Overview

Thank you for visiting the Economic Security Forum (Forum). This Forum is for the communication and distribution of information in conjunction with the NYS Economic Security Cabinet. The Forum recognizes that visitors to this website are concerned about their privacy. The Forum is committed to preserving your privacy when visiting this website.

Consistent with the provisions of the Internet Security and Privacy Act, the Freedom of Information Law and the Personal Privacy Protection Law, this policy describes the Forum’s privacy practices regarding information collected from users of this website. This policy describes what data is collected and how that information is used. Forum may, at its sole discretion, change, modify, add, or delete portions of this policy. Because this privacy policy only applies to this website, you should examine the privacy policy of any website, including other State websites, you access through this website.

For purposes of this policy, “personal information” means any information concerning a natural person, as opposed for instance to a corporate entity, which, because of name, number, symbol, mark, or other identifier, can be used to identify that natural person. Forum only collects personal information about you when you provide that information voluntarily by sending an e-mail or by initiating an online transaction, such as a survey, registration or order form.

Information Collected Automatically When You Visit This Web Site

When visiting this web site, the Forum automatically collects and stores the following information about your visit:

1. The Internet Protocol address and domain name used, but not the e-mail address. The Internet Protocol address is a numerical identifier assigned either to your Internet service provider or directly to your computer;
2. The type of browser and operating system you used;
3. The date and time you visited this site;
4. The web pages or services you accessed at this site;
5. The web site you visited prior to coming to this web site;
6. The web site you visit as you leave this web site; and
7. If you downloaded a form, the form that was downloaded.

None of the foregoing information is deemed to constitute personal information.

The information that is collected automatically is used to improve this web site’s content and to help the Forum understand how users are interacting with the web site. This information is collected for statistical analysis, to determine what information is of most and of least interest to our users, and to improve the utility of the material available on the web site. The information is not collected for commercial marketing purposes and the Forum is not authorized to sell or otherwise disclose the information collected from the web site for commercial marketing purposes.

Cookies

Cookies are simple text files stored on your web browser to provide a means of distinguishing among users of this website. The use of cookies is a standard practice among Internet websites. In order to better serve you, we may use “temporary” cookies to enhance, customize or enable your visit to this web site. Temporary cookies do not contain personal information and do not compromise your privacy or security and are erased during the operation of your browser or when your browser is closed.

During your visit to this website, you may complete a registration form in order to personalize your use of the website. In such an event, we may deliver a “persistent” cookie which would be stored on your computer’s hard drive. This persistent cookie will allow the website to recognize you when you visit again and tailor the information presented to you based on your needs and interests. The Forum uses persistent cookies only with your permission.

The software you use to access the website allows you to refuse new cookies or delete existing cookies. Refusing or deleting these cookies may limit your ability to take advantage of some of the features of this website.

Information Collected When You E-mail This Web Site or Initiate an Online Transaction

During your visit to this web site you may send an e-mail to the Forum. Your e-mail address and the contents of your message will be collected. The information collected is not limited to text characters and may include audio, video, and graphic information formats included in the message. Your e-mail address and the information included in your message will be used to respond to you, to address issues you identify, to improve this web site, or to forward your message to another State agency for appropriate action. Your e-mail address is not collected for commercial purposes and the Forum is not authorized to sell or otherwise disclose your e-mail address for commercial purposes.

During your visit to this web site you may initiate a transaction such as a survey, registration, or order form. The information, including personal information, volunteered by you in initiating the transaction is used by the Forum to operate the Forum’s programs, which include the provision of goods, services, and information. The information collected by the Forum may be disclosed by the Forum for those purposes that may be reasonably ascertained from the nature and terms of the transaction in connection with which the information was submitted.

Forum does not knowingly collect personal information from children or create profiles of children through this web site. Users are cautioned, however, that the collection of personal information submitted in an e-mail will be treated as though it was submitted by an adult, and may, unless exempted from access by federal or State law, be subject to public access. Forum strongly encourages parents and teachers to be involved in children’s Internet activities and to provide guidance whenever children are asked to provide personal information online.

Information and Choice

As noted above, Forum does not collect any personal information about you during your visit to this website, unless you provide that information voluntarily by sending an e-mail or initiating an online transaction such as a survey, registration, or order form. You may choose not to send us an e-mail, respond to a survey or complete an order form. While your choice of not to participate in these activities may limit your ability to receive specific services or products through this website, it will not prevent you from requesting services or products from Forum by other means, and will not normally have an impact on your ability to take advantage of other features of the website, including browsing or downloading most publicly available information.

Disclosure of Information Collected Through This Website

The collection of information through this website and the disclosure of that information are subject to the provisions of the Internet Security and Privacy Act. Forum will only collect personal information through this website, or disclose such personal information, if the user has consented to the collection and disclosure of such personal information. The voluntary disclosure of personal information to Forum by the user, whether solicited or unsolicited, constitutes consent to the collection and disclosure of the information by Forum for the purposes for which the user disclosed the information to Forum, as was reasonably ascertainable from the nature and terms of the disclosure.

However, Forum may collect or disclose personal information without user consent if the collection or disclosure is: (1) necessary to perform the statutory duties of Forum, or necessary for Forum to operate a program authorized by law, or authorized by state or federal statute or regulation; (2) made pursuant to a court order or by law; (3) for the purpose of validating the identity of the user; or (4) of information to be used solely for statistical purposes that is in a form that cannot be used to identify any particular person.

Further, the disclosure of information, including personal information, collected through this website is subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Law and the Personal Privacy Protection Law. Additionally, Forum may disclose personal information to federal or State law enforcement authorities to enforce its rights against unauthorized access or attempted unauthorized access to Forum’s information technology assets and any other inappropriate use of its website.

Links Disclaimer

In order to provide visitors with certain information, this website provides links to local, State and federal government agencies, and websites of other organizations. A link does not constitute an endorsement of the content, viewpoint, accuracy, opinions, policies, products, services, or accessibility of that website. Once you link to another website from this website, including one maintained by the State, you are subject to the terms and conditions of that website, including, but not limited to, its privacy policy.

Retention of Information Collected Through This Web Site

The information collected through this web site is retained by Forum in accordance with the records retention and disposition requirements of the New York State Arts & Cultural Affairs Law. Information on the requirements of the Arts & Cultural Affairs Law may be found at http://www.archives.nysed.gov/a/nysaservices/ns_mgr_laws.shtml or http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/services/artslaw.html. In general, the Internet services logs of Forum, comprising electronic files or automated logs created to monitor access and use of Agency services provided through this web site, are retained for the duration of the use of the statistical software package and then destroyed. Information, including personal information, that you submit in an e-mail or when you initiate an online transaction such as a survey, registration form, application, certification or order form is retained in accordance with the records retention and disposition schedule established for the records of the program unit to which you submitted the information. Information concerning these records retention and disposition schedules may be obtained through the Internet privacy policy contact listed in this policy.

Information Disclaimer

Information provided on this website is intended to allow the public immediate access to public information. While all attempts are made to provide accurate, current, and reliable information, Forum recognizes the possibility of human and/or mechanical error. Therefore, Forum, its employees, officers and agents make no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, currency, or suitability of the information provided by this website, and deny any expressed or implied warranty as to the same.

Contact Information

For questions regarding the Privacy Policy please use the contact page within the site.

For questions regarding the ability to review and correct personal information you submitted to NYSDOL please use the contact page within the site and mark your request as “FOIL”.