BILL NUMBER: SB 1491 CHAPTERED 06/30/06 CHAPTER 54 FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE JUNE 30, 2006 APPROVED BY GOVERNOR JUNE 30, 2006 PASSED THE ASSEMBLY JUNE 19, 2006 PASSED THE SENATE APRIL 20, 2006 AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 18, 2006 AMENDED IN SENATE MARCH 30, 2006 INTRODUCED BY Senator Kuehl FEBRUARY 23, 2006 An act to add Title 1.807 (commencing with Section 1798.79.8) to Part 4 of Division 3 of the Civil Code, relating to domestic violence. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 1491, Kuehl Domestic violence: personal information. Existing law regulates the collection and disclosure of personal information by government agencies and businesses related to, among others, social security numbers, business records, drivers license numbers, medical information, and credit reporting information. This bill would prohibit any person or entity that awards grants to victim service providers, as defined, from requesting or requiring, as a condition of an award, the personally identifying information of victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, or their children, as specified, or the use of specified computer programs or systems that require the disclosure of that personally identifying information. The bill would also make available to any victim service provider aggrieved by a violation of those provisions, injunctive relief and court costs and attorney's fees in certain cases. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Title 1.807 (commencing with Section 1798.79.8) is added to Part 4 of Division 3 of the Civil Code, to read: TITLE 1.807. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING: PERSONAL INFORMATION 1798.79.8. For purposes of this title: (a) "Person or entity" means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, or any business entity, or any state or local agency. (b) "Personally identifying information" means: (1) First and last name or last name only. (2) Home or other physical address, including, but not limited to, a street name or ZIP Code, other than an address obtained pursuant to the California Safe At Home program or a business mailing address for the victim service provider. (3) Electronic mail address or other online contact information, such as an instant messaging user identifier or a screen name that reveals an individual's electronic mail address. (4) Telephone number, other than a business telephone number for the victim service provider. (5) Social security number. (6) Date of birth, with the exception of the year of birth. (7) Internet protocol address or host name that identifies an individual. (8) Any other information, including, but not limited to, the first and last names of children and relatives, racial or ethnic background, or religious affiliation, that, in combination with any other nonpersonally identifying information, would serve to identify any individual. (c) "Victim service provider" means a nongovernmental organization or entity that provides shelter, programs, or services at low cost, no cost, or on a sliding scale to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, or their children, either directly or through other contractual arrangements, including rape crisis centers, domestic violence shelters, domestic violence transitional housing programs, and other programs with the primary mission to provide services to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, or their children, whether or not that program exists in an agency that provides additional services. 1798.79.9. (a) In the course of awarding grants, including, but not limited to, requests for proposals, contracts, or billing procedures, implementing programs, or providing financial support or assistance for the purpose of providing shelter, programs, or services at low cost, no cost, or on a sliding scale to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, or their children, to any victim service provider, it is unlawful for any person or entity to request or require that victim service provider to provide personally identifying information regarding any of the persons to whom it is providing services, it has provided services, or it has considered or is considering providing services. (b) In the course of awarding grants, including, but not limited to, requests for proposals, contracts, or billing procedures, implementing programs, or providing financial support or assistance for the purpose of providing shelter, programs, or services at low cost, no cost, or on a sliding scale to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, or their children, to any victim service provider, it is unlawful for any person or entity to request or require that victim service provider to use any computer software, computer program, computer protocol, or other computer system that requires the disclosure of personally identifying information regarding any of the persons to whom it is providing services, it has provided services, or it has considered or is considering providing services. (c) Nothing in this section is intended to prevent the collection of information for statistical purposes that are necessary for the proper administration of the grant, program, or financial assistance, provided that collection does not require the disclosure of information that would serve to identify any specific individual. 1798.79.95. Injunctive relief shall be available to any victim service provider aggrieved by a violation of this title. The prevailing plaintiff in any action commenced under this section shall be entitled to recover court costs and reasonable attorney's fees if the victim service provider has provided notice of this section and the asserted violation of this section to the defendant and the defendant has failed to cease the violation within five business days of receiving that notice.