THE PRIVACY ACT OF 1974
(5 U.S.C. § 552a, As Amended)
§ 552a. Records maintained on individuals
(a) Definitions
For purposes of this section--
(1) the term "agency" means agency as defined in section 552(f)
of this title;
(2) the term "individual" means a citizen of the United States or
an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence;
(3) the term "maintain" includes maintain, collect, use or
disseminate;
(4) the term "record" means any item, collection, or grouping of
information about an individual that is maintained by an agency, including,
but not limited to, his education, financial transactions, medical history,
and criminal or employment history and that contains his name, or the
identifying number, symbol, or other identifying particular assigned to the
individual, such as a finger or voice print or a photograph;
(5) the term "system of records" means a group of any records
under the control of any agency from which information is retrieved by the
name of the individual or by some identifying number, symbol, or other
identifying particular assigned to the individual;
(6) the term "statistical record" means a record in a system of
records maintained for statistical research or reporting purposes only and not
used in whole or in part in making any determination about an identifiable
individual, except as provided by section 8 of Title 13;
(7) the term "routine use" means, with respect to the disclosure
of a record, the use of such record for a purpose which is compatible with the
purpose for which it was collected;
(8) the term "matching program"--
(A) means any computerized comparison of--
(i) two or more automated systems of records or a system of records with
non-Federal records for the purpose of--
(I) establishing or verifying the eligibility of, or continuing
compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements by, applicants
for, recipients or beneficiaries of, participants in, or providers of
services with respect to, cash or in-kind assistance or payments under
Federal benefit programs, or
(II) recouping payments or delinquent debts under such Federal
benefit programs, or
(ii) two or more automated Federal personnel or payroll systems of
records or a system of Federal personnel or payroll records with
non-Federal records,
(B) but does not include--
(i) matches performed to produce aggregate statistical data without any
personal identifiers;
(ii) matches performed to support any research or statistical project,
the specific data of which may not be used to make decisions concerning
the rights, benefits, or privileges of specific individuals;
(iii) matches performed, by an agency (or component thereof) which
performs as its principal function any activity pertaining to the
enforcement of criminal laws, subsequent to the initiation of a specific
criminal or civil law enforcement investigation of a named person or
persons for the purpose of gathering evidence against such person or
persons;
(iv) matches of tax information (I) pursuant to section 6103(d) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, (II) for purposes of tax administration as
defined in section 6103(b)(4) of such Code, (III) for the purpose of
intercepting a tax refund due an individual under authority granted by
section 404(e), 464, or 1137 of the Social Security Act; or (IV) for the
purpose of intercepting a tax refund due an individual under any other tax
refund intercept program authorized by statute which has been determined
by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to contain
verification, notice, and hearing requirements that are substantially
similar to the procedures in section 1137 of the Social Security Act;
(v) matches--
(I) using records predominantly relating to Federal personnel, that are
performed for routine administrative purposes (subject to guidance
provided by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget pursuant
to subsection (v)); or
(II) conducted by an agency using only records from systems of
records maintained by that agency; if the purpose of the match is not to
take any adverse financial, personnel, disciplinary, or other adverse
action against Federal personnel; or
(vi) matches performed for foreign counterintelligence purposes or to
produce background checks for security clearances of Federal personnel or
Federal contractor personnel; or
(vii) matches performed incident to a levy described in section
6103(k)(8) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986;
(9) the term "recipient agency" means any agency, or contractor
thereof, receiving records contained in a system of records from a source
agency for use in a matching program;
(10) the term "non-Federal agency" means any State or local
government, or agency thereof, which receives records contained in a system of
records from a source agency for use in a matching program;
(11) the term "source agency" means any agency which discloses
records contained in a system of records to be used in a matching program, or
any State or local government, or agency thereof, which discloses records to
be used in a matching program;
(12) the term "Federal benefit program" means any program
administered or funded by the Federal Government, or by any agent or State on
behalf of the Federal Government, providing cash or in-kind assistance in the
form of payments, grants, loans, or loan guarantees to individuals; and
(13) the term "Federal personnel" means officers and employees of
the Government of the United States, members of the uniformed services
(including members of the Reserve Components), individuals entitled to receive
immediate or deferred retirement benefits under any retirement program of the
Government of the United States (including survivor benefits).
