![]()
CHAPTER 146a. PRIVACY OF CONSUMER FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Subch. Sec.
A. GENERAL PROVISIONS 146a.1
B. PRIVACY AND OPT OUT NOTICES FOR FINANCIAL INFORMATION 146a.11
C. LIMITS ON DISCLOSURES OF FINANCIAL INFORMATION 146a.21
D. EXCEPTIONS TO LIMITS ON DISCLOSURES OF NONPUBLIC PERSONAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION 146a.31
E. ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS 146a.41Authority The provisions of this Chapter 146a issued under sections 205, 506, 1501 and 1502 of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P. S. § § 66, 186, 411 and 412); and the Unfair Insurance Practices Act (40 P. S. § § 117.1117.14), unless otherwise noted.
Source The provisions of this Chapter 146a adopted August 10, 2001, effective July 1, 2001, 31 Pa.B. 4426, unless otherwise noted.
Cross References This chapter cited in 31 Pa. Code § 146b.1 (relating to purpose); 31 Pa. Code § 146b.13 (relating to authorization request delivery); and 31 Pa. Code § 146c.10 (relating to determined violation).
Subchapter A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec.
146a.1. Purpose.
146a.2. Definitions.§ 146a.1. Purpose.
(a) Purpose. This chapter governs the treatment of nonpublic personal financial information about individuals by various licensees of the Department. This chapter:
(1) Requires a licensee to provide notice to individuals about its privacy policies and practices.
(2) Describes the conditions under which a licensee may disclose nonpublic personal financial information about individuals to affiliates and nonaffiliated third parties.
(3) Provides methods for individuals to prevent a licensee from disclosing that information.
(b) Scope. This chapter applies to nonpublic personal financial information about individuals who obtain or are claimants or beneficiaries of products or services primarily for personal, family or household purposes from licensees. Unless otherwise specified, this chapter generally does not apply to information about companies or about individuals who obtain products or services for business, commercial or agricultural purposes.
(c) Compliance. A licensee domiciled in this Commonwealth that is in compliance with this chapter in a state that has not enacted laws or regulations that meet the requirements of Title V of the act of November 12, 1999 (Pub. L. No. 106-102, 113 Stat. 1338) known as the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (Financial Services Modernization Act of 1999) (15 U.S.C.A. § § 68016827) may nonetheless be deemed to be in compliance with Title V of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act in the other state.
This section cited in 31 Pa. Code § 146b.2 (relating to definitions); and 31 Pa. Code § 146c.2 (relating to definitions).
Subchapter B. PRIVACY AND OPT OUT NOTICES FOR FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Sec.
146a.11. Initial privacy notice to consumers required.
146a.12. Annual privacy notice to customers required.
146a.13. Information to be included in privacy notices.
146a.14. Form of opt out notice to consumers and opt out methods.
146a.15. Revised privacy notices.
146a.16. Delivery.
Cross References This section cited in 31 Pa. Code § 146a.2 (relating to definitions); 31 Pa. Code § 146a.13 (relating to information to be included in privacy notices); 31 Pa. Code § 146a.14 (relating to form of opt out notice to consumers and opt out methods); 31 Pa. Code § 146a.15 (relating to revised privacy notices); 31 Pa. Code § 146a.16 (relating to delivery); 31 Pa. Code § 146a.21 (relating to limits on disclosure of nonpublic personal financial information to nonaffiliated third parties); 31 Pa. Code § 146a.31 (relating to exception to opt out requirements for disclosure of nonpublic personal financial information for service providers and joint marketing); 31 Pa. Code § 146a.32 (relating to exceptions to notice and opt out requirements for disclosure of nonpublic personal financial information for processing and servicing transactions); 31 Pa. Code § 146a.33 (relating to other exceptions to notice and opt out requirements for disclosure of nonpublic personal financial information); and 31 Pa. Code § 146a.44 (relating to effective date).
§ 146a.12. Annual privacy notice to customers required.
(a) Notice.
