Louisiana has joined the growing list of states updating their data breach notification law in 2018.  Others include, as we have reported, Arizona and Oregon. The law has now been amended to include biometric information, state ID number, and passport number in the definition of personal information. It also adds a 60-day notice timeline from “the discovery of the breach.” If the 60-day timeline is not met because of a law enforcement request or because it takes longer to find out the scope of the breach and restore company’s systems, the law requires that the company explain the delay to the state Attorney General. The law now also permits companies not to notify if, after a reasonable investigation, they determine that “there is no likelihood of harm to the residents of this state.” Companies must keep a written record – for five years – of breaches it did not report.  This record must be given to the AG, if requested, within 60 days. The amendments to the Louisiana law go into effect on August 1^st, 2018.

Putting it Into Practice: Companies that maintain a nationwide incident response plan will want to look at their definitions of personal information, the timing of notification, as well as the need to keep a written record of decisions not to notify.