102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
HB3112

 

Introduced 2/19/2021, by Rep. Eva Dina Delgado

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
740 ILCS 14/5
740 ILCS 14/10
740 ILCS 14/20
740 ILCS 14/25
740 ILCS 14/27 new
815 ILCS 505/2Z  from Ch. 121 1/2, par. 262Z

    Amends the Biometric Information Privacy Act. Makes a change in a Section concerning legislative findings and intent. Defines "actual harm" as a realized or actual identity theft, realized or actual loss, or a realized or actual injury. Changes the definitions of "biometric identifier", "biometric information", and "private entity". Provides that an alleged violation of the Act that has not resulted in actual harm is a violation of the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act and solely subject to investigation and enforcement by the Attorney General. Provides that a person who has suffered actual harm (instead of aggrieved) by a violation of the Act shall have a right of action against an offending party. Provides that a prevailing party in an action brought as a result of actual harm may only recover for the initial (rather than each) violation of the Act. Provides that recovery against a private entity that negligently violates a provision of the Act may result in liquidated damages of $250 (rather than $1,000) or actual damages, whichever is greater. Provides that recovery against a private entity that intentionally or recklessly violates the Act may result in liquidated damages of $500 (rather than $5,000) or actual damages, whichever is greater. Provides that an action may not be brought later than one year from the violation date, if no actual harm occurred; or 3 years from the violation date, if actual harm has occurred. Provides that nothing in the Act shall be construed to apply to certain employees under the Day and Temporary Labor Services Act. Provides that the changes made to the Act apply retroactively to October 3, 2008. Makes a corresponding change in the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.


LRB102 16146 LNS 21522 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB3112LRB102 16146 LNS 21522 b

1    AN ACT concerning civil law.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Biometric Information Privacy Act is
5amended by changing Sections 5, 10, 20, and 25 and by adding
6Section 27 as follows:
 
7    (740 ILCS 14/5)
8    Sec. 5. Legislative findings; intent. The General Assembly
9finds all of the following:
10    (a) The use of biometrics is growing in the business and
11security screening sectors and appears to promise streamlined
12financial transactions and security screenings.
13    (b) Major national corporations have selected the City of
14Chicago and other locations in this State as pilot testing
15sites for new applications of biometric-facilitated financial
16transactions, including finger-scan technologies at grocery
17stores, gas stations, and school cafeterias.
18    (c) Biometrics are unlike other unique identifiers that
19are used to access finances or other sensitive information.
20For example, social security numbers, when compromised, can be
21changed. Biometrics, however, are biologically unique to the
22individual; therefore, once compromised, the individual has no
23recourse, is at heightened risk for identity theft, and is

 

 

HB3112- 2 -LRB102 16146 LNS 21522 b

1likely to withdraw from biometric-facilitated transactions.
2    (d) An overwhelming majority of members of the public are
3wary weary of the use of biometrics when such information is
4tied to finances and other personal information.
5    (e) Despite limited State law regulating the collection,
6use, safeguarding, and storage of biometrics, many members of
7the public are deterred from partaking in biometric
8identifier-facilitated transactions.
9    (f) The full ramifications of biometric technology are not
10fully known.
11    (g) The public welfare, security, and safety will be
12served by regulating the collection, use, safeguarding,
13handling, storage, retention, and destruction of biometric
14identifiers and information.
15    (h) It is recognized that the use of fingerprint and hand
16scanning is increasingly used by employers' timekeeping
17systems to ensure proper payment of wages and to combat fraud
18in the workplace.
19(Source: P.A. 95-994, eff. 10-3-08.)
 
20    (740 ILCS 14/10)
21    Sec. 10. Definitions. In this Act:
22    "Actual harm" means a realized or actual identity theft,
23realized or actual loss, or a realized or actual injury.
24    "Biometric identifier" means a retina or iris scan,
25fingerprint, voiceprint, or scan of hand or face geometry.

