This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The state agency that doles out welfare benefits would have the power to notify victims of Social Security fraud under a bill that passed through a committee unanimously and was sent to the full House Monday afternoon.
Rep. John Dougall, R-Highland, said HB366 would change the current rule that allows the Department of Workforce Services only to refuse benefits when confronted with a person using a false Social Security number.
His measure would allow a Social Security number being used by multiple people to be reported to the victim of the fraud.
However, because of varying privacy guidelines established by the federal government, not all abuses would be able to be reported to the police under Dougall's bill.
David Montero