Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 45, November 9, 2024
Section 146a.12 - Annual privacy notice to customers required(a)Notice.(1)General rule. A licensee shall provide a clear and conspicuous notice to customers that accurately reflects its privacy policies and practices not less than annually during the continuation of the customer relationship. Annually means at least once in any period of 12 consecutive months during which that relationship exists. A licensee may define the 12-consecutive-month period, but the licensee shall apply it to the customer on a consistent basis.(2)Example. A licensee provides a notice annually if it defines the 12-consecutive-month period as a calendar year and provides the annual notice to the customer once in each calendar year following the calendar year in which the licensee provided the initial notice. For example, if a customer opens an account on any day of year 1, the licensee shall provide an annual notice to that customer by December 31 of year 2.(b)Exemption to general rule.(1) A licensee is not required to provide an annual privacy notice under this section if all of the following apply: (i) The licensee has not changed its policies or practices regarding disclosure of nonpublic personal financial information from those in the most recent notice sent to consumers.(ii) The disclosure of nonpublic personal financial information is made to only nonaffiliated third parties and meets any of the following requirements:(A) Is made in accordance with § 146a.31 (relating to exception to opt out requirements for disclosure of nonpublic personal financial information for service providers and joint marketing).(B) Falls within the exceptions in § 146a.32 (relating to exceptions to notice and opt out requirements for disclosure of nonpublic personal financial information for processing and servicing transactions).(C) Falls within the exceptions in § 146a.33 (relating to other exceptions to notice and opt out requirements for disclosure of nonpublic personal financial information).(2) A licensee that no longer meets the criteria in paragraph (1) shall provide an annual privacy notice under this section.(c)Termination.(1)Termination of customer relationship. A licensee is not required to provide an annual notice to a former customer. A former customer is an individual with whom a licensee no longer has a continuing relationship.(2)Examples.(i) A licensee no longer has a continuing relationship with an individual if the individual no longer is a current policyholder of an insurance product or no longer obtains insurance services with or through the licensee.(ii) A licensee no longer has a continuing relationship with an individual if the individual's policy is lapsed, expired or otherwise inactive or dormant under the licensee's business practices, and the licensee has not communicated with the customer about the relationship for a period of 12-consecutive months, other than to provide annual privacy notices, material required by law or regulation, or promotional materials.(iii) For the purposes of this section, a licensee no longer has a continuing relationship with an individual if the individual's last known address according to the licensee's records is deemed invalid. An address of record is deemed invalid if mail sent to that address by the licensee has been returned by the postal authorities as undeliverable and if subsequent attempts by the licensee to obtain a current valid address for the individual have been unsuccessful.(iv) A licensee no longer has a continuing relationship with a customer in the case of providing real estate settlement services, at the time the customer completes execution of all documents related to the real estate closing, payment for those services has been received, or the licensee has completed all of its responsibilities with respect to the settlement, including filing documents on the public record, whichever is later.(d)Delivery. When a licensee is required by this section to deliver an annual privacy notice, the licensee shall deliver it according to § 146a.16 (relating to delivery).The provisions of this §146a.12 amended August 9, 2019, effective 8/10/2019, 49 Pa.B. 4109.The provisions of this §146a.12 amended under sections 206, 506, 1501 and 1502 of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P.S. §§ 66, 186, 411 and 412); and the Unfair Insurance Practices Act (40 P.S. §§ 1171.1-1171.15).
This section cited in 31 Pa. Code § 146a.2 (relating to definitions); 31 Pa. Code § 146a.13 (relating to information to be included in privacy notices); and 31 Pa. Code § 146a.16 (relating to delivery).