Two-day Notification Requirement for Security Breaches

STATE OF WASHINGTON

MIKE KREIDLER

Phone: (360) 725-7000

STATE INSURANCE COMMISSIONER

www.insurance.wa.gov

OFFICE OF

INSURANCE COMMISSIONER

Technical Assistance Advisory 2017-01A1 2

TO: All Licensees with Consumers residing in the State of Washington

FROM: Insurance Commissioner, Mike Kreidler

DATE: November 13, 2017

SUBJECT: Two Day Notification Requirement for Security Breaches

A security breach is the unauthorized acquisition of data that compromises the security,

confidentiality, or integrity of personal information maintained by a person or business.3

Two types of information are included within the security breach notification requirements:

 personal information that seems reasonably likely to subject consumers to a risk of

criminal activity, 4 and

 unsecured protected health information which compromises the security or privacy of the

consumer’s protected information.5

If a security breach of either of these types occurs, all licensees must notify the Insurance

Commissioner. The notification must be made in writing and must include the number of

consumers potentially affected and the actions being taken by the licensee.

For breaches of personal information, the notification must be made within two (2) business days

after determining that notification must be sent to consumers or customers, and that the breach

seems reasonably likely to subject consumers to a risk of criminal activity.6

1 This advisory is an interpretive policy statement released to advise the public of the OIC’s current opinions,

approaches, and likely courses of action. It is advisory only. RCW 34.05.230(1).

2 This TAA replaces and supercedes TAA 2017-01, issued on April 30, 2017.

3 RCW 19.255.010(4).

4 RCW 19.255.010(5); WAC 284-04-625(2)(a)

.6

1 This advisory is an interpretive policy statement released to advise the public of the OIC’s current opinions,

approaches, and likely courses of action. It is advisory only. RCW 34.05.230(1).

2 This TAA replaces and supercedes TAA 2017-01, issued on April 30, 2017.

3 RCW 19.255.010(4).

4 RCW 19.255.010(5); WAC 284-04-625(2)(a). Categories include social security number, driver’s license number

or Washington identification card number, and account number or credit or debit card number in combination with

any required security code, access code, or password that would permit access to an individual’s financial account.

5 WAC 284-04-625(2)(b).

6 WAC 284-04-625(2).

For breaches of unsecured protected health information, the notification must be made within two

(2) business days after the breach occurs. A security breach of unsecured protected health

information occurs the first day on which the breach is known to the licensee or the date when the

breach should have been known to the licensee if reasonable diligence had been used.7 A licensee

is considered to have knowledge of a breach if the event is known, or, by exercising reasonable

diligence, would have been known to any person who works for or is an agent of the licensee.8

Failure to notify the Insurance Commissioner is considered an unfair practice.9 It may result in

the levying of fines or an order to cease and desist the selling of insurance in the state of

Washington under RCW 48.30.010.

For a single breach of personal information that involves more than five hundred (500) Washington

residents, the person or business must notify the Washington State Attorney General’s Office.10

The breach of unprotected health information must also be reported and notification provided

pursuant to 45 C.F.R. 164.400 through 164.410

f insurance in the state of

Washington under RCW 48.30.010.

For a single breach of personal information that involves more than five hundred (500) Washington

residents, the person or business must notify the Washington State Attorney General’s Office.10

The breach of unprotected health information must also be reported and notification provided

pursuant to 45 C.F.R. 164.400 through 164.410.

For any questions related to security breach notifications, please contact Dan Halpin, Compliance

Analyst, at DanH@oic.wa.gov, or (360) 725-7089.

7 See 45 C.F.R. 164.404(a)(2).

8 See 45 C.F.R. 164.404(a)(2); WAC 390-05-190.

9 WAC 284-04-625(1)

10 Please refer to: http://www.atg.wa.gov/data-breach-notifications