(1) General rule. A licensee shall provide a clear and conspicuous notice to customers that accurately reflects its privacy policies and practices not less than annually during the continuation of the customer relationship. Annually means at least once in any period of 12 consecutive months during which that relationship exists. A licensee may define the 12-consecutive-month period, but the licensee shall apply it to the customer on a consistent basis.
(2) Example. A licensee provides a notice annually if it defines the 12-consecutive-month period as a calendar year and provides the annual notice to the customer once in each calendar year following the calendar year in which the licensee provided the initial notice. For example, if a customer opens an account on any day of year 1, the licensee shall provide an annual notice to that customer by December 31 of year 2.
(b) Termination.
(1) Termination of customer relationship. A licensee is not required to provide an annual notice to a former customer. A former customer is an individual with whom a licensee no longer has a continuing relationship.
(2) Examples.
(i) A licensee no longer has a continuing relationship with an individual if the individual no longer is a current policyholder of an insurance product or no longer obtains insurance services with or through the licensee.
(ii) A licensee no longer has a continuing relationship with an individual if the individuals policy is lapsed, expired or otherwise inactive or dormant under the licensees business practices, and the licensee has not communicated with the customer about the relationship for a period of 12-consecutive months, other than to provide annual privacy notices, material required by law or regulation, or promotional materials.
(iii) For the purposes of this section, a licensee no longer has a continuing relationship with an individual if the individuals last known address according to the licensees records is deemed invalid. An address of record is deemed invalid if mail sent to that address by the licensee has been returned by the postal authorities as undeliverable and if subsequent attempts by the licensee to obtain a current valid address for the individual have been unsuccessful.
(iv) A licensee no longer has a continuing relationship with a customer in the case of providing real estate settlement services, at the time the customer completes execution of all documents related to the real estate closing, payment for those services has been received, or the licensee has completed all of its responsibilities with respect to the settlement, including filing documents on the public record, whichever is later.
(c) Delivery. When a licensee is required by this section to deliver an annual privacy notice, the licensee shall deliver it according to § 146a.16 (relating to delivery).
Cross References This section cited in 31 Pa. Code § 146a.13 (relating to information to be included in privacy notices); 31 Pa. Code § 146a.21 (relating to limits on disclosure of nonpublic personal financial information to nonaffiliated third parties); 31 Pa. Code § 146a.31 (relating to exception to opt out requirements for disclosure of nonpublic personal financial information for service providers and joint marketing); 31 Pa. Code § 146a.32 (relating to exceptions to notice and opt out requirements for disclosure of nonpublic personal financial information for processing and servicing transactions); and 31 Pa. Code § 146a.33 (relating to other exceptions to notice and opt out requirements for disclosure of nonpublic personal financial information).
§ 146a.15. Revised privacy notices.
(a) General rule. Except as otherwise authorized in this chapter, a licensee may not, directly or through an affiliate, disclose any nonpublic personal financial information about a consumer to a nonaffiliated third party other than as described in the initial notice that the licensee provided to that consumer under § 146a.11 (relating to initial privacy notice to consumers required), unless all of the following conditions are met:
(1) The licensee has provided to the consumer a clear and conspicuous revised notice that accurately describes its policies and practices.
(2) The licensee has provided to the consumer a new opt out notice.
(3) The licensee has given the consumer a reasonable opportunity, before the licensee discloses the information to the nonaffiliated third party, to opt out of the disclosure.
(4) The consumer does not opt out.
(b) Examples.
(1) Except as otherwise permitted by Subchapter D (relating to exceptions to limits on disclosure of nonpublic personal financial information), a licensee shall provide a revised notice before it discloses one or more of the following:
(i) A new category of nonpublic personal financial information to any nonaffiliated third party.
(ii) Nonpublic personal financial information to a new category of nonaffiliated third party.
(iii) Nonpublic personal financial information about a former customer to a nonaffiliated third party, if that former customer has not had the opportunity to exercise an opt outright regarding that disclosure.
