SB302 Alabama 2019 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Rodger SmithermanSenator

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2019

Title

Public assistance, administration of Lifeline qualifying public assistance programs, Sec. 37-2A-7 am'd.

Summary

SB 302 updates Alabama Lifeline programs by allowing state agencies to share participant data with federal Lifeline systems to improve eligibility and enrollment, while preserving confidentiality.

What This Bill Does

SB 302 amends Section 37-2A-7 to authorize Alabama state agencies administering Lifeline programs to provide access to participant data to USAC, the National Verifier, and the Lifeline eligibility database for Lifeline eligibility, enrollment, and other administrative functions. It establishes privacy protections for personal data and sets rules for disclosures to carriers and for auditing. It requires state agencies to cooperate with the FCC and USAC to allow data access at no cost and outlines steps for information exchange and potential automatic enrollment procedures.

Who It Affects

• Lifeline and Link-Up program participants (consumers) – their personal information may be shared with federal verification systems to determine eligibility and enrollment, with confidentiality protections.
• Alabama state agencies administering Lifeline programs and eligible telecommunications carriers – they must share data with federal systems at no cost, cooperate with federal processes, and implement enrollment and information-exchange procedures.

Key Provisions

• Authorizes and directs Alabama state agencies administering Lifeline programs to provide access to participant data to USAC, the National Verifier, and the Lifeline eligibility database for Lifeline eligibility, enrollment, and other administrative functions.
• Confidentiality: personal identifying information in Lifeline/Link-Up records is confidential and exempt from public records; disclosures are limited to purposes related to eligibility, billing, auditing, or as otherwise authorized by law; violations are Class B misdemeanors.
• Cooperation with federal programs: beginning on the act’s effective date, agencies must cooperate with the FCC and USAC to allow access to data at no cost to perform Lifeline eligibility and enrollment functions.
• Eligibility processing and carrier role: the commission handles processing and certification of eligibility information; carriers may continue processing applications based on other eligibility criteria; rules may be adopted to administer this section.
• Automatic enrollment and information sharing: agencies and carriers may exchange information to identify and enroll eligible customers, with timelines and memoranda of understanding to establish duties and automatic enrollment procedures; information shared remains confidential.
• Effective date: the act becomes effective immediately after governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Public Assistance