HLS 202ES-116 ENGROSSED
2020 Second Extraordinary Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 54
BY REPRESENTATIVE JAMES
COMMERCIAL REGULATIONS: Provides relative to the acceptance of digital
identification (Item #28)
1 AN ACT
2To enact Chapter 61 of Title 51 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, to be comprised
3 of R.S. 51:3211 through 3214, relative to the use of digitized identification cards; to
4 provide definitions; to provide for the acceptance of digitized identification cards at
5 places of business; to provide for exceptions; to limit liability; to provide for certain
6 powers and duties; to provide for applicability; and to provide for related matters.
7Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. Chapter 61 of Title 51 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950,
9comprised of R.S. 51:3211 through 3214, is hereby enacted to read as follows:
10 CHAPTER 61. DIGITIZED IDENTIFICATION CARD ACCEPTANCE
11 §3211. Definitions
12 As used in this Chapter, the following terms have the meanings ascribed to
13 them in this Section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
14 (1) "Consumer" means any individual who uses, purchases, or leases goods
15 or services.
16 (2) "Digitized identification card" means a data file available on any mobile
17 device which has connectivity to the internet through a state-approved application
18 that allows the mobile device to download the data file from the Department of
19 Public Safety and Corrections or an authorized representative of the Department of
20 Public Safety and Corrections that contains all of the data elements visible on the
Page 1 of 5
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 202ES-116 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 54
1 face and back of a license or identification card and displays the current status of the
2 license or identification card. For purposes of this Chapter, "current status" includes
3 valid, expired, cancelled, suspended, disqualified, active, inactive, member,
4 nonmember, eligible, or ineligible.
5 (3) "Person" means any individual, firm, partnership, corporation,
6 association, union, public or private education institution, or other organization,
7 including but not limited to a bar, restaurant, casino, official gaming establishment,
8 other establishment providing gaming operations, or a financial institution that is
9 engaged in trade or commerce within the geographic boundaries of this state.
10 (4) "Trade" or "commerce" means the advertising, offering for sale, sale, or
11 distribution of any services, including educational services, and any property,
12 corporeal or incorporeal, immovable or movable, and any other article, commodity,
13 or thing of value wherever situated, and includes any trade or commerce directly or
14 indirectly affecting the people of this state.
15 §3212. Digitized identification card acceptance; limitation of liability
16 A.(1) When a person requests a consumer to produce valid identification for
17 the purpose of furnishing proof of the consumer's identification or age, the person
18 shall accept a state-issued digitized identification card as a valid form of
19 identification.
20 (2) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Chapter to the contrary, a
21 federally insured depository institution shall not be required to accept a digitized
22 identification card as a valid form of identification. However, a federally insured
23 depository institution may, at its option, accept a digitized identification card as a
24 valid form of identification.
25 B. A digital copy, photograph, or image of a digitized identification card
26 which is not downloaded through a state-approved application on a mobile device
27 shall not be considered a valid digitized identification card as provided for by this
28 Chapter.
Page 2 of 5
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 202ES-116 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 54
1 C. The display of a digitized identification card does not serve as consent or
2 authorization for a person to search, view, or access any other data or application on
3 the consumer's mobile device. When a consumer presents his mobile device to a
4 person for the purpose of displaying a digitized identification card, the person shall
5 promptly return the mobile device to the consumer once the person has had an
6 opportunity to verify the identity or age of the consumer and the current status of the
7 license or identification card.
8 D. Under no circumstances shall this state, or any of its agencies, be held
9 liable in any manner legally or otherwise as a result of the use or misuse of a
10 digitized identification card.
11 §3213. Powers and duties
12 The Louisiana Gaming Control Board and the office of alcohol and tobacco
13 control have authority to take actions, not inconsistent with law, as deemed necessary
14 to ensure a respective licensee's compliance with the provisions of this Chapter.
15 §3214. Applicability
16 The provisions of this Chapter do not apply to a location of business in the
17 state of Louisiana where a physical copy of an individual's current driver's license,
18 valid passport, or visa issued by the federal government or another country or nation,
19 or other card of identity is held in compliance with state or federal law.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 54 Engrossed 2020 Second Extraordinary Session James
Abstract: Provides for the acceptance of digitized identification cards at places of business
in the state of La.
Present law authorizes a resident to have a digitized driver's license or identification card
provided by the Dept. of Public Safety and Corrections, office of motor vehicles, as an
alternative to a physical driver's license or identification card (R.S. 32:411).
Proposed law retains present law.
Proposed law defines "consumer", "customer", "digitized identification card", "person", and
"trade" or "commerce".
Page 3 of 5
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 202ES-116 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 54
Proposed law requires a person who is engaged in trade or commerce to accept the state-
issued digitized identification card of a consumer as a valid form of identification when
identification is requested for the purpose of proving the consumer's identity or age.
Proposed law provides that federally insured depository institutions shall not be required to
accept a digitized identification card as a valid form of identification. Such institutions may
exercise the option to accept digitized identification.
Proposed law provides that a copy, photograph, or image of a digitized identification card
that is not downloaded through the state-approved application on a mobile device is not a
valid digitized identification card.
Proposed law specifies that display of a digitized identification card does not serve as
consent or authorization for a person to view, search, or access any other data or application
on the mobile device and requires that a person promptly return the mobile device to the
consumer once the person has had an opportunity to verify the consumer's identity and
current status of the license or identification card.
Proposed law absolves the state and any of its agencies from liability as a result of the use
or misuse of a digitized identification card.
Proposed law authorizes the La. Gaming Control Board and the office of alcohol and tobacco
control to take actions as deemed necessary to ensure respective licensees' compliance with
the provisions of proposed law.
Proposed law does not apply to a location of business where a physical copy of an
individual's current driver's license, valid passport, or visa issued by the federal government
or another country or nation, or other card of identity is held in compliance with state or
federal law.
(Adds R.S. 51:3211-3214)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Commerce to the
original bill:
1. Make technical changes.
2. Require the mobile application be a state-approved application.
3. Specify that proposed law applies to bars, restaurants, casinos, official gaming
establishments, other establishments providing gaming operations, and financial
institutions.
4. Add "educational services" to the definition of "trade" or "commerce".
5. Specify "age" as a form of identification that may be requested.
6. Require that the digital identification be state-issued.
7. Create an exception for federally insured depository institutions.
8. Delete proposed law provision that would have been applicable to businesses
needing physical identification for non-identification purposes.
9. Authorize the La. Gaming Control Board and the office of alcohol and tobacco
control to ensure licensees' compliance with proposed law.
Page 4 of 5
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 202ES-116 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 54
10.Exempt places of business that may require a physical copy of a person's
identification for lawful compliance purposes.
Page 5 of 5
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.