Privacy of Electronic Fund Transfers Act of 1979
Latest action. Referred to Senate Committee on the Judiciary.
Privacy of Electronic Fund Transfers Act of 1979 - Permits electronic fund transfer service providers to disclose information concerning such transfers only: (1) to Government authorities pursuant to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978, a court order, or in specified emergencies; (2) to financial institution employees solely to determine the contents and the correctness of an item which was debited or credited to an account maintained by such financial institution; or (3) with the specific authorization of the originator or addressee of the item. Authorizes the Attorney General of the United States or any State to seek a court order to acquire the record of an electronic fund transfer when such acquisition may provide evidence of a criminal offense which is a felony under Federal law or, with respect to such State authority, threatens serious injury to person or property and is punishable by imprisonment for more than one year. Sets forth the procedure to be followed by the applicant for and the court issuing such court order. Permits the interception of an electronic fund transfer by Federal or State investigative or law enforcement officers if: (1) an emergency exists with respect to life threatening criminal activities; and (2) there are grounds for a court order to authorize such interception. Requires an application for an order approving such interception within 48 hours. Authorizes Secret Service special agents to intercept such transfers in order to locate an individual if specified procedures are followed. Requires the court denying or issuing a court order pursuant to this Act to notify the person named in the order or application and other parties to the intercepted transfers of specified information concerning such interception. Permits such notification to be delayed in specified circumstances. Sets forth criminal and civil penalties for violations of this Act. Allows a person aggrieved by a violation of this Act to maintain a civil action for damages and equitable relief against the appropriate Governmental authorities. Prohibits the use of an item or evidence derived from such item in any hearing or proceeding, if such item was disclosed or intercepted in violation of this Act. States that a good faith reliance on a court order issued pursuant to this Act or the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 shall constitute a complete defense to any action brought under this Act.
Written by analysts at the Congressional Research Service and published on Congress.gov, not by Civibrief. Summarized at the "Introduced in Senate" stage on October 23, 1979. It describes the bill, it is not the legal text.
Where is it in the process, and what happens next?
4 steps remain before this bill could become law.
The record's latest action, on October 23, 1979: Referred to Senate Committee on the Judiciary.
- Clearing the committees it was referred to, and being scheduled for a floor vote
- Passage by the Senate
- Passage by the House
- The President's signature. If the President vetoes it, two-thirds of both chambers must vote to override.
How likely is it to become law?
Civibrief does not forecast outcomes and this page has no opinion about this one. What the record supports is a base rate, which is a fact about the whole pile, not a prediction about this measure.
In the 96th Congress (1979-80), 613 of the 12,581 bills and joint resolutions introduced became law, about 4.9 percent. That count covers every measure at every stage, including the many that never left committee.
This one is not there yet: 4 steps are still outstanding, listed above.
Has anyone actually voted on it?
No. No roll call in this Congress cites this measure. That is the ordinary outcome: most measures never reach a recorded floor vote, and a committee ends most of them simply by not acting.
A vote is not the only thing that happens to a measure. Hearings, markups, and referrals are all recorded actions, and none of them is a vote of the full chamber.
Who is behind it?
WILLIAM PROXMIRE (D-WI) introduced it on October 23, 1979. No cosponsors are recorded.
Cosponsoring is a formal signature on the text. It is not a commitment to vote for the measure, it does not bind anyone's party, and a long list of cosponsors is a measure of attention rather than of prospects.
How long has it been in play?
It was introduced on October 23, 1979, 17124 days ago. The most recent recorded action was 17124 days ago, on October 23, 1979.
Measures do not carry over. Anything the 96th Congress has not finished by January 3, 1981 dies when the term ends, and has to be introduced again from the start in the next Congress.
Every answer above is assembled from this measure's own record on Congress.gov and from published counts of what Congress has passed before. Civibrief does not predict outcomes and takes no position on any measure.
Vote history
- SenateIn committee, no floor vote yet
- HouseAwaits Senate passage
- PresidentAwaits both chambers