Sec. 12. Restriction on access to the death master file
259 words·~1 min read·
/bill/113/hr/531/ih/section-12A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
The Secretary of Commerce shall not disclose information contained on the Death Master File to any person with respect to any individual who has died at any time during the calendar year in which the request for disclosure is made or the succeeding calendar year unless such person is certified under the program established under subsection (b). The Secretary of Commerce shall establish a program to certify persons who are eligible to access the information described in subsection
(a)contained on the Death Master File. A person shall not be certified under the program established under paragraph
(1)unless the Secretary determines that such person has a legitimate fraud prevention interest in accessing the information described in subsection (a). Any person who is certified under the program established under subsection (b), who receives information described in subsection (a), and who during the period of time described in subsection (a)— discloses such information to any other person, or uses any such information for any purpose other than to detect or prevent fraud, shall pay a penalty of $1,000 for each such disclosure or use, but the total amount imposed under this subsection on such a person for any calendar year shall not exceed $50,000. The Social Security Administration shall not be compelled to disclose to any person who is not certified under the program established under section 9(b) the information described in section 9(a). For purposes of section 552 of title 5, United States Code, this section shall be considered a statute described in subsection (b)(3)(B) of such section 552.