Bill > S801

This bill aims to protect special operations forces personnel and their families by exempting their identification and location information from public records, expanding an existing address confidentiality program to include them, and establishing civil liability for "doxing," which is the unauthorized publication of personal information with the intent to harm. Specifically, it defines "special operations personnel" as members of specialized military units and their designated support staff, and their "identification and location information" as including home addresses, phone numbers, and birthdates for themselves, their spouses, and dependents, as well as school information for spouses and dependents. The bill also creates the "Civil Liability for Doxing Act," making it unlawful to publish such information if it causes physical injury, economic loss, mental anguish, fear for safety, or substantial life disruption, while providing exceptions for reporting crimes, news media, and lawful government functions. Additionally, it appropriates funds to the Department of Justice to extend the Address Confidentiality Program, to the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to inform the public about these protections, and to the Department of Information Technology for technical assistance to state agencies.