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Panel hears bill to let Alaskans get replacement Social Security cards online; questions about data-sharing remain
Summary
House Bill 213 would allow Alaskans to request replacement Social Security cards online by permitting the DMV to share driver-license data with approved nonprofits or government/tribal entities for identity verification. Federal Social Security officials supported the approach; committee members asked for clarification on whether data could be sent to 'private entities' in text.
The House State Affairs Committee heard March 31 from staff and a Social Security Administration official on House Bill 213, which would allow Alaskans to request replacement Social Security cards online by enabling the DMV to verify identity through approved entities.
Hayden Johnson, staff for Representative Jimmy, told the committee the bill would remove a statutory ban that has prevented the state from sharing driver-license data for online replacement services and would authorize information sharing with IRS-qualified nonprofits or approved government or tribal entities. "This bill will allow Alaskans to apply for a replacement Social Security card online," Johnson said, adding that 49 states already permit online replacements and implementation in Alaska could be "operational in 4 to 6 weeks." He provided figures: roughly 15,000 Alaskans need replacement cards each year and distribution of in-person visits is concentrated in Anchorage (8,898), Fairbanks (3,318) and Juneau (1,180).
Dustin Brown, head of legislative affairs for the Social Security Administration, testified that online replacement could spare residents long travel and the need to mail original documents. "SSA does not actually receive any individual data. It just gets a simple validation that the person is who they say they are," Brown said, explaining that the verification provider returns a yes/no validation rather than transmitting underlying documents.
Representative Holland asked for clarification about language in the bill that appears to permit the department to convey data to a "private entity" while a separate subsection limits sharing to nonprofits, government or tribal entities. Hayden Johnson said the intent is to limit sharing to IRS-qualified nonprofits and not to open it to general private entities and offered to provide follow-up written clarification. The committee closed public testimony and set HB213 aside pending consideration of the companion Senate bill.
The committee did not vote on HB213 at this hearing.
