institution in |
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any information that is mailed to the student, former student, or |
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applicant. |
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(c) This section does not prohibit an institution of higher |
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education from: |
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(1) requiring a student or applicant for admission to |
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the institution to disclose the individual's social security number |
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to the institution in person or in an application; |
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(2) maintaining a confidential record of a student's |
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social security number if the institution: |
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(A) holds the social security number in a secure |
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storage facility or location; and |
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(B) provides access to the facility or location |
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by approved personnel only; |
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(3) using social security numbers to comply with state |
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or federal law; or |
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(4) disclosing a student's social security number with |
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the student's express consent to enable the student to participate |
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in a program or activity conducted by another person who requires |
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disclosure of the student's social security number. |
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(d) The coordinating board may adopt rules for the |
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administration of this section. The coordinating board by rule may |
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permit institutions of higher education to use a student's social |
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security number in a manner otherwise prohibited by this section |
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that the coordinating board determines is necessary to enable an |
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institution to carry out its mission or programs effectively. In a |
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rule adopted under this subsection, the coordinating board shall |
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attempt to minimize the risk of disclosure of a student's social |
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security number to unauthorized persons. |
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(e) Not later than September 1, 2011, an institution of |
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higher education must be in compliance with this section and any |
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rules of the coordinating board adopted under this section. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |