The state Senate on Oct. 4 approved bipartisan legislation sponsored by Sen. Tracy Pennycuick, R-Montgomery, to strengthen notification requirements for data breaches and provide affected citizens with free credit monitoring and a credit report.

Senate Bill 824, introduced with Sen. Jimmy Dillon, D-Philadelphia, would provide citizens affected by a data breach a free credit report and a year of credit monitoring while they recover. The bill also strengthens state notification requirements and mandates attorney general notification if a data breach occurs in the commonwealth.