House Bill Analysis - SSB 6065, Washington Blockchain Work Group (hearing date 2/25/20)
Summary
A House Bill Analysis of SSB 6065, establishing the Washington blockchain work group, prepared by the Office of Program Research for the Innovation, Technology & Economic Development Committee of the Washington State House of Representatives, with a hearing date of 2/25/20. The analysis states that the work group is composed of four legislative members, four members from state agencies, and eight members from associations. It says the work group must submit a report on recommended policies by December 1, 2021, and that the work group expires January 1, 2022. It states that the bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which it is passed.
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“House Bill Analysis - SSB 6065, Washington Blockchain Work Group (hearing date 2/25/20).”
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Washington State BILL
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research ANALYSIS
Innovation, Technology & Economic
Development Committee
SSB 6065
Brief Description: Establishing the Washington blockchain work group.
Sponsors: Senate Committee on Environment, Energy & Technology (originally sponsored by
Senators Brown, Hasegawa, Kuderer, Nguyen, Rolfes, Short, Wilson, L., Das and Wellman).
Brief Summary of Substitute Bill
Establishes the Washington blockchain work group (work group) for the purpose of
examining various potential applications of blockchain technology.
Requires the work group to submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature on
recommended policies to develop blockchain applications in Washington by
December 1, 2021.
Hearing Date: 2/25/20
Staff: Kyle Raymond (786-7190).
Background:
Legislation was enacted in 2019 providing that an electronic record may not be denied legal
effect because it is generated or stored using distributed ledger technology.
Distributed ledger technology means any distributed ledger protocol and supporting
infrastructure, including blockchain, that uses a distributed, decentralized, shared, and replicated
ledger.
Blockchain means a cryptographically secured, chronological, and decentralized consensus
ledger or consensus database maintained via internet, peer-to-peer network, or other similar
interaction.
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This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative
members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it
constitute a statement of legislative intent.
House Bill Analysis -1- SSB 6065
Summary of Bill:
The Washington blockchain work group (work group) is established, subject to appropriations.
The purpose of the work group is to examine various potential applications of blockchain
technology, including computing, banking and other financial services, the real estate transaction
process, health care, supply chain management, higher education, and public recordkeeping.
The work group is composed of four legislative members, four members from state agencies, and
eight members from associations.
The legislative work group members include: (1) one Senator from each of the two largest
caucuses of the Senate, appointed by the President of the Senate; and (2) one Representative
from each of the two largest caucuses of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker
of the House of Representatives.
The work group also includes the Director, or the Director's designee, of the Department of
Commerce, Department of Agriculture, and Department of Financial Institutions. In addition,
the work group includes the Director of Washington Technology Solutions, the Consolidated
Technology Services Agency, or the Director's designee.
The work group is also composed of individuals representing trade and other associations. The
Governor must appoint, subject to Senate confirmation, an individual representing each of the
following:
a Washington-based technology trade association for the full cross section of the
technology sector;
a trade association for financial services companies that do business in Washington;
a trade association for title insurance companies that do business in Washington;
a trade association for health care companies that do business in Washington;
a trade association for property and casualty insurance companies that do business in
Washington;
a trade association for Washington-based agriculture;
an association for county government officials in Washington; and
an association for public utility districts in Washington.
In addition, individuals representing other sectors may be invited by the chair, in consultation
with the other appointed members of the work group, to participate in the work group in an
advisory capacity. These invited representatives are not members of the work group, may not
vote, and are not subject to Senate confirmation. There is no limit on the number of invited
individuals acting in an advisory capacity.
The work group shall hold its first meeting by August 1, 2020. The work group must elect a
chair from among its members by majority vote at the first meeting. The chair of the work group
is responsible for arranging subsequent meetings and developing meeting agendas.
A public comment period must be provided at every work group meeting. Staff support for the
work group must be provided by Senate Committee Services and the House of Representatives
Office of Program Research.
House Bill Analysis -2- SSB 6065
The work group is required to submit a report on recommended policies that will facilitate the
development of blockchain applications in Washington to the Governor and the Legislature by
December 1, 2021.
The work group expires January 1, 2022.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is
passed.
House Bill Analysis -3- SSB 6065
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