On June 8, 2022, the California Privacy Protection Agency (CPPA) Board, will meet to discuss and take potential action regarding a draft of its proposed regulations. The June 8th public meeting includes an agenda item where the CPPA Board will consider “possible action regarding proposed regulations … including possible notice of proposed action.”

In advance of the meeting, the CPPA posted on its website draft redline regulations for discussion purposes on the issue of revising the current regulations released by the California Attorney General (recently renumbered by the CPPA). The quietly released 66-page draft regulations, are intended to implement and interpret the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA). While the draft redline regulations address topics such as implementing “easy to understand” language for consumer CCPA requests, the draft does not address all of the 22 regulatory topics required under the CPRA. For example, the draft does not cover the opt-in/opt-out of automated decision making technology.

Here are some of the highlights of the proposed draft regulations:

  • Adds a definition of “disproportionate effort” within the context of responding to a consumer requests. For example, disproportionate effort might be involved when the personal information which is the subject of the request is not in a searchable or readily-accessible format, is maintained only for legal or compliance purposes, is not sold or used for any commercial purpose, and would not impact the consumer in any material manner;
  • Adds a new section on the restrictions on the collection and use of personal information that contains illustrative examples. One example is a business that offers a mobile flashlight app. That business would need the consumer’s explicit consent to collect a consumer geolocation information because that personal information is incompatible with the context in which the personal information is collected in connection with the app;
  • Adds requirements for disclosures and communications to consumers. This includes making sure communications are reasonably accessible to consumers with disabilities whether online or offline;
  • Adds requirements for methods for submitting CCPA requests and obtaining consumer consent. A key principle here is to ensure that the process for consumers to select a more privacy-protective options should not be more difficult or longer than a less protective option. Symmetry is the goal; and
  • Makes substantial revisions to the requirements for the privacy policy that a business is required to provide to consumers detailing the business’s online and offline practices regarding collection, use, sale, sharing, and retention of personal information. This includes new provisions concerning the right to limit the use and disclosure of sensitive personal information and the right to correct personal information.

To date, the Agency has not issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to start the formal rulemaking process, but the timeframe associated with the draft regulations is still unclear – especially when the CPRA requires the CPPA to finalize regulations by July 1, 2022. It is expected that the June 8th meeting will provide details on the process.

Jackson Lewis will continue to track information related to privacy regulations and related issues. For additional information on the CPRA, please reach out to a member of our Privacy, Data, and Cybersecurity practice group

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Photo of Joseph J. Lazzarotti Joseph J. Lazzarotti

Joseph J. Lazzarotti is a principal in the Berkeley Heights, New Jersey, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. He founded and currently co-leads the firm’s Privacy, Data and Cybersecurity practice group, edits the firm’s Privacy Blog, and is a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP)…

Joseph J. Lazzarotti is a principal in the Berkeley Heights, New Jersey, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. He founded and currently co-leads the firm’s Privacy, Data and Cybersecurity practice group, edits the firm’s Privacy Blog, and is a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP) with the International Association of Privacy Professionals. Trained as an employee benefits lawyer, focused on compliance, Joe also is a member of the firm’s Employee Benefits practice group.

In short, his practice focuses on the matrix of laws governing the privacy, security, and management of data, as well as the impact and regulation of social media. He also counsels companies on compliance, fiduciary, taxation, and administrative matters with respect to employee benefit plans.

Privacy and cybersecurity experience – Joe counsels multinational, national and regional companies in all industries on the broad array of laws, regulations, best practices, and preventive safeguards. The following are examples of areas of focus in his practice:

  • Advising health care providers, business associates, and group health plan sponsors concerning HIPAA/HITECH compliance, including risk assessments, policies and procedures, incident response plan development, vendor assessment and management programs, and training.
  • Coached hundreds of companies through the investigation, remediation, notification, and overall response to data breaches of all kinds – PHI, PII, payment card, etc.
  • Helping organizations address questions about the application, implementation, and overall compliance with European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and, in particular, its implications in the U.S., together with preparing for the California Consumer Privacy Act.
  • Working with organizations to develop and implement video, audio, and data-driven monitoring and surveillance programs. For instance, in the transportation and related industries, Joe has worked with numerous clients on fleet management programs involving the use of telematics, dash-cams, event data recorders (EDR), and related technologies. He also has advised many clients in the use of biometrics including with regard to consent, data security, and retention issues under BIPA and other laws.
  • Assisting clients with growing state data security mandates to safeguard personal information, including steering clients through detailed risk assessments and converting those assessments into practical “best practice” risk management solutions, including written information security programs (WISPs). Related work includes compliance advice concerning FTC Act, Regulation S-P, GLBA, and New York Reg. 500.
  • Advising clients about best practices for electronic communications, including in social media, as well as when communicating under a “bring your own device” (BYOD) or “company owned personally enabled device” (COPE) environment.
  • Conducting various levels of privacy and data security training for executives and employees
  • Supports organizations through mergers, acquisitions, and reorganizations with regard to the handling of employee and customer data, and the safeguarding of that data during the transaction.
  • Representing organizations in matters involving inquiries into privacy and data security compliance before federal and state agencies including the HHS Office of Civil Rights, Federal Trade Commission, and various state Attorneys General.

Benefits counseling experience – Joe’s work in the benefits counseling area covers many areas of employee benefits law. Below are some examples of that work:

  • As part of the Firm’s Health Care Reform Team, he advises employers and plan sponsors regarding the establishment, administration and operation of fully insured and self-funded health and welfare plans to comply with ERISA, IRC, ACA/PPACA, HIPAA, COBRA, ADA, GINA, and other related laws.
  • Guiding clients through the selection of plan service providers, along with negotiating service agreements with vendors to address plan compliance and operations, while leveraging data security experience to ensure plan data is safeguarded.
  • Counsels plan sponsors on day-to-day compliance and administrative issues affecting plans.
  • Assists in the design and drafting of benefit plan documents, including severance and fringe benefit plans.
  • Advises plan sponsors concerning employee benefit plan operation, administration and correcting errors in operation.

Joe speaks and writes regularly on current employee benefits and data privacy and cybersecurity topics and his work has been published in leading business and legal journals and media outlets, such as The Washington Post, Inside Counsel, Bloomberg, The National Law Journal, Financial Times, Business Insurance, HR Magazine and NPR, as well as the ABA Journal, The American Lawyer, Law360, Bender’s Labor and Employment Bulletin, the Australian Privacy Law Bulletin and the Privacy, and Data Security Law Journal.

Joe served as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Laura Denvir Stith on the Missouri Court of Appeals.