 

 

HB3112- 3 -LRB102 16146 LNS 21522 b

1Biometric identifiers do not include writing samples, written
2signatures, photographs, human biological samples used for
3valid scientific testing or screening, demographic data,
4tattoo descriptions, or physical descriptions such as height,
5weight, hair color, or eye color. Biometric identifiers do not
6include donated organs, tissues, or parts as defined in the
7Illinois Anatomical Gift Act or blood or serum stored on
8behalf of recipients or potential recipients of living or
9cadaveric transplants and obtained or stored by a federally
10designated organ procurement agency. Biometric identifiers do
11not include biological materials regulated under the Genetic
12Information Privacy Act. Biometric identifiers do not include
13information captured from a patient in a health care setting
14or information collected, used, or stored for health care
15treatment, payment, or operations under the federal Health
16Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996.
17Biometric identifiers do not include an X-ray, roentgen
18process, computed tomography, MRI, PET scan, mammography, or
19other image or film of the human anatomy used to diagnose,
20prognose, or treat an illness or other medical condition or to
21further validate scientific testing or screening. Biometric
22identifiers do not include numeric algorithms created by a
23fingerprint, hand scan, facial geometry, or retinal scan and
24used as part of an employer's timekeeping system that is not
25directly connected to the personal information or banking
26information of the worker.

 

 

HB3112- 4 -LRB102 16146 LNS 21522 b

1    "Biometric information" means any information, regardless
2of how it is captured, converted, stored, or shared, based on
3an individual's biometric identifier used to identify an
4individual. Biometric information does not include information
5derived from items or procedures excluded under the definition
6of biometric identifiers.
7    "Confidential and sensitive information" means personal
8information that can be used to uniquely identify an
9individual or an individual's account or property. Examples of
10confidential and sensitive information include, but are not
11limited to, a genetic marker, genetic testing information, a
12unique identifier number to locate an account or property, an
13account number, a PIN number, a pass code, a driver's license
14number, or a social security number.
15    "Private entity" means any individual, partnership,
16corporation, limited liability company, association, or other
17group, however organized. A private entity does not include a
18State or local government agency. A private entity does not
19include any court of Illinois, a clerk of the court, or a judge
20or justice thereof. "Private entity" does not include any
21company in this State that is regulated by the Day and
22Temporary Labor Services Act.
23    "Written release" means informed written consent or, in
24the context of employment, a release executed by an employee
25as a condition of employment.
26(Source: P.A. 95-994, eff. 10-3-08.)
 

 

 

HB3112- 5 -LRB102 16146 LNS 21522 b

1    (740 ILCS 14/20)
2    Sec. 20. Violation and right Right of action.
3    (a) An alleged violation of this Act that has not resulted
4in actual harm is:
5        (1) a violation of the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive
6    Business Practices Act; and
7        (2) solely subject to investigation and enforcement by
8    the Attorney General.
9    (b) A Any person who has suffered actual harm aggrieved by
10a violation of this Act shall have a right of action in a State
11circuit court or as a supplemental claim in federal district
12court against an offending party. A prevailing party in an
13action brought as a result of actual harm may only recover for
14the initial each violation of this Act:
15        (1) against a private entity that negligently violates
16    a provision of this Act, liquidated damages of $250 $1,000
17    or actual damages, whichever is greater;
18        (2) against a private entity that intentionally or
19    recklessly violates a provision of this Act, liquidated
20    damages of $500 $5,000 or actual damages, whichever is
21    greater;
22        (3) reasonable attorneys' fees and costs, including
23    expert witness fees and other litigation expenses; and
24        (4) other relief, including an injunction, as the
25    State or federal court may deem appropriate.

 

 

HB3112- 6 -LRB102 16146 LNS 21522 b

1    (c) An action under this Act may not be brought later than:
2        (1) one year from the violation date, by the Office of
3    the Attorney General, if no actual harm occurred; or
4        (2) 3 years from the violation date, if actual harm
5    has occurred.
6(Source: P.A. 95-994, eff. 10-3-08.)
 
