815 ILCS 530/40

(815 ILCS 530/40)

Sec. 40. Disposal of materials containing personal information; Attorney General.

(a) In this Section, "person" means: a natural person; a corporation, partnership, association, or other legal entity; a unit of local government or any agency, department, division, bureau, board, commission, or committee thereof; or the State of Illinois or any constitutional officer, agency, department, division, bureau, board, commission, or committee thereof.

(b) A person must dispose of the materials containing personal information in a manner that renders the personal information unreadable, unusable, and undecipherable. Proper disposal methods include, but are not limited to, the following:

(1) Paper documents containing personal information may be either redacted, burned, pulverized, or shredded so that personal information cannot practicably be read or reconstructed.

(2) Electronic media and other non-paper media containing personal information may be destroyed or erased so that personal information cannot practicably be read or reconstructed.

(c) Any person disposing of materials containing personal information may contract with a third party to dispose of such materials in accordance with this Section. Any third party that contracts with a person to dispose of materials containing personal information must implement and monitor compliance with policies and procedures that prohibit unauthorized access to or acquisition of or use of personal information during the collection, transportation, and disposal of materials containing personal information.

(d) Any person, including but not limited to a third party referenced in subsection (c), who violates this Section is subject to a civil penalty of not more than $100 for each individual with respect to whom personal information is disposed of in violation of this Section. A civil penalty may not, however, exceed $50,000 for each instance of improper disposal of materials containing personal information. The Attorney General may impose a civil penalty after notice to the person accused of violating this Section and an opportunity for that person to be heard in the matter. The Attorney General may file a civil action in the circuit court to recover any penalty imposed under this Section.

(e) In addition to the authority to impose a civil penalty under subsection (d), the Attorney General may bring an action in the circuit court to remedy a violation of this Section, seeking any appropriate relief.

(f) A financial institution under 15 U.S.C. 6801 et. seq. or any person subject to 15 U.S.C. 1681w is exempt from this Section.

(Source: P.A. 97-483, eff. 1-1-12.)