(b) Conditions of disclosure: No agency shall disclose any record which is
contained in a system of records by any means of communication to any person, or
to another agency, except pursuant to a written request by, or with the prior
written consent of, the individual to whom the record pertains, unless
disclosure of the record would be--
(1) to those officers and employees of the agency which maintains the record
who have a need for the record in the performance of their duties;
(2) required under section 552 of this title;
(3) for a routine use as defined in subsection (a)(7) of this section and
described under subsection (e)(4)(D) of this section;
(4) to the Bureau of the Census for purposes of planning or carrying out a
census or survey or related activity pursuant to the provisions of Title 13;
(5) to a recipient who has provided the agency with advance adequate
written assurance that the record will be used solely as a statistical
research or reporting record, and the record is to be transferred in a form
that is not individually identifiable;
(6) to the National Archives and Records Administration as a record which
has sufficient historical or other value to warrant its continued preservation
by the United States Government, or for evaluation by the Archivist of the
United States or the designee of the Archivist to determine whether the record
has such value;
(7) to another agency or to an instrumentality of any governmental
jurisdiction within or under the control of the United States for a civil or
criminal law enforcement activity if the activity is authorized by law, and if
the head of the agency or instrumentality has made a written request to the
agency which maintains the record specifying the particular portion desired
and the law enforcement activity for which the record is sought;
(8) to a person pursuant to a showing of compelling circumstances affecting
the health or safety of an individual if upon such disclosure notification is
transmitted to the last known address of such individual;
(9) to either House of Congress, or, to the extent of matter within its
jurisdiction, any committee or subcommittee hereof, any joint committee of
Congress or subcommittee of any such joint committee;
(10) to the Comptroller General, or any of his authorized representatives,
in the course of the performance of the duties of the General Accounting
Office;
(11) pursuant to the order of a court of competent jurisdiction; or
(12) to a consumer reporting agency in accordance with section 3711(e) of
Title 31.
(c) Accounting of Certain Disclosures. Each agency, with respect to each
system of records under its control, shall--
(1) except for disclosures made under subsections (b)(1) or (b)(2) of this
section, keep an accurate accounting of-
(A) the date, nature, and purpose of each disclosure of a record to any
person or to another agency made under subsection (b) of this section; and
(B) the name and address of the person or agency to whom the disclosure
is made;
(2) retain the accounting made under paragraph (1) of this subsection for
at least five years or the life of the record, whichever is longer, after the
disclosure for which the accounting is made;
(3) except for disclosures made under subsection (b)(7) of this section,
make the accounting made under paragraph (1) of this subsection available to
the individual named in the record at his request; and
(4) inform any person or other agency about any correction or notation of
dispute made by the agency in accordance with subsection (d) of this section
of any record that has been disclosed to the person or agency if an accounting
of the disclosure was made.
(d) Access to records. Each agency that maintains a system of records shall--
(1) upon request by any individual to gain access to his record or to any
information pertaining to him which is contained in the system, permit him and
upon his request, a person of his own choosing to accompany him, to review the
record and have a copy made of all or any portion thereof in a form
comprehensible to him, except that the agency may require the individual to
furnish a written statement authorizing discussion of that individual's record
in the accompanying person's presence;
(2) permit the individual to request amendment of a record
pertaining to
him and--
(A) not later than 10 days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal public
holidays) after the date of receipt of such request, acknowledge in writing
such receipt; and
(B) promptly, either--
(i) make any correction of any portion thereof which the individual
believes is not accurate, relevant, timely, or complete; or
(ii) inform the individual of its refusal to amend the record in
accordance with his request, the reason for the refusal, the procedures
established by the agency for the individual to request a review of that
refusal by the head of the agency or an officer designated by the head of
the agency, and the name and business address of that official;
(3) permit the individual who disagrees with the refusal of the agency to
amend his record to request a review of such refusal, and not later than 30
days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal public holidays) from the date
on which the individual requests such review, complete such review and make a
final determination unless, for good cause shown, the head of the agency
extends such 30-day period; and if, after his review, the reviewing official
also refuses to amend the record in accordance with the request, permit the
individual to file with the agency a concise statement setting forth the
reasons for his disagreement with the refusal of the agency, and notify the
individual of the provisions for judicial review of the reviewing official's
determination under subsection (g)(1)(A) of this section;
(4) in any disclosure, containing information about which the individual
has filed a statement of disagreement, occurring after the filing of the
statement under paragraph (3) of this subsection, clearly note any portion of
the record which is disputed and provide copies of the statement and, if the
agency deems it appropriate, copies of a concise statement of the reasons of
the agency for not making the amendments requested, to persons or other
agencies to whom the disputed record has been disclosed; and
(5) nothing in this section shall allow an individual access to any
information compiled in reasonable anticipation of a civil action or
proceeding.