(2) A revised notice is not required if the licensee discloses nonpublic personal financial information to a new nonaffiliated third party that the licensee adequately described in its prior notice.
(c) Delivery. When a licensee is required to deliver a revised privacy notice by this section, the licensee shall deliver it according to § 146a.16 (relating to delivery).
Cross References This section cited in 31 Pa. Code § 146a.11 (relating to initial privacy notice to consumers required); 31 Pa. Code § 146a.12 (relating to annual privacy notice to consumers required); 31 Pa. Code § 146a.13 (relating to information to be included in privacy notices); 31 Pa. Code § 146a.14 (relating to form of opt out notice to consumers and opt out methods); and 31 Pa. Code § 146a.15 (relating to revised privacy notices).
Subchapter C. LIMITS ON DISCLOSURES OF FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Sec.
146a.21. Limitation on disclosure of nonpublic personal financial information to nonaffiliated third parties.
146a.22. Limits on redisclosure and reuse of nonpublic personal financial information.
146a.23. Limits on sharing account number information for marketing purposes.
Cross References This section cited in 31 Pa. Code § 146a.13 (relating to information to be included in privacy notices); 31 Pa. Code § 146a.14 (relating to form of opt out notice to consumers and opt out methods); 31 Pa. Code § 146a.31 (relating to exception to opt out requirements for disclosure of nonpublic personal financial information for service providers and joint marketing); 31 Pa. Code § 146a.32 (relating to exceptions to notice and opt out requirements for disclosure of nonpublic personal financial information for processing and servicing); and 31 Pa. Code § 146a.33 (relating to other exceptions to notice and opt out requirements for disclosure of nonpublic personal financial information).
§ 146a.22. Limits on redisclosure and reuse of nonpublic personal financial information.
(a) Information the licensee receives under an exception.
(1) If a licensee receives nonpublic personal financial information from a nonaffiliated financial institution under an exception in § 146a.32 or § 146a.33 (relating to exceptions to notice and opt out requirements for disclosure of nonpublic personal financial information for processing and servicing transactions; and other exceptions to notice and opt out requirements for disclosure of nonpublic personal financial information), the licensees disclosure and use of that information is limited as follows:
(i) The licensee may disclose the information to the affiliates of the financial institution from which the licensee received the information.
(ii) The licensee may disclose the information to its affiliates, but the licensees affiliates may, in turn, disclose and use the information only to the extent that the licensee may disclose and use the information.
(iii) The licensee may disclose and use the information under an exception in § 146a.32 or § 146a.33, in the ordinary course of business to carry out the activity covered by the exception under which the licensee received the information.
(2) Example. If a licensee receives information from a nonaffiliated financial institution for claims settlement purposes, the licensee may disclose the information for fraud prevention, or in response to a properly authorized subpoena. The licensee may not disclose that information to a nonaffiliated third party for marketing purposes or use that information for its own marketing purposes.
(b) Information a licensee receives outside of an exception.
(1) If a licensee receives nonpublic personal financial information from a nonaffiliated financial institution other than under an exception in § 146a.32 or § 146a.33, the licensee may disclose the information only:
(i) To the affiliates of the financial institution from which the licensee received the information.
(ii) To its affiliates, but its affiliates may, in turn, disclose the information only to the extent that the licensee may disclose the information.
(iii) To any other person, if the disclosure would be lawful if made directly to that person by the financial institution from which the licensee received the information.
(2) Example. If a licensee obtains a customer list from a nonaffiliated financial institution outside of the exceptions in § 146a.32 or § 146a.33 the licensee may do the following:
(i) Use that list for its own purposes.
(ii) Disclose that list to another nonaffiliated third party only if the financial institution from which the licensee purchased the list could have lawfully disclosed the list to that nonaffiliated third party. That is, the licensee may disclose the list in accordance with the privacy policy of the financial institution from which the licensee received the list, as limited by the opt out direction of each consumer whose nonpublic personal financial information the licensee intends to disclose, and the licensee may disclose the list in accordance with an exception in § 146a.32 or § 146a.33, such as to the licensees attorneys or accountants.
