Dear Friends,
In light of some recent constituent questions and media reports, I thought it would be helpful to update everyone on the current status of Identity Theft Protection Services for those affected by the Department of Revenue (DOR) data breach last October.
As you recall, the General Assembly appropriated up to $10 million to continue to offer free Identity Theft Protection Services. We instructed the Budget and Control Board to administer the procurement, with a contract to be executed by a vendor and the DOR, and mandated that these services be offered no later than October 25, 2013. That date was selected because it ensured that no one who signed up for Experian's services would experience a lapse in coverage.
On July 1st, at the direction of the five-member Board, the procurement process was initiated by the Budget Control Board. The Budget Control Board published a Request for Proposals (RFP) on August 23, 2013 to offer these services. The request mandated that the winning vendor provide at a minimum:
- Daily monitoring of at least one credit bureau
- Identity Theft monitoring services. Examples might include scanning black market or underground websites to detect whether personal information is being used, Social Security Number monitoring, non-credit (payday) loan monitoring, and change of address monitoring
- Identity Theft insurance of at least $1 million
- Identity Theft resolution and restoration services, available on a 24 hour a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year basis
Responses to that RFP were due on September 9, 2013 and responsive proposals were received. As of today, the State is in the process of evaluating the proposals and negotiating the terms of a contract award. We anticipate that a contract award will be made within the next week to ten days.
I felt it was necessary to update you of these events and regardless of what you hear to the contrary, the General Assembly has provided for continued Identity Theft Protection Services at no cost to the citizens.
In order for me to have a strong voice in Columbia, I have to communicate with my constituents. And that is you! My website, newsletters, mailers and Facebook are the communication tools that I use. It takes extra time, staff and campaign funds to maintain these tools.
If you would like to contribute, please mail a check to Hixon For House, P.O. Box 7927, North Augusta, SC 29861 or contribute online by going HERE.
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE – September 19, 2013
Senator Tom Young and I will be guest speakers at the North Augusta Chamber of Commerce Post Session Legislative Breakfast on Wednesday, September 25, 2013 at 7:15 am at the North Augusta Community Center located at 495 Brookside Ave. North Augusta, SC. This is your opportunity to hear directly from your Legislators and find out what challenges we faced during the 2013 State Legislative General Sessions, what bills have been passed and how these issues impact your business. This event is open to the public but a Reservation is REQUIRED. The cost for Chamber Members is $15 and Non-Members $25. The Deadline for reservations is Friday, September 20th by noon. Unmet reservations will be billed.
Register here or call Jessica Hanson at 803-279-3737.
Please be sure to stay up to date with all that is going on in Columbia. If you have any questions, comments or concerns, I am always available.