(e) Agency requirements. Each agency that maintains a system of records
shall--
(1) maintain in its records only such information about an individual as is
relevant and necessary to accomplish a purpose of the agency required to be
accomplished by statute or by Executive order of the President;
(2) collect information to the greatest extent practicable directly from
the subject individual when the information may result in adverse
determinations about an individual's rights, benefits, and privileges under
Federal programs;
(3) inform each individual whom it asks to supply information, on the form
which it uses to collect the information or on a separate form that can be
retained by the individual--
(A) the authority (whether granted by statute, or by Executive order of the
President) which authorizes the solicitation of the information and whether
disclosure of such information is mandatory or voluntary;
(B) the principal purpose or purposes for which the information is
intended to be used;
(C) the routine uses which may be made of the information, as published
pursuant to paragraph (4)(D) of this subsection; and
(D) the effects on him, if any, of not providing all or any part of the
requested information;
(4) subject to the provisions of paragraph (11) of this subsection, publish
in the Federal Register upon establishment or revision a notice of the
existence and character of the system of records, which notice shall include--
(A) the name and location of the system;
(B) the categories of individuals on whom records are maintained in the
system;
(C) the categories of records maintained in the system;
(D) each routine use of the records contained in the system, including
the categories of users and the purpose of such use;
(E) the policies and practices of the agency regarding storage,
retrievability, access controls, retention, and disposal of the records;
(F) the title and business address of the agency official who is
responsible for the system of records;
(G) the agency procedures whereby an individual can be notified at his
request if the system of records contains a record pertaining to him;
(H) the agency procedures whereby an individual can be notified at his
request how he can gain access to any record pertaining to him contained in
the system of records, and how he can contest its content; and
(I) the categories of sources of records in the system;
(5) maintain all records which are used by the agency in making any
determination about any individual with such accuracy, relevance, timeliness,
and completeness as is reasonably necessary to assure fairness to the
individual in the determination;
(6) prior to disseminating any record about an individual to any person
other than an agency, unless the dissemination is made pursuant to subsection
(b)(2) of this section, make reasonable efforts to assure that such records
are accurate, complete, timely, and relevant for agency purposes;
(7) maintain no record describing how any individual exercises rights
guaranteed by the First Amendment unless expressly authorized by statute or by
the individual about whom the record is maintained or unless pertinent to and
within the scope of an authorized law enforcement activity;
(8) make reasonable efforts to serve notice on an individual when any
record on such individual is made available to any person under compulsory
legal process when such process becomes a matter of public record;
(9) establish rules of conduct for persons involved in the design,
development, operation, or maintenance of any system of records, or in
maintaining any record, and instruct each such person with respect to such
rules and the requirements of this section, including any other rules and
procedures adopted pursuant to this section and the penalties for
noncompliance;
(10) establish appropriate administrative, technical and physical
safeguards to insure the security and confidentiality of records and to
protect against any anticipated threats or hazards to their security or
integrity which could result in substantial harm, embarrassment,
inconvenience, or unfairness to any individual on whom information is
maintained;
(11) at least 30 days prior to publication of information under paragraph
(4)(D) of this subsection, publish in the Federal Register notice of any new
use or intended use of the information in the system, and provide an
opportunity for interested persons to submit written data, views, or arguments
to the agency; and
(12) if such agency is a recipient agency or a source agency in a matching
program with a non-Federal agency, with respect to any establishment or
revision of a matching program, at least 30 days prior to conducting such
program, publish in the Federal Register notice of such establishment or
revision.
(f) Agency rules. In order to carry out the provisions of this section, each
agency that maintains a system of records shall promulgate rules, in accordance
with the requirements (including general notice) of section 553 of this title,
which shall--
(1) establish procedures whereby an individual can be notified in response to
his request if any system of records named by the individual contains a record
pertaining to him;
(2) define reasonable times, places, and requirements for identifying an
individual who requests his record or information pertaining to him before the
agency shall make the record or information available to the individual;
(3) establish procedures for the disclosure to an individual upon his
request of his record or information pertaining to him, including special
procedure, if deemed necessary, for the disclosure to an individual of medical
records, including psychological records, pertaining to him;
(4) establish procedures for reviewing a request from an individual
concerning the amendment of any record or information pertaining to the
individual, for making a determination on the request, for an appeal within
the agency of an initial adverse agency determination, and for whatever
additional means may be necessary for each individual to be able to exercise
fully his rights under this section; and
(5) establish fees to be charged, if any, to any individual for making
copies of his record, excluding the cost of any search for and review of the
record.
