From the legislators
Brewer urges vets to apply for Welcome Home Bonus

State Senators Stephen M. Brewer (DBarre) and Edward M. Augustus, Jr. (DWorcester) encourage those returning from military service in Iraq and Afghanistan to take advantage of the state program.

"I worked hard to get this Veteran's bonus bill passed into law back in November 2005 and I am always pleased to hear of our brave men and woman receiving these benefits," said Brewer. "I encourage all eligible service members to apply for this small token of gratitude that they so deserve."

The Welcome Home Bonus offers $1,000 for veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and $500 to veterans who served for more than six months elsewhere after Sept. 11, 2001

"This initiative was put in place to thank our men and women for their service to our nation and Commonwealth and also to help give military families a boost in their transition to civilian life," said Augustus. "Of course, that expression of gratitude works only if veterans are aware that this benefit is available to them."

For more information about the Welcome Home Bonus, including downloadable applications with instructions and guidelines, please visit the website of the Department of the State Treasurer at http://www. mass.gov/treasury/veteransbonus/. Brewer announces passage of identity theft bill

The Senate unanimously passed legislation that provides Massachusetts consumers with greater protections from identity theft, according to Sen. Stephen Brewer (DBarre). The bill increases requirements on companies and agencies to report security breaches and protect personal information. It also puts tools at consumers' disposal to protect their credit information.

"As a conferee to work out compromise language, I am thrilled to see this bill that I worked so hard to get passed in the Senate actually reach the Governor's desk for his signature," said Brewer.

The legislation allows consumers to dictate who has access to their personal information from credit reporting agencies by allowing them to apply a security freeze on their information. The consumer would be required to send notification to the reporting agencies requesting the freeze. Once the reporting agency receives the request, they will send the individual confirmation and an ID and passcode. This passcode will allow the consumer to temporarily unfreeze or completely remove the freeze from the account.

There will be a maximum of a $5 fee to implement, remove, or for each lift of a freeze. The charges, however, will not apply to a victim of identity theft or a victim's spouse.

In addition to empowering consumers, the legislation also clearly defines the requirements and responsibilities of businesses and agencies. Specifically, businesses, government agencies and non-profits are required to inform individuals of any security breach where there is the potential that personal information has been accessed and might be used for unlawful activities. The business or agency would provide a written notice or, depending on the number of consumers affected, an appropriate means of notification to the affected individuals.

Businesses and agencies are also directed to properly dispose of personal information, either electronic or paper formats, by measures that include redaction, pulverizing, burning, erasure of electronic data or shredding. Any entities failing to properly dispose of personal information can be fined up to $100 for each data subject affected, but not exceeding $50,000.