(c) Information a licensee discloses under an exception. If a licensee discloses nonpublic personal financial information to a nonaffiliated third party under an exception in § 146a.32 or § 146a.33, the nonaffiliated third party may disclose and use that information only as follows:
(1) The nonaffiliated third party may disclose the information to the licensees affiliates.
(2) The nonaffiliated third party may disclose the information to its affiliates, but its affiliates may, in turn, disclose and use the information only to the extent that the nonaffiliated third party may disclose and use the information.
(3) The nonaffiliated third party may disclose and use the information under an exception in § 146a.32 or § 146a.33, in the ordinary course of business to carry out the activity covered by the exception under which the licensee received the information.
(d) Information a licensee discloses outside of an exception. If a licensee discloses nonpublic personal financial information to a nonaffiliated third party other than under an exception in § 146a.32 or § 146a.33, the nonaffiliated third party may disclose the information only:
(1) To the licensees affiliates.
(2) To the nonaffiliated third partys affiliates, but the nonaffiliated third partys affiliates, in turn, may disclose the information only to the extent the nonaffiliated third party can disclose the information.
(3) To any other person, if the disclosure would be lawful if the licensee made it directly to that person.
§ 146a.23. Limits on sharing account number information for marketing purposes.
(a) General prohibition on disclosure of account numbers. A licensee may not, directly or through an affiliate, disclose, other than to a consumer reporting agency, a policy number or similar form of access number or access code for a consumers policy or transaction account to any nonaffiliated third party for use in telemarketing, direct mail marketing or other marketing through electronic mail to the consumer.
(b) Exceptions. Subsection (a) does not apply if a licensee discloses a policy number or similar form of access number or access code to any of the following:
(1) The licensees service provider solely in order to perform marketing for the licensees own products or services, as long as the service provider is not authorized to directly initiate charges to the account.
(2) A licensee who is a producer solely in order to perform marketing for the licensees own products or services.
(3) A participant in an affinity or similar program where the participants in the program are identified to the customer when the customer enters into the program.
(c) Examples.
(1) Policy number. A policy number, or similar form of access number or access code, does not include a number or code in an encrypted form, as long as the licensee does not provide the recipient with a means to decode the number or code.
(2) Policy or transaction account. For the purposes of this section, a policy or transaction account is an account other than a deposit account or a credit card account. A policy or transaction account does not include an account to which third parties cannot initiate charges.
Subchapter D. EXCEPTIONS TO LIMITS ON DISCLOSURES OF NONPUBLIC PERSONAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Sec.
146a.31. Exception to opt out requirements for disclosure of nonpublic personal financial information for service providers and joint marketing.
146a.32. Exceptions to notice and opt out requirements for disclosure of nonpublic personal financial information for processing and servicing transactions.
146a.33. Other exceptions to notice and opt out requirements for disclosure of nonpublic personal financial information.
Cross References This subchapter cited in 31 Pa. Code § 146a.2 (relating to definitions); 31 Pa. Code § 146a.13 (relating to information to be included in privacy notices); 31 Pa. Code § 146a.32 (relating to exceptions to notice and opt out requirements for disclosure of nonpublic personal financial information for processing and servicing transactions); 31 Pa. Code § 146a.33 (relating to other exceptions to notice and opt out requirements for disclosure of nonpublic personal financial information); and 31 Pa. Code § 146a.44 (relating to effective date).
§ 146a.32. Exceptions to notice and opt out requirements for disclosure of nonpublic personal financial information for processing and servicing transactions.
(a) Exceptions for processing transactions at consumers request. The requirements for initial notice in § 146a.11(a)(2) (relating to initial privacy notice to consumers required), the opt out in § § 146a.14 and 146a.21 (relating to form of opt out notice to consumers and opt out methods; and limitation on disclosure of nonpublic personal financial information to nonaffiliated third parties), and service providers and joint marketing in § 146a.31 (relating to exception to opt out requirements for disclosure of nonpublic personal financial information for service providers and joint marketing) do not apply if the licensee discloses nonpublic personal financial information as necessary to effect, administer or enforce a transaction that a consumer requests or authorizes, or in connection with any of the following:
(1) Servicing or processing an insurance product or service that a consumer requests or authorizes.
