By: Parker H.B. No. 2199
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of the digital identity work group.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. In this Act:
(1) "Digital identity" includes:
(A) credentials issued by federal, state, and
local governmental agencies to a person for identification,
licensure, registration, and other purposes;
(B) credentials conferred to a person to verify
the person's skills and qualifications;
(C) digital credentials issued for user
authentication and access management; and
(D) digitally-verifiable claims.
(2) "Work group" means the digital identity work group
established under this Act.
SECTION 2. INFORMATION FOR LEGISLATIVE PURPOSES. (a) Many
credentials issued by governmental agencies, including passports,
driver's licenses, business licenses, vehicle registrations, and
certificates, are physical or portable document format documents.
The use of physical credentials for validation can be slow,
inconvenient, costly, and prone to intentional or unintentional
human error. Physical credentials are susceptible to
counterfeiting or fraud.
(b) Credentials are used for validating identity, including
to:
(1) verify age for age restriction purposes;
(2) notarize signatures on documents;
(3) verify tax exemptions;
(4) prove registration or insurance coverage;
(5) prove a license or permit has been issued and is
current; and
(6) prove inspections have been performed and passed.
(c) The use of credentials for validation presents an
opportunity to:
(1) digitize and secure credentials using technology,
including blockchain and cryptography; and
(2) lower costs and improve privacy, security, and
convenience for governmental agencies, industry, and consumers.
SECTION 3. ESTABLISHMENT AND COMPOSITION OF WORK GROUP.
(a) The digital identity work group is composed of the following 15
members:
(1) one member of the house of representatives,
appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;
(2) one member of the senate, appointed by the
lieutenant governor;
(3) one member representing institutions of higher
education in this state, appointed by the governor;
(4) one member representing a municipality in this
state who has overseen the implementation of digital identity
initiatives, appointed by the presiding officer of the work group;
(5) one member representing the Department of Public
Safety of the State of Texas, appointed by the public safety
director;
(6) one member representing the Department of
Information Resources, appointed by the executive director of the
department;
(7) one member representing the office of the
secretary of state, appointed by the secretary of state; and
(8) eight public members, four of whom are appointed
by the speaker of the house of representatives and four of whom are
appointed by the lieutenant governor, each of whom must:
(A) have knowledge and experience in digital
identity technology, including blockchain technology and
cryptography; or
(B) represent an industry that would benefit from
the use of digital identity technology.
(b) The governor shall designate a member of the work group
appointed under Subsection (a)(3) or (8) of this section to serve as
presiding officer of the work group. The members of the work group
appointed under Subsections (a)(1) and (2) of this section shall
both serve as assistant presiding officers of the work group.
(c) A member of the work group may not receive compensation
for serving on the work group or for performing official duties as a
member of the work group. A member of the work group may receive
reimbursement for legitimate expenses incurred by the member in the
performance of official duties as a member of the work group.
(d) The work group shall meet at the call of the presiding
officer.
SECTION 4. REPORT, POLICIES, AND PROCEDURES. (a) The work
group shall develop recommendations for the use of digital identity
in this state and identify optimal policies and state investments
related to digital identity technology. In performing its duties
under this section, the work group shall:
(1) assess existing digital identity practices in this
state;
(2) identify areas of concern in current digital
identity applications or the lack of applications;
(3) identify efficiencies and cost savings for
governmental agencies and economic growth and development
opportunities for this state presented by digitizing identity;
(4) review technology standards for digital identity;
(5) identify attribute validation services at federal
governmental agencies; and
(6) review the federal Improving Digital Identity Act
of 2020 (H.R. 8215).
(b) Based on the information gathered under Subsection (a)
of this section, the work group shall make legislative
recommendations as appropriate to:
(1) promote efficiencies in governmental agencies;
(2) protect the privacy of residents of this state;
(3) promote portability and interoperability of
digital identity credentials; and
(4) generate economic opportunities by prescribing
the use of digital identity.
(c) Not later than September 30, 2022, the work group shall
submit the report containing its findings under Subsection (b) of
this section to each standing committee of the senate and house of
representatives with primary jurisdiction over economic
development or technology.
(d) The work group may adopt procedures and policies as
necessary to administer this section and implement the
responsibilities of the work group.
SECTION 5. EXPIRATION OF ACT AND ABOLISHMENT OF WORK GROUP.
This Act expires and the work group is abolished October 1, 2022.
SECTION 6. TRANSITION LANGUAGE. (a) As soon as practicable
after the effective date of this Act, but not later than September
15, 2021, the appropriate appointing authorities shall appoint the
members of the work group as required by Section 3 of this Act.
(b) Not later than January 1, 2022, the work group shall
hold its initial meeting.
SECTION 7. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September
1, 2021.