SB324: Public agencies; privacy of personal donor information, penalty.

Legislative Summary

Public agencies; privacy of personal donor information; penalty. Provides that public agencies shall not request personal donor information, defined in the bill, from (i) any individual or any entity organized under § 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code or (ii) any bidder, offeror, or contractor of an agency. The bill prohibits such public agencies from disclosing personal donor information without the express, written permission of every individual who is identifiable from the potential release of such personal donor information, including individuals identifiable as members, supporters, or volunteers of, or donors to, the agency. The bill also excludes from the mandatory disclosure provisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act names and data that directly or indirectly identify an individual as a member, supporter, or volunteer of, or donor of financial or nonfinancial support to, any entity exempt from federal income tax pursuant to § 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code, except for those entities established by or for, or in support of, a public body as authorized by state law, not to include a nonprofit foundation designed to support an institution of higher education or other educational or cultural institution subject to Title 23.1. The bill also exempts the Campaign Finance Disclosure Act of 2006 from the requirements that public agencies protect personal donor information and refrain from requesting personal donor information. Public agencies; privacy of personal donor information; penalty. Provides that public agencies shall not request personal donor information, defined in the bill, from (i) any individual or any entity organized under § 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code or (ii) any bidder, offeror, or contractor of an agency. The bill prohibits such public agencies from disclosing personal donor information without the express, written permission of every individual who is identifiable from the potential release of such personal donor information, including individuals identifiable as members, supporters, or volunteers of, or donors to, the agency. The bill also excludes from the mandatory disclosure provisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act names and data that directly or indirectly identify an individual as a member, supporter, or volunteer of, or donor of financial or nonfinancial support to, any entity exempt from federal income tax pursuant to § 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code, except for those entities established by or for, or in support of, a public body as authorized by state law, not to include a nonprofit foundation designed to support an institution of higher education or other educational or cultural institution subject to Title 23.1. The bill also exempts the Campaign Finance Disclosure Act of 2006 from the requirements that public agencies protect personal donor information and refrain from requesting personal donor information.