(2) Maintaining or servicing the consumers account with a licensee, or with another entity as part of a private label credit card program or other extension of credit on behalf of that entity.
(3) A proposed or actual securitization, secondary market sale (including sales of servicing rights) or similar transaction related to a transaction of the consumer.
(4) Reinsurance or stop loss or excess loss insurance.
(b) Necessary to effect, administer or enforce a transaction. When used in this section, necessary to effect, administer or enforce a transaction means that the disclosure is required or is either of the following:
(1) One of the lawful or appropriate methods, to enforce the licensees rights or the rights of other persons engaged in carrying out the financial transaction or providing the product or service.
(2) A usual, appropriate or acceptable method to do one or more of the following:
(i) Carry out the transaction or the product or service business of which the transaction is a part, and record, service or maintain the consumers account in the ordinary course of providing the insurance product or service.
(ii) Administer or service benefits or claims relating to the transaction or the product or service business of which it is a part.
(iii) Provide a confirmation, explanation, statement or other record of the transaction, or information on the status or value of the insurance product or service to the consumer, the consumers producer, or a policyholder or the policyholders agent, producer, or broker with respect to a claim asserted by, or paid to, a consumer under a policy.
(iv) Accrue or recognize incentives or bonuses associated with the transaction that are provided by a licensee or any other party.
(v) Underwrite insurance at the consumers request or for any of the following purposes as they relate to a consumers insurance, or, when the consumer is a workers compensation claimant or third party claimant, to the policyholders insurance: account administration, reporting, investigating or preventing fraud or material misrepresentation, processing premium payments, processing, adjusting, paying, and settling insurance claims, administering insurance benefits (including utilization review activities), participating in research projects or as otherwise required or specifically permitted by Federal or State law.
(vi) Use in connection with any of the following:
(A) The authorization, settlement, billing, processing, clearing, transferring, reconciling or collection of amounts charged, debited or otherwise paid using a debit, credit or other payment card, check or account number, or by other payment means.
(B) The transfer of receivables, accounts or interests therein.
(C) The audit of debit, credit or other payment information.
Cross References This section cited in 31 Pa. Code § 146a.2 (relating to definitions); 31 Pa. Code § 146a.11 (relating to initial privacy notice to consumers required); 31 Pa. Code § 146a.13 (relating to information to be included in privacy notices); and 31 Pa. Code § 146a.22 (relating to limits on redisclosure and reuse of nonpublic personal financial information).
Subchapter E. ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS
Sec.
146a.41. Effect on other laws.
146a.42. Nondiscrimination.
146a.43. Violation.
146a.44. Effective date.§ 146a.41. Effect on other laws.
(a) Protection of Fair Credit Reporting Act. This chapter will not be construed to modify, limit or supersede the operation of the Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C.A. § § 16811681u), and no inference may be drawn on the basis of the provisions of this chapter regarding whether information is transaction or experience information under section 603 of that act (15 U.S.C.A. § 1681a).
(b) Protection of section 648 of the act (40 P. S. § 288) (relating to customer privacy). This chapter does not modify, limit or supercede the operation of section 648 of the act.
§ 146a.42. Nondiscrimination.
A licensee may not unfairly discriminate against any consumer or customer because that consumer or customer has opted out from the disclosure of nonpublic personal financial information under this chapter.
§ 146a.43. Violation.
This appendix cited in 31 Pa. Code § 146a.13 (relating to information to be included in privacy notices).
No part of the information on this site may be reproduced for profit or sold for profit.
This material has been drawn directly from the official Pennsylvania Code full text database. Due to the limitations of HTML or differences in display capabilities of different browsers, this version may differ slightly from the official printed version.