Senators Bryant and O’Dell Introduce Cybersecurity Bill to Prevent Future Data Breaches

Senator Kevin Bryant (R-Anderson)

South Carolinians will have their data protection strengthened under a new bill introduced by Senators Kevin Bryant and Billy O’Dell.

In light of the recent Department of Revenue data breach, a special Senate committee was formed and headed by Senators Bryant and O’Dell. The two have been working toward solutions aimed at preventing a cyber hacking from happening again.

The bill, S.334, would authorize the extension of identity theft protection and fraud resolution services for victims for up to 10 years. It would also create an Identity Theft Unit within the Department of Consumer Affairs as well as creating a Department of Information Security. The Identity Theft Unit would be responsible for educating the public about identity theft and fraud and provide fraud resolution services to victims, while the Department of Information Security would develop statewide policies, standards, programs, and services related to cyber security.

“This bill is a starting point for us,” said Senator Bryant. “Achieving the level of cybersecurity the people of this state deserve is a work in progress, and Senator O’Dell and I will not give up until we reach that level.”

Senators Bryant and O’Dell said they have no intention of slowing down until they reach their goal for cybersecurity in South Carolina. If passed, this bill will bring the state one step closer in its efforts to prevent another cyber security breach from occurring in the future, according to the senators.