With certain exceptions, existing law prohibits the Director of the Department of Motor Vehicles from releasing personal information from a file or record relating to a driver's license or identification card or the title or registration of a motor vehicle. Existing law authorizes the Director of the Department to release such information to certain persons if: (1) the person provides a description of the information requested and its proposed use and signs an affidavit to that effect; and (2) the information requested will be used for an authorized purpose. The persons who are authorized to request personal information in this manner include: (1) certain reporters or editorial employees who intend to use the information for a journalistic purpose; and (2) an insurer, self-insurer or organization that provides assistance or support to an insurer or self-insurer or its agents, employees or contractors, in connection with activities relating to the rating, underwriting or investigation of claims or the prevention of fraud. (NRS 481.063) This bill revises the provisions governing the reporters or editorial employees to whom the Director may release personal information to provide that: (1) such a reporter or editorial employee must be employed by or affiliated with a press association, newspaper in regular publication that is affiliated with a press association or commercially operated, federally licensed radio or television station; and (2) the journalistic purpose for which the information is requested must be a journalistic purpose of the press association, newspaper or radio or television station. This bill also prohibits a person who requests and receives personal information from the Department from selling such information, except to an insurer, self-insurer or organization that provides assistance or support to an insurer or self-insurer in connection with activities relating to the rating, underwriting or investigation of claims or the prevention of fraud. This bill prohibits the Director of the Department from releasing personal information to an individual or company for the purpose of selling the information except for such insurance related purposes and authorizes the Director to deny any use of the files and records of the Department if the Director reasonably believes that the information may be sold.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 481.063
Reprint 1: 481.063
BDR: 481.063