The Office of the Federal Register shall biennially compile and publish the
rules promulgated under this subsection and agency notices published under
subsection (e)(4) of this section in a form available to the public at low cost.
(g)(1) Civil remedies
Whenever any agency
(A) makes a determination under subsection (d)(3) of this section not to
amend an individual's record in accordance with his request, or fails to
make such review in conformity with that subsection;
(B) refuses to comply with an individual request under subsection (d)(1)
of this section;
(C) fails to maintain any record concerning any individual with such
accuracy, relevance, timeliness, and completeness as is necessary to assure
fairness in any determination relating to the qualifications, character,
rights, or opportunities of, or benefits to the individual that may be made
on the basis of such record, and consequently a determination is made which
is adverse to the individual; or
(D) fails to comply with any other provision of this section, or any rule
promulgated thereunder, in such a way as to have an adverse effect on an
individual, the individual may bring a civil action against the agency, and
the district courts of the United States shall have jurisdiction in the
matters under the provisions of this subsection.
(2)(A) In any suit brought under the provisions of subsection (g)(1)(A) of
this section, the court may order the agency to amend the individual's record
in accordance with his request or in such other way as the court may direct.
In such a case the court shall determine the matter de novo.
(B) The court may assess against the United States reasonable attorney
fees and other litigation costs reasonably incurred in any case under this
paragraph in which the complainant has substantially prevailed.
(3)(A) In any suit brought under the provisions of subsection (g)(1)(B) of
this section, the court may enjoin the agency from withholding the records and
order the production to the complainant of any agency records improperly
withheld from him. In such a case the court shall determine the matter de
novo, and may examine the contents of any agency records in camera to
determine whether the records or any portion thereof may be withheld under any
of the exemptions set forth in subsection (k) of this section, and the burden
is on the agency to sustain its action.
(B) The court may assess against the United States reasonable attorney
fees and other litigation costs reasonably incurred in any case under this
paragraph in which the complainant has substantially prevailed.
(4) In any suit brought under the provisions of subsection (g)(1)(C) or (D)
of this section in which the court determines that the agency acted in a
manner which was intentional or willful, the United States shall be liable to
the individual in an amount equal to the sum of--
(A) actual damages sustained by the individual as a result of the refusal or
failure, but in no case shall a person entitled to recovery receive less
than the sum of $1,000; and
(B) the costs of the action together with reasonable attorney fees as
determined by the court.
(5) An action to enforce any liability created under this section may be
brought in the district court of the United States in the district in which
the complainant resides, or has his principal place of business, or in which
the agency records are situated, or in the District of Columbia, without
regard to the amount in controversy, within two years from the date on which
the cause of action arises, except that where an agency has materially and
willfully misrepresented any information required under this section to be
disclosed to an individual and the information so misrepresented is material
to establishment of the liability of the agency to the individual under this
section, the action may be brought at any time within two years after
discovery by the individual of the misrepresentation. Nothing in this section
shall be construed to authorize any civil action by reason of any injury
sustained as the result of a disclosure of a record prior to September 27,
1975.
(h) Rights of legal guardians. For the purposes of this section, the parent
of any minor, or the legal guardian of any individual who has been declared to
be incompetent due to physical or mental incapacity or age by a court of
competent jurisdiction, may act on behalf of the individual.
(i)(1) Criminal penalties
Any officer or employee of an agency, who by virtue of his employment or
official position, has possession of, or access to, agency records which
contain individually identifiable information the disclosure of which is
prohibited by this section or by rules or regulations established thereunder,
and who knowing that disclosure of the specific material is so prohibited,
willfully discloses the material in any manner to any person or agency not
entitled to receive it, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and fined not more
than $5,000.
(2) Any officer or employee of any agency who willfully maintains a system
of records without meeting the notice requirements of subsection (e)(4) of
this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and fined not more than $5,000.
(3) Any person who knowingly and willfully requests or obtains any record
concerning an individual from an agency under false pretenses shall be guilty
of a misdemeanor and fined not more than $5,000.
