Solano County Privacy Policy

County of Solano rules and regulations exist to ensure that government is open and that the public has a right to access appropriate records and information possessed by County government. At the same time, there are exceptions to the public's right to access public records provided by County, State and Federal laws. These exceptions include the privacy of individuals. Information collected at this site becomes public record and may be subject to inspection and copying by the public, unless an exception in law exists.

During your visit to SolanoCounty.com, information that is not readily identifiable to an individual may be automatically collected and stored. This information would be used solely to improve our web services. For more detail on our privacy policy, please see the expanded statement following.

Information that may be Collected and How it may be used

If you do nothing during your visit to the Solano County Web site but browse or download information, we may automatically collect and store the following information about your visit:

1. The Internet Protocol (IP) address and domain name used but not the email address. The Internet Protocol address is a numerical identifier assigned either to your Internet service provider or directly to your computer. We use the Internet Protocol Address to direct Internet traffic to you;

2. The type of browser and operating system you used and your connection speed;

3. The date and time you visited this site;

4. The web pages or services you accessed at this site; and

5. The web site you visited prior to coming to this web site.

The information we may automatically collect or store would be used to improve the content of our web services and to help us understand how people are using our services. Solano County analyzes our web site logs to continually improve the value of the materials available on our site. Our web site logs are not personally identifiable, and we make no attempt to link them with the individuals that browse the Solano County Web site.

If during your visit to SolanoCounty.com you participate in a survey, fill in and send an online form, or send an email, the following additional information will be collected:

1. E-mail correspondence: The e-mail address and contents of the e-mail;

2. Forms and Surveys: Any information you volunteered in response to the form or survey.

The information collected may not be limited to text characters and may include audio, video, and graphic information formats you send us. The information is retained in accordance with the Solano County rules and regulations.

We may use your email to respond appropriately. This may be to respond to you, to address issues you identify, to further improve our web site, or to forward the email to another agency for appropriate action. Form and Survey information would be used for the purpose designated.

Personal Information and Choice

"Personal information" is information about an individual that is readily identifiable to that specific individual. Personal information includes personal identifiers such as an individual's name, address, and phone number. A domain name or Internet Protocol address is not considered personal information.
We would not collect personal information about you unless you voluntarily participate in an activity that asks for information (i.e. sending an e-mail, filling in and sending a form, or participating in a survey). If you choose not to participate in these activities, your choice will in no way affect your ability to use any other feature of Solano County's Web site.

If personal information is requested on the web site or volunteered by the user, County rules and regulations, the State's Information Practices Act of 1977 or the Federal Privacy Act of 1974 may protect it. However, this information is a public record once you provide it, and may be subject to public inspection and copying if not protected by above-mentioned legal references.

Users are cautioned that the collection of personal information requested from or volunteered by children on-line or by email will be treated the same as information given by an adult and may be subject to public access.

Public Disclosure

In the County of Solano, rules and regulations exist to ensure that government is open and that the public has a right to access appropriate records and information possessed by County government. At the same time, there are exceptions to the public's right to access public records that serve various needs: the privacy of individuals is included among these exceptions. Exceptions are provided by County, State and Federal laws.

We strive to protect personally identifiable information by collecting only information necessary to deliver our services. All information that may be collected at this site becomes public record that may be subject to inspection and copying by the public, unless an exemption in law exists.

In the event of a conflict between this Privacy Policy and any Solano County Board Ordinance or other legal entity governing the disclosure of records, the Solano County Board Ordinance or other applicable law will control.

Health Information

Agencies requesting or providing personally identifiable health care information of this Web site are required to certify that its health care data handling and security procedures are compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 ("HIPAA"). If such data and security services are provided to such agency by a third-party provider, the agency shall be responsible for such third party's compliance with HIPAA.

Access and Correction of Personal Information

You can review any personal information we collect about you. You may recommend changes to your personal information you believe in error by submitting a written request that credibly shows the error. If you believe that your personal information is being used for a purpose other than what was intended when submitted, you may contact us. In all cases, we will take reasonable steps to verify your identity before granting access or making corrections.

Cookies

What is a Cookie?
A cookie is a small amount of data, which may include an anonymous unique identifier, that is sent to your browser from a web site's computers and may either be used only during your session (a "session" cookie) or may be stored on your computer's hard drive (a "persistent" cookie). Cookies can contain data about user movement during the visit to the web site. If your browser software is set to allow cookies, a web site can send its own cookie to you.

Why are Cookies Used on Web Sites?
Cookies are one mechanism for maintaining continuity during a user's visit to a web site. They allow data to be maintained for users' benefit as they navigate a site. This is referred to as "session" or "management" cookie. These cookies go away when you terminate your visit to the web site as they are maintained only in your browser's active memory during your session.

Cookies may also be stored on your computer so that you can be recognized by a web site on subsequent visits. They can be read by the web site that set them whenever you enter the web site. They are often used on web sites that require you to log in, in order to save you from entering all of your login information. They may store information on your unique identifier and the areas of the web site you have visited before. These cookies are stored on your computer's hard drive after you have left your web site visit and consequently are often referred to as "persistent" cookies.

Choices about Cookies
You can configure your browser to accept all cookies, reject all cookies, or notify you when a cookie is set. (Each browser is different, so check the "Help" menu of your browser to learn how to change your cookie preferences.)

Solano County Practices Regarding Cookies
Presently, Solano County would only use "session" cookies. The information on these cookies would be retained by the County only while the user's session is active in a table that lists the unique identifiers of those currently using the site.

Information Security

The County has taken several steps to safeguard the integrity of its telecommunications and computing infrastructure. The County has implemented security measures and systems into the design, implementation and day-to-day operation of its Web sites, underlying servers, and networks. The County progressively implements new security measures as they become available on the market. Security measures are primarily to identify and/or block unauthorized intrusions, upload or change information or otherwise cause damage to the County Web site.

This information should not be construed in any way as giving business, legal, or other advice. This information should not be construed as warranting as fail-proof the security of information provided through County supported web sites.

Electronic Commerce

 Users choosing to engage in electronic commerce with the County are ensured reasonable security measures. E-commerce transactions are performed only under tightly controlled circumstances, where there are appropriate technological and other safeguards in place to protect financial and other sensitive data. County e-commerce systems supported on the County's web site ensure financial data remains secure and with individuals and institutions involved in the transaction. Wherever possible, financial information is not collected by the County. Rather, designated banks and financial partners route the data, transfer the funds and confirm payment to both you and the County.

 Use of this Web Site as Notice to the County

 Communications made through the County of Solano’s Web site shall in no way be deemed to constitute legal or official notice to the County of Solano, its agencies, officers, employees, representatives, or agents with respect to any existing, pending, or future claim or cause of action against the County of Solano or any of its agencies, officers, employees, representatives, or agents where notice is required by federal, state, or local law. No communication to the County of Solano made through this Web site shall be deemed to constitute legal or official notice for any purpose.

This site is operated and maintained by the County of Solano through the Department of Information Technology (referred to as “DoIT”). Materials and information on the County's Web site are provided as a public service and intended to afford general guidelines on matters of public interest. Accordingly, the information in this site is not intended to serve as legal, accounting or tax advice.

Solano County has links to other web sites. These may include links to web sites operated by other government agencies, nonprofit organizations and private businesses. When you link to another site, you are no longer on "My Solano County" and this Privacy Notice will not apply. When you link to another web site, you are subject to the privacy and other policies of that new site.

Solano County Contact Information

To offer comments about Solano County Web sites, click on the “Technical Contact” link at the bottom of most Web pages.