A bill to ensure that confidential information is removed from public agency computers before they are disposed of has been introduced by Sen. Linda Greenstein, (D-14), Mercer.
Introduced in response to a state Comptroller’s report earlier this year that disclosed that old computers being disposed of still contained private, confidential data, S2900 seeks to improve security and disposal procedures.
The bill, introduced Monday and referred to the State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee, would require that before such computers are disposed of, all data or the data base must be removed or rendered unrecoverable.
There is an Assembly companion, A3958, sponsored by Wayne DeAngelo, (D-14), Hamilton, that was introduced earlier this month.
The bills are in response to a Comptroller’s report in March that showed public agency computers headed for public auction still contained confidential information, including health data, child abuse information, and Social Security numbers.