House Bill 1729 - Establishing the Washington Blockchain Work Group

Summary

House Bill 1729, State of Washington 67th Legislature, 2022 Regular Session, by Representatives Senn, Paul, Ryu and Leavitt, prefiled January 3, 2022 and referred to the Committee on Community & Economic Development. The act relates to establishing the Washington blockchain work group, creating a new section and providing an expiration date. Subject to the availability of appropriated amounts, the work group is to examine potential applications of and policies for blockchain technology, with members including legislators, the lieutenant governor or a designee, and individuals representing named associations. The work group is to submit a report to the governor and the appropriate committees of the legislature by December 1, 2023, and the section expires January 1, 2024.

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Full text

     H-1856.3

                                HOUSE BILL 1729


     State of Washington       67th Legislature         2022 Regular Session

     By Representatives Senn, Paul, Ryu, and Leavitt

     Prefiled 01/03/22. Read first time 01/10/22.      Referred to Committee
     on Community & Economic Development.




 1       AN ACT Relating to establishing the Washington blockchain work
 2   group; creating a new section; and providing an expiration date.


 3   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:


 4       NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) Subject to the availability of amounts
 5   appropriated for this specific purpose, the Washington blockchain
 6   work group is established. The purpose of the work group is to
 7   examine various potential applications of and policies for blockchain
 8   technology including, but not limited to, applications in computing,
 9   banking and other financial services, the real estate transaction
10   process, health care, supply chain management, higher education,
11   identity verification, and public recordkeeping to help attract and
12   support employees and new businesses with a supportive ecosystem.
13       (2) The work group is composed of the following members:
14       (a) One senator from each of the two largest caucuses of the
15   senate, appointed by the president of the senate;
16       (b) One representative from each of the two largest caucuses of
17   the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house
18   of representatives;
19       (c) The lieutenant governor, or the lieutenant governor's
20   designee;


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 1       (d) A cybersecurity expert with experience in blockchain
 2   technology or its application;
 3       (e) An individual representing a Washington-based technology
 4   trade association for the full cross-section of the technology
 5   sector;
 6       (f) An individual from the Cascadia blockchain council;
 7       (g) An individual from a higher education institution in the
 8   field of blockchain;
 9       (h) An individual representing a trade association for financial
10   services companies that do business in Washington;
11       (i) An individual representing a trade association for title
12   insurance companies that do business in Washington;
13       (j) An individual representing a trade association for health
14   care companies that do business in Washington;
15       (k) An individual representing an association for county
16   government officials in Washington;
17       (l)   An  individual    representing  a  trade   association   for
18   Washington-based agriculture;
19       (m) An individual representing a trade association for property
20   and casualty insurance companies that do business in Washington;
21       (n) An individual representing an association for public utility
22   districts in Washington;
23       (o) An individual representing a consumer advocacy organization;
24       (p) An individual representing a large company who has experience
25   working with blockchain applications; and
26       (q) An individual representing a small company who has experience
27   working with blockchain applications.
28       (3) The individuals listed in subsection (2)(d) through (q) of
29   this section must be designated by their organization or association
30   or the lieutenant governor.
31       (4) In addition to the members listed in subsection (2) of this
32   section, the following individuals shall serve as ex officio members
33   of the work group: The director of the department of commerce, or the
34   director's designee; the director of the department of financial
35   institutions, or the director's designee; the director of Washington
36   technology solutions, the consolidated technology services agency, or
37   the director's designee; the director of the department of
38   agriculture, or the director's designee; the insurance commissioner
39   or the insurance commissioner's designee; and the director of the
40   department of ecology, or the director's designee.
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 1       (5) In addition to the members of the work group under
 2   subsections (2) and (4) of this section, individuals representing
 3   other sectors may be invited by the chair, in consultation with the
 4   other appointed members of the work group, to participate in an
 5   advisory capacity in meetings of the work group. Individuals
 6   participating in an advisory capacity under this subsection are not
 7   members of the work group, may not vote, and are not subject to the
 8   appointment process established in this section. There is no limit to
 9   the number of individuals who may participate in work group meetings
10   in an advisory capacity under this subsection.
11       (6) A majority of the work group members constitutes a quorum. If
12   a member has not been designated for a position set forth in this
13   section, that position may not be counted for the purpose of
14   determining a quorum.
15       (7) The work group shall hold its inaugural meeting by August 1,
16   2022. The work group shall elect a chair from among its members at
17   the inaugural meeting. The election of the chair must be by a
18   majority vote of the work group members who are present at the
19   inaugural meeting. The chair of the work group is responsible for
20   arranging subsequent meetings and developing meeting agendas.
21       (8) Staff support for the work group, including arranging the
22   inaugural meeting of the work group and assisting the chair of the
23   work group in arranging subsequent meetings, must be provided by the
24   office of the lieutenant governor.
25       (9) Legislative members of the work group may be reimbursed for
26   travel expenses in accordance with RCW 44.04.120. Nonlegislative
27   members are not entitled to be reimbursed for travel expenses if they
28   are elected officials or are participating on behalf of an employer,
29   governmental entity, or other organization. Any reimbursement for
30   other nonlegislative members is subject to chapter 43.03 RCW.
31       (10) The work group is a class one group under chapter 43.03 RCW.
32       (11) A public comment period must be provided at every meeting of
33   the work group.
34       (12) The work group shall submit a report to the governor and the
35   appropriate committees of the legislature by December 1, 2023, on
36   recommended policies that will facilitate the development of
37   blockchain applications and the sector overall in Washington, grow
38   the   related   workforce,  evaluate   environmental  advantages   and
39   concerns, make Washington a favorable place to do business, and
40   improve the lives of Washington residents.
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1       (13) This section expires January 1, 2024. The work group is
2   dissolved upon the expiration of this section.

                              --- END ---




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