(j) General exemptions. The head of any agency may promulgate rules, in
accordance with the requirements (including general notice) of sections
553(b)(1), (2), and (3), (c), and (e) of this title, to exempt any system of
records within the agency from any part of this section except subsections (b),
(c)(1) and (2), (e)(4)(A) through (F), (e)(6), (7), (9), (10), and (11), and (i)
if the system of records is--
(1) maintained by the Central Intelligence Agency; or
(2) maintained by an agency or component thereof which performs as its
principal function any activity pertaining to the enforcement of criminal
laws, including police efforts to prevent, control, or reduce crime or to
apprehend criminals, and the activities of prosecutors, courts, correctional,
probation, pardon,or parole authorities, and which consists of (A) information
compiled for the purpose of identifying individual criminal offenders and
alleged offenders and consisting only of identifying data and notations of
arrests, the nature and disposition of criminal charges, sentencing,
confinement, release, and parole and probation status; (B) information
compiled for the purpose of a criminal investigation, including reports of
informants and investigators, and associated with an identifiable individual;
or (C) reports identifiable to an individual compiled at any stage of the
process of enforcement of the criminal laws from arrest or indictment through
release from supervision.
At the time rules are adopted under this subsection,
the agency shall include in the statement required under section 553(c) of this
title, the reasons why the system of records is to be exempted from a provision
of this section.
(k) Specific exemptions. The head of any agency may promulgate rules, in
accordance with the requirements (including general notice) of sections
553(b)(1), (2), and (3), (c), and (e) of this title, to exempt any system of
records within the agency from subsections (c)(3), (d), (e)(1), (e)(4)(G), (H),
and (I) and (f) of this section if the system of records is--
(1) subject to the provisions of section 552(b)(1) of this title;
(2) investigatory material compiled for law enforcement purposes, other
than material within the scope of subsection (j)(2) of this section: Provided,
however, That if any individual is denied any right, privilege, or benefit
that he would otherwise be entitled by Federal law, or for which he would
otherwise be eligible, as a result of the maintenance of such material, such
material shall be provided to such individual, except to the extent that the
disclosure of such material would reveal the identity of a source who
furnished information to the Government under an express promise that the
identity of the source would be held in confidence, or, prior to the effective
date of this section, under an implied promise that the identity of the source
would be held in confidence;
(3) maintained in connection with providing protective services to the
President of the United States or other individuals pursuant to section 3056
of Title 18;
(4) required by statute to be maintained and used solely as statistical
records;
(5) investigatory material compiled solely for the purpose of determining
suitability, eligibility, or qualifications for Federal civilian employment,
military service, Federal contracts, or access to classified information, but
only to the extent that the disclosure of such material would reveal the
identity of a source who furnished information to the Government under an
express promise that the identity of the source would be held in confidence,
or, prior to the effective date of this section, under an implied promise that
the identity of the source would be held in confidence;
(6) testing or examination material used solely to determine individual
qualifications for appointment or promotion in the Federal service the
disclosure of which would compromise the objectivity or fairness of the
testing or examination process; or
(7) evaluation material used to determine potential for promotion in the
armed services, but only to the extent that the disclosure of such material
would reveal the identity of a source who furnished information to the
Government under an express promise that the identity of the source would be
held in confidence, or, prior to the effective date of this section, under an
implied promise that the identity of the source would be held in confidence.
At the time rules are adopted under this subsection,
the agency shall include in the statement required under section 553(c) of this
title, the reasons why the system of records is to be exempted from a provision
of this section.
(1) Archival records
(1) Each agency record which is accepted by the Archivist of the United States
for storage, processing, and servicing in accordance with section 3103 of
Title 44 shall, for the purposes of this section, be considered to be
maintained by the agency which deposited the record and shall be subject to
the provisions of this section. The Archivist of the United States shall not
disclose the record except to the agency which maintains the record, or under
rules established by that agency which are not inconsistent with the
provisions of this section.
(2) Each agency record pertaining to an identifiable individual which was
transferred to the National Archives of the United States as a record which
has sufficient historical or other value to warrant its continued preservation
by the United States Government, prior to the effective date of this section,
shall, for the purposes of this section, be considered to be maintained by the
National Archives and shall not be subject to the provisions of this section,
except that a statement generally describing such records (modeled after the
requirements relating to records subject to subsections (e)(4)(A) through (G)
of this section) shall be published in the Federal Register.
(3) Each agency record pertaining to an identifiable individual which is
transferred to the National Archives of the United States as a record which
has sufficient historical or other value to warrant its continued preservation
by the United States Government, on or after the effective date of this
section, shall, for the purposes of this section, be considered to be
maintained by the National Archives and shall be exempt from the requirements
of this section except subsections (e)(4)(A) through (G) and (e)(9) of this
section.
(m) Government contractors
(1) When an agency provides by a contract for the operation by or on behalf of
the agency of a system of records to accomplish an agency function, the agency
shall, consistent with its authority, cause the requirements of this section
to be applied to such system. For purposes of subsection (i) of this section
any such contractor and any employee of such contractor, if such contract is
agreed to on or after the effective date of this section, shall be considered
to be an employee of an agency.
