Alabama House Bill HB68

Alabama 2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/6/24
• Refer: 2/6/24

Caption

State government, Office of Information Technology, cybersecurity requirements, provided

Impact

The legislation will significantly impact state laws related to data security, creating a governance framework that government entities must follow. By implementing security measures to protect sensitive PII, the bill seeks to minimize the risk of data breaches and ensure transparency in handling such information. The requirements also include establishing procedures for incident reporting, which are crucial for timely response and mitigation of any security breaches that may occur.

Summary

House Bill 68, introduced by Representative Brown, aims to enhance cybersecurity measures for government entities that possess or access sensitive personally identifying information (PII). This bill mandates the Secretary of the Office of Information Technology (OIT) to develop and implement regulations governing the security protocols for these entities. A key aspect includes adopting the minimum standards set forth by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework to ensure robust protection of personal data.

Contention

While the bill aims to strengthen data protection standards, potential points of contention may arise surrounding the implementation of these security measures, particularly among various state agencies. Questions regarding the feasibility, cost, and training required to enforce these new regulations could lead to debates among legislators and stakeholders. Additionally, concerns may be raised about the balance between necessary security measures and the practicality of compliance for smaller government entities.