Florida becomes first state to enact DNA privacy law, blocking insurers from genetic data

[InfoSec News <alerts () infosecnews org>]

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/politics/florida-becomes-first-state-to-enact-dna-privacy-law-blocking-insurers-from-genetic-data

By John Haughey
The Center Square
Washington Examiner
July 02, 2020

Florida on Wednesday became the nation’s first state to enact a DNA 
privacy law, prohibiting life, disability and long-term care insurance 
companies from using genetic tests for coverage purposes.

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 1189, sponsored by Rep. Chris Sprowls, 
R-Palm Harbor. It extends federal prohibitions against health insurance 
providers accessing results from DNA tests, such as those offered by 
23andMe or AncestryDNA, to the three other insurers.

Sprowls, the House speaker-designate, called the legislation a “major 
victory for Floridians” that “will make Florida the leader in the nation 
in protecting our residents and our citizens’ genetic information” when it 
was adopted by the House, 110-0, and the Senate, 35-3.

“Given the continued rise in popularity of DNA testing kits,” Sprowls said 
Tuesday, “it was imperative we take action to protect Floridians’ DNA data 
from falling into the hands of an insurer who could potentially weaponize 
that information against current or prospective policyholders in the form 
of rate increases or exclusionary policies.”

[...]

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