(2) A consumer reporting agency to which a record is disclosed under
section 3711(e) of Title 31 shall not be considered a contractor for the
purposes of this section.
(n) Mailing lists
An individual's name and address may not be sold or
rented by an agency unless such action is specifically authorized by law. This
provision shall not be construed to require the withholding of names and
addresses otherwise permitted to be made public.
(o) Matching agreements-- (1) No record which is contained in a system of
records may be disclosed to a recipient agency or non-Federal agency for use in
a computer matching program except pursuant to a written agreement between the
source agency and the recipient agency or non-Federal agency specifying--
(A) the purpose and legal authority for conducting the program;
(B) the justification for the program and the anticipated results,
including a specific estimate of any savings;
(C) a description of the records that will be matched, including each
data element that will be used, the approximate number of records that will
be matched, and the projected starting and completion dates of the matching
program;
(D) procedures for providing individualized notice at the time of
application, and notice periodically thereafter as directed by the Data
Integrity Board of such agency (subject to guidance provided by the Director
of the Office of Management and Budget pursuant to subsection (v)), to--
(i) applicants for and recipients of financial assistance or payments
under Federal benefit programs, and
(ii) applicants for and holders of positions as Federal personnel, that
any information provided by such applicants, recipients, holders, and
individuals may be subject to verification through matching programs;
(E) procedures for verifying information produced in such matching
program as required by subsection (p);
(F) procedures for the retention and timely destruction of identifiable
records created by a recipient agency or non-Federal agency in such matching
program;
(G) procedures for ensuring the administrative, technical, and physical
security of the records matched and the results of such programs;
(H) prohibitions on duplication and redisclosure of records provided by
the source agency within or outside the recipient agency or the non-Federal
agency, except where required by law or essential to the conduct of the
matching program;
(I) procedures governing the use by a recipient agency or non-Federal
agency of records provided in a matching program by a source agency,
including procedures governing return of the records to the source agency or
destruction of records used in such program;
(J) information on assessments that have been made on the accuracy of the
records that will be used in such matching program; and
(K) that the Comptroller General may have access to all records of a
recipient agency or a non-Federal agency that the Comptroller General deems
necessary in order to monitor or verify compliance with the agreement.
(2)(A) A copy of each agreement entered into pursuant to paragraph (1)
shall--
(i) be transmitted to the Committee on Governmental Affairs of the Senate
and the Committee on Government Operations of the House of
Representatives; and
(ii) be available upon request to the public.
(B) No such agreement shall be effective until 30 days after the date on
which such a copy is transmitted pursuant to subparagraph (A)(i).
(C) Such an agreement shall remain in effect only for such period, not to
exceed 18 months, as the Data Integrity Board of the agency determines is
appropriate in light of the purposes, and length of time necessary for the
conduct, of the matching program.
(D) Within 3 months prior to the expiration of such an agreement pursuant
to paragraph (C), the Data Integrity Board of the agency may, without
additional review, renew the matching agreement for a current, ongoing
matching program for not more than one additional year if--
(i) such program will be conducted without any change; and
(ii) each party to the agreement certifies to the Board in writing that
the program has been conducted in compliance with the agreement.
(p) Verification and Opportunity to Contest Findings
(1) In order to protect any individual whose records are used in a matching
program, no recipient agency, non-Federal agency, or source agency may
suspend, terminate, reduce, or make a final denial of any financial assistance
or payment under a Federal benefit program to such individual, or take other
adverse action against such individual, as a result of information produced by
such matching program, until--
(A)(i) the agency has independently verified the information; or
(ii) the Data Integrity Board of the agency, or in the case of a
non-Federal agency the Data Integrity Board of the source agency,
determines in accordance with guidance issued by the Director of the
Office of Management and Budget that--
(I) the information is limited to identification and amount of benefits
paid by the source agency under a Federal benefit program; and
(II) there is a high degree of confidence that the information
provided to the recipient agency is accurate;
(B) the individual receives a notice from the agency containing a statement
of its findings and informing the individual of the opportunity to contest
such findings; and
(C)(i) the expiration of any time period established for the program by
statute or regulation for the individual to respond tothat notice; or
(ii) in the case of a program for which no such period is established, the
end of the 30-day period beginning on the date on which notice under
subparagraph (B) is mailed or otherwise provided to the individual.
