LEGISLATIVE NOTEBOOK

Senate moves to protect confidential laptop info

— John Rodgers, Nashville City Paper

    The Senate passed legislation Thursday that would require state and local governments to create a plan to safeguard confidential information they have stored on laptops.

    Late last year, laptops were stolen from the Davidson County Election Commission that had the Social Security numbers of more than 300,000 registered voters.

    The bill, sponsored by Sen. Dewayne Bunch (R-Cleveland), requires state and local governments to impose safeguards and procedures to ensure that citizens’ confidential information is secure on laptops or other portable devices.

    “This bill simply requires state and local governments to have a plan in place to protect the confidential information of our citizens,” Bunch said. “Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes. If confidential information is stored by government on a personal computer, extra precautions should be taken to protect that information.”

    The bill, which has not passed the House, was approved 31-0.

    It also creates a cause of action for a citizen who can prove that their identity was stolen as a result of not providing the safeguards.