Jeff Atwater Praises Bill to End Release of Social Security Numbers

Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater released the following statement regarding the Senate Rules Committee approving on Monday Senate Bill 1208, which will end the state's practice of releasing Social Security numbers -- from CFO Atwaters Bureau of Unclaimed Property -- for the purpose of locating owners of abandoned or unclaimed property. (Read the full story.)

It defies logic that Florida, the state with the highest levels of identity theft complaints in the nation, would continue to mandate that a state agency release Social Security numbers for any purpose," Atwater stated in the release.

There are few roles more important to a public servant than that of protector. As Floridas CFO, it is my responsibility to do everything possible to protect consumers personal information for their financial future.

I applaud the members of the House State Affairs Committee and the Senate Rules Committee for supporting the protection of the personal information of our fellow Floridians. Florida is the only state in the nation that currently releases Social Security numbers for unclaimed property. I look forward to seeing this bill become law.