(2) Independent verification referred to in paragraph (1) requires
investigation and confirmation of specific information relating to an
individual that is used as a basis for an adverse action against the
individual, including where applicable investigation and confirmation of--
(A) the amount of any asset or income involved;
(B) whether such individual actually has or had access to such asset or
income for such individual's own use; and
(C) the period or periods when the individual actually had such asset or
income.
(3) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), an agency may take any appropriate
action otherwise prohibited by such paragraph if the agency determines that
the public health or public safety may be adversely affected or significantly
threatened during any notice period required by such paragraph.
(q) Sanctions
(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no source agency may disclose
any record which is contained in a system of records to a recipient agency or
non-Federal agency for a matching program if such source agency has reason to
believe that the requirements of subsection (p), or any matching agreement
entered into pursuant to subsection (o), or both, are not being met by such
recipient agency.
(2) No source agency may renew a matching agreement unless--
(A) the recipient agency or non-Federal agency has certified that it has
complied with the provisions of that agreement; and
(B) the source agency has no reason to believe that the certification is
inaccurate.
(r) Report on new systems and matching programs
Each agency that proposes to establish or make a significant change in a
system of records or a matching program shall provide adequate advance notice of
any such proposal (in duplicate) to the Committee on Government Operations of
the House of Representatives, the Committee on Governmental Affairs of the
Senate, and the Office of Management and Budget in order to permit an evaluation
of the probable or potential effect of such proposal on the privacy or other
rights of individuals.
(s) Biennial report
The President shall biennially submit to the Speaker of the House of
Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate a report--
(1) describing the actions of the Director of the Office of Management and
Budget pursuant to section 6 of the Privacy Act of 1974 during the preceding
two years;
(2) describing the exercise of individual rights of access and amendment
under this section during such years;
(3) identifying changes in or additions to systems of records;
(4) containing such other information concerning administration of this
section as may be necessary or useful to the Congress in reviewing the
effectiveness of this section in carrying out the purposes of the Privacy Act
of 1974.
(t) Effect of other laws
(1) No agency shall rely on any exemption contained in section 552 of this
title to withhold from an individual any record which is otherwise accessible
to such individual under the provisions of this section.
(2) No agency shall rely on any exemption in this section to withhold from
an individual any record which is otherwise accessible to such individual
under the provisions of section 552 of this title.
(u) Data Integrity Boards
(1) Every agency conducting or participating in a matching program shall
establish a Data Integrity Board to oversee and coordinate among the various
components of such agency the agency's implementation of this section.
(2) Each Data Integrity Board shall consist of senior officials designated
by the head of the agency, and shall include any senior official designated by
the head of the agency as responsible for implementation of this section, and
the inspector general of the agency, if any. The inspector general shall not
serve as chairman of the Data Integrity Board.
(3) Each Data Integrity Board--
(A) shall review, approve, and maintain all written agreements for receipt
or disclosure of agency records for matching programs to ensure compliance
with subsection (o), and all relevant statutes, regulations, and guidelines;
(B) shall review all matching programs in which the agency has
participated during the year, either as a source agency or recipient agency,
determine compliance with applicable laws, regulations, guidelines, and
agency agreements, and assess the costs and benefits of such programs;
(C) shall review all recurring matching programs in which the agency has
participated during the year, either as a source agency or recipient agency,
for continued justification for such disclosures;
(D) shall compile an annual report, which shall be submitted to the head
of the agency and the Office of Management and Budget and made available to
the public on request, describing the matching activities of the agency,
including--
(i) matching programs in which the agency has participated as a source
agency or recipient agency;
(ii) matching agreements proposed under subsection (o) that were
disapproved by the Board;
(iii) any changes in membership or structure of the Board in the
preceding year;
(iv) the reasons for any waiver of the requirement in paragraph (4) of
this section for completion and submission of a cost-benefit analysis
prior to the approval of a matching program;
(v) any violations of matching agreements that have been alleged or
identified and any corrective action taken; and
(vi) any other information required by the Director of the Office of
Management and Budget to be included in such report;
(E) shall serve as a clearinghouse for receiving and providing
information on the accuracy, completeness, and reliability of records used
in matching programs;
(F) shall provide interpretation and guidance to agency components and
personnel on the requirements of this section for matching programs;
(G) shall review agency recordkeeping and disposal policies and practices
for matching programs to assure compliance with this section; and
(H) may review and report on any agency matching activities that are not
matching programs.
(4)(A) Except as provided in subparagraphs (B) and (C), a Data Integrity
Board shall not approve any written agreement for a matching program unless
the agency has completed and submitted to such Board a cost-benefit analysis
of the proposed program and such analysis demonstrates that the program is
likely to be cost effective.
