Information privacy; Oklahoma Privacy Act of 2023; supporting agencies; confidential information; management; effective date; emergency.
Impact
This legislation would significantly impact the management of sensitive information within state agencies. By instituting penalties for unauthorized disclosures, the bill deepens the legal obligations for public employees and contractors regarding data confidentiality. It introduces both civil remedies for affected individuals and criminal penalties for willfully disclosing confidential information, thereby reinforcing the accountability of all personnel involved in handling public records. The act requires that agencies establish and enforce rules to safeguard such information, ensuring a higher compliance standard across the board.
Summary
House Bill 2657, titled the Oklahoma Privacy Act of 2023, aims to establish robust privacy protections for the personally identifiable information of public employees. The bill defines key terms, outlines the responsibilities of supporting agencies, and mandates that these agencies maintain confidentiality standards for handling employment records. It seeks to limit disclosure of confidential information to unauthorized parties and requires written consent from the appropriate appointing authority for any such disclosures.
Contention
Some points of contention may arise from the bill's provisions, particularly regarding its exclusions of the legislative and judicial branches from its requirements. Critics may argue that this creates a dual standard for confidentiality between branches of state government, undermining the comprehensive nature of privacy protections intended by the legislation. Additional debate could occur around the feasibility of strict compliance and the potential burdens placed on state agencies to implement the necessary controls and protocols for safeguarding sensitive information.
Biometric information; the Biometric Information Privacy Act; private entities; policy; identifiers; information; dissemination; standards; right of action; recovery; effective date.
Child sexual exploitation; modifying certain life without parole sentencing; requiring certain punishments; requiring certain advisement; defining term; modifying certain confinement criteria. Effective date.
Child sexual exploitation; modifying certain life without parole sentencing; requiring certain punishments; requiring certain advisement; defining term; modifying certain confinement criteria. Effective date.