On April 13, 2016, Nebraska’s breach notification statute was amended when Governor Pete Ricketts signed LB835 into law. The Amendment included a variety of changes, including a regulator notification requirement and broadens the definition of “personal information” in the state data breach notification statute, Neb. Rev. Stat. §87-802 – 87-804. These amendments become effective on July 20, 2016.

Specifically, the bill makes the following changes:

• Attorney General Notification. The amendment requires notice to the State’s Attorney General concurrent with notice provided to affected individuals. These notices must be provided as soon as possible and without unreasonable delay consistent with law enforcement needs and the time necessary to determine the scope of the breach. This change follows a number of other states, such as California, Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, and North Carolina, which also require notification to the respective state’s Attorney General or other agency. Because the timing, form, content and manner of delivery of these notices vary state to state, organizations should take agency notifications into account when engaging in breach preparedness planning.

• Personal Information Definition Expanded. The definition of “personal information” was amended to add a user name or email address, in combination with a password or security question and answer that would permit access to an online account, which, if acquired by an unauthorized person, would require notice. Recognizing the breadth of information consumers store online, Nebraska will become the fifth state, joining California, Florida, Nevada and Wyoming to require notification in the event of a breach of account credentials.

• Encryption Exception Clarified. As amended, the state’s breach notification law provides that data will not be considered encrypted for purposes of avoiding notification if the breach of security includes acquisition of the encryption key or confidential encrypted method.

The notice obligations that are triggered when organizations have a breach of the security of their systems involving personal information continue to evolve. Preparedness is key so take some to develop a response plan, and practice it.