(B) The Board may waive the requirements of subparagraph (A) of this
paragraph if it determines in writing, in accordance with guidelines
prescribed by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, that a
cost-benefit analysis is not required.
(C) A cost-benefit analysis shall not be required under subparagraph (A)
prior to the initial approval of a written agreement for a matching program
that is specifically required by statute. Any subsequent written agreement
for such a program shall not be approved by the Data Integrity Board unless
the agency has submitted a cost-benefit analysis of the program as conducted
under the preceding approval of such agreement.
(5)(A) If a matching agreement is disapproved by a Data Integrity Board,
any party to such agreement may appeal the disapproval to the Director of the
Office of Management and Budget. Timely notice of the filing of such an appeal
shall be provided by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to
the Committee on Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on
Government Operations of the House of Representatives.
(B) The Director of the Office of Management and Budget may approve a
matching agreement notwithstanding the disapproval of a Data Integrity Board
if the Director determines that--
(i) the matching program will be consistent with all applicable legal,
regulatory, and policy requirements;
(ii) there is adequate evidence that the matching agreement will be
cost- effective; and
(iii) the matching program is in the public interest.
(C) The decision of the Director to approve a matching agreement shall
not take effect until 30 days after it is reported to committees described
in subparagraph (A).
(D) If the Data Integrity Board and the Director of the Office of
Management and Budget disapprove a matching program proposed by the
inspector general of an agency, the inspector general may report the
disapproval to the head of the agency and to the Congress.
(6) The Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall, annually
during the first 3 years after the date of enactment of this subsection and
biennially thereafter, consolidate in a report to the Congress the information
contained in the reports from the various Data Integrity Boards under
paragraph (3)(D). Such report shall include detailed information about costs
and benefits of matching programs that are conducted during the period covered
by such consolidated report, and shall identify each waiver granted by a Data
Integrity Board of the requirement for completion and submission of a
cost-benefit analysis and the reasons for granting the waiver.
(7) In the reports required by paragraphs (3)(D) and (6), agency matching
activities that are not matching programs may be reported on an aggregate
basis, if and to the extent necessary to protect ongoing law enforcement or
counterintelligence investigations.
(v) Office of Management and Budget Responsibilities
The Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall--
(1) develop and, after notice and opportunity for public comment, prescribe
guidelines and regulations for the use of agencies in implementing the
provisions of this section; and
(2) provide continuing assistance to and oversight of the implementation of
this section by agencies.
The following section was originally part of the Privacy Act but was not
codified; it may be found at § 552a (note).
Sec. 7 (a)(1) It shall be unlawful for any Federal, State or local
government agency to deny to any individual any right, benefit, or privilege
provided by law because of such individual's refusal to disclose his social
security account number.
(2) the provisions of paragraph (1) of this subsection shall not apply with
respect to--
(A) any disclosure which is required by Federal statute, or
(B) any disclosure of a social security number to any Federal, State, or
local agency maintaining a system of records in existence and operating
before January 1, 1975, if such disclosure was required under statute or
regulation adopted prior to such date to verify the identity of an
individual.
(b) Any Federal, State or local government agency which requests an
individual to disclose his social security account number shall inform that
individual whether that disclosure is mandatory or voluntary, by what
statutory or other authority such number is solicited, and what uses will be
made of it.
The following sections were originally part of P.L. 100-503, the Computer
Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988; they may be found at § 552a
(note).
Sec. 6 Functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget. (b)
Implementation Guidance for Amendments-- The Director shall, pursuant to
section 552a(v) of Title 5, United States Code, develop guidelines and
regulations for the use of agencies in implementing the amendments made by
this Act not later than 8 months after the date of enactment of this Act.
Sec. 9 Rules of Construction.
Nothing in the amendments made by this Act shall be construed to
authorize--
(1) the establishment or maintenance by any agency of a national data bank
that combines, merges, or links information on individuals maintained in
systems of records by other Federal agencies;
(2) the direct linking of computerized systems of records maintained by
Federal agencies;
(3) the computer matching of records not otherwise authorized by law; or
(4) the disclosure of records for computer matching except to a Federal,
State, or local agency.
Sec. 10 Effective Dates.
(a) In General-- Except as provided in subsection (b), the amendments made
by this Act shall take effect 9 months after the date of enactment of this
Act.
(b) Exceptions-- The amendment made by sections 3(b) [Notice of Matching
Programs - Report to Congress and the Office of Management and Budget], 6
[Functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget], 7
[Compilation of Rules and Notices] and 8 [Annual Report] of this Act shall
take effect upon enactment.
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