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States Move To Prevent ID Theft
by Maureen Sirhal
Identity theft, the fastest-growing consumer crime in America, is becoming a hot-button issue for state lawmakers. California is moving to restrict access to death and birth records, while New Jersey, Georgia, Nevada and other states are trying to bolster the security of their driving-license systems.
California Gov. Gray Davis on Monday unveiled plans to restrict the release of birth and death indices as a way to fight ID theft. Under his proposal, it would be a crime to acquire, possess and sell or transfer any of the state's 41 million birth or death records without authorization. He also proposed the implementation of an electronic death-registration system.
Last December, Davis suspended the release of such state records over the Internet. After reviewing applicable laws, the governor proposed rules that would give only qualified people, such as family members, access to the records. The guidelines also would limit access by state and local employees.
"The guidelines will safeguard individual privacy and prevent fraud," Davis said Monday in a statement. "They will also ensure appropriate access to information for those conducting genealogical research or who have other legitimate needs for such data."
The measure seeks to standardize the way local recorders issue birth and death certificates so that all parties observe the same format and security features. The provisions are included in several bills, including S.B. 1614, a measure sponsored by state Sen. Jackie Speier, who has sponsored multiple bills aiming to increase privacy protections.
In New Jersey, Gov. James McGreevey last week unveiled a state and federal partnership designed to speed security improvements in the state's driving-license system and to prevent ID theft. Under the plan, federal funds will be used to bolster security at Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) facilities.
"In the wake of Sept. 11, we all realize how important security checks are. But if people can obtain fake IDs at their DMV branch, the effectiveness of security checks will be dangerously undermined," McGreevey said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Nevada this month transitioned to digitized driver's licenses, ID cards and instruction permits in an effort to curtail ID theft. The most significant change is the addition of a signature pad at the camera station in DMV offices. Motorists must sign once during the licensing process and again at the camera station to validate their identification. The licenses themselves include a host of new security features.
Jim Reed, a staffer at the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), said many states favor measures that would limit the display of Social Security numbers or tighten the rules for obtaining state-issued ID cards and driver's licenses. But he also noted that much of the activities are also a response to security gaps revealed by the ability of the Sept. 11 terrorists to illegally garner driver's licenses.
NCSL soon will release an updated assessment of what steps states are taking in that arena.
Georgia also recently moved to stiffen penalties for ID theft. Gov. Roy Barnes earlier this month signed a bill, S.B. 475, that makes the possession or use of false IDs illegal and increases the punishment against those caught with fraudulent drivers' licenses, credit cards and ATM cards, among others.
California Gets New Technology Chief
California Gov. Davis announced late last week that John Clark Kelso will serve as chief deputy and interim director for the state's Department of Information Technology (DOIT).
Kelso is the director of the Institute for Legislative Practice at the University of the Pacific law school in Sacramento, where he worked with state leaders on constitutional amendments, legislation and court rules. He also serves as director of the Center for Access to the Courts through Technology. Interim DOIT Director Robert Dresser will return to his position as chief counsel.
Kelso will replace former DOIT Director Elias Cortez, who was suspended for his role in a state software contract with Oracle that could cost taxpayers about $40 million. A legislative audit committee is probing the actions leading to the contract.
Dot-Gov Is Everywhere
More states are ditching their cumbersome Internet addresses that end in .us in favor of the shorter, more efficient .gov domain-name extension. Massachusetts and Nebraska are the latest states to unveil new Web portals using the gov address, which once was solely reserved for federal agencies.
Massachusetts Gov. Jane Swift said earlier this month that her state will post its online government information and services at the Mass.gov portal. The services will be citizen-based rather than organized around the government infrastructure. And Nebraska Lt. Gov. Dave Heineman announced this week that his state's Web site also will migrate to the Nebraska.gov in an effort to ease citizen access.
The state also is deploying a portal that seeks to serve as a one-stop shop for business-to-government transactions. The portal seeks to ease communication for Nebraska businesses keep them up to date on the newest government forms. Heineman said the portal would let businesses create personal profiles and would give them access to bid opportunities, grant resources and information on professional licenses.
Since the General Services Administration (GSA) relaxed rules for using .gov, states have been registering under the domain extension. GSA currently is seeking comments on a new proposal to further expand the use of .gov by enabling other state and local agencies and federally recognized Indian tribes to use the domain. Comments must be submitted on or before July 15.
Virginia's Gilmore Goes To Heritage
Former Virginia Gov. James Gilmore will be assuming a new role as Internet tax guru at the Heritage Foundation, a Washington think tank.
Serving as the newly appointed distinguished fellow, Gilmore will specialize in research of issues like homeland security and Internet taxation. Gilmore also plans to continue his speaking engagements. Sources report that he is slated to speak on behalf of Motorola at upcoming homeland security conferences in Atlanta (June 6) and Dallas (June 12).
In other people news, Texas Gov. Rick Perry last week announced that he has reappointed Rebecca Armendariz as chairwoman of the state's Public Utility Commission. A judge advocate general for the Air Force reserves, Klein is the former senior attorney for the commission and was policy director of general government for President Bush when he was governor of Texas.
The commission oversees electric and telephone operations to ensure that services and rates are fair, and Armendariz will continue to seek a competitive and high-quality utilities infrastructure.
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