7    (740 ILCS 14/25)
8    Sec. 25. Construction.
9    (a) Nothing in this Act shall be construed to impact the
10admission or discovery of biometric identifiers and biometric
11information in any action of any kind in any court, or before
12any tribunal, board, agency, or person.
13    (b) Nothing in this Act shall be construed to conflict
14with the X-Ray Retention Act, the federal Health Insurance
15Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 and the rules
16promulgated under either Act.
17    (c) Nothing in this Act shall be deemed to apply in any
18manner to a financial institution or an affiliate of a
19financial institution that is subject to Title V of the
20federal Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 and the rules
21promulgated thereunder.
22    (d) Nothing in this Act shall be construed to conflict
23with the Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security,
24Fingerprint Vendor, and Locksmith Act of 2004 and the rules
25promulgated thereunder.

 

 

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1    (e) Nothing in this Act shall be construed to apply to a
2contractor, subcontractor, or agent of a State agency or local
3unit of government when working for that State agency or local
4unit of government.
5    (f) Nothing in this Act shall be construed to apply to an
6employer licensed under and subject to the Day and Temporary
7Labor Services Act if the employees of the licensed employer
8are using time keeping systems owned, rented, leased, or
9managed by the clients of the licensed employer.
10(Source: P.A. 95-994, eff. 10-3-08.)
 
11    (740 ILCS 14/27 new)
12    Sec. 27. Applicability. The changes made to this Act by
13this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly apply
14retroactively to October 3, 2008, the effective date of Public
15Act 95-994.
 
16    Section 10. The Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business
17Practices Act is amended by changing Section 2Z as follows:
 
18    (815 ILCS 505/2Z)  (from Ch. 121 1/2, par. 262Z)
19    Sec. 2Z. Violations of other Acts. Any person who
20knowingly violates the Automotive Repair Act, the Automotive
21Collision Repair Act, the Home Repair and Remodeling Act, the
22Dance Studio Act, the Physical Fitness Services Act, the
23Hearing Instrument Consumer Protection Act, the Illinois Union

 

 

HB3112- 8 -LRB102 16146 LNS 21522 b

1Label Act, the Installment Sales Contract Act, the Job
2Referral and Job Listing Services Consumer Protection Act, the
3Travel Promotion Consumer Protection Act, the Credit Services
4Organizations Act, the Automatic Telephone Dialers Act, the
5Pay-Per-Call Services Consumer Protection Act, the Telephone
6Solicitations Act, the Illinois Funeral or Burial Funds Act,
7the Cemetery Oversight Act, the Cemetery Care Act, the Safe
8and Hygienic Bed Act, the Illinois Pre-Need Cemetery Sales
9Act, the High Risk Home Loan Act, the Payday Loan Reform Act,
10the Mortgage Rescue Fraud Act, subsection (a) or (b) of
11Section 3-10 of the Cigarette Tax Act, subsection (a) or (b) of
12Section 3-10 of the Cigarette Use Tax Act, the Electronic Mail
13Act, the Internet Caller Identification Act, paragraph (6) of
14subsection (k) of Section 6-305 of the Illinois Vehicle Code,
15Section 11-1431, 18d-115, 18d-120, 18d-125, 18d-135, 18d-150,
16or 18d-153 of the Illinois Vehicle Code, Article 3 of the
17Residential Real Property Disclosure Act, the Automatic
18Contract Renewal Act, the Reverse Mortgage Act, Section 25 of
19the Youth Mental Health Protection Act, the Personal
20Information Protection Act, subsection (a) of Section 20 of
21the Biometric Information Privacy Act, or the Student Online
22Personal Protection Act commits an unlawful practice within
23the meaning of this Act.
24(Source: P.A. 99-331, eff. 1-1-16; 99-411, eff. 1-1-16;
2599-642, eff. 7-28-16; 100-315, eff. 8-24-17; 100-416, eff.
261-1-18; 100-863, eff. 8-14-18.)