The bill amends the Code of West Virginia by adding a new section, 5-10D-15, which establishes that personally identifiable information (PII) of members, retirants, beneficiaries, or alternate payees of retirement systems administered by the Consolidated Public Retirement Board is confidential and exempt from public disclosure. This measure is introduced in response to the growing concerns regarding fraud and identity theft. The information deemed confidential includes, but is not limited to, Social Security numbers, account numbers, dates of birth, addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses, medical or disability information, and direct deposit information.

Under this new provision, access to such confidential information is restricted to the individuals themselves—members, retirants, beneficiaries, and alternate payees—or to persons authorized by them. This legislative change aims to enhance the protection of sensitive personal information held by the retirement board, ensuring that it is not disclosed publicly, thereby safeguarding individuals from potential identity theft and fraud.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 5-10D-15
Committee Substitute: 5-10D-15
Enrolled Committee Substitute: 5-10D-15