1 | 1 | | BILL AS INTRODUCED H.340 |
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5 | 5 | | VT LEG #378965 v.1 |
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6 | 6 | | H.340 1 |
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7 | 7 | | Introduced by Representatives Priestley of Bradford, Arsenault of Williston, 2 |
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8 | 8 | | Berbeco of Winooski, Cole of Hartford, Logan of Burlington, 3 |
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9 | 9 | | Masland of Thetford, McGill of Bridport, Sibilia of Dover, and 4 |
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10 | 10 | | White of Waitsfield 5 |
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11 | 11 | | Referred to Committee on 6 |
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12 | 12 | | Date: 7 |
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13 | 13 | | Subject: Commerce and trade; consumer protection; artificial intelligence 8 |
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14 | 14 | | Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to regulate 9 |
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15 | 15 | | developers and deployers of automated decision systems used in consequential 10 |
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16 | 16 | | decisions in an effort to avoid algorithmic discrimination towards consumers. 11 |
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17 | 17 | | An act relating to regulating developers and deployers of certain automated 12 |
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18 | 18 | | decision systems 13 |
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19 | 19 | | It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 14 |
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20 | 20 | | Sec. 1. 9 V.S.A. chapter 118 is added to read: 15 |
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21 | 21 | | CHAPTER 118. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE 16 |
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22 | 22 | | Subchapter 1. Algorithmic Discrimination and Automated Decision Systems 17 |
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23 | 23 | | § 4193a. DEFINITIONS 18 |
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24 | 24 | | As used in this subchapter: 19 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.340 |
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27 | 27 | | |
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28 | 28 | | VT LEG #378965 v.1 |
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29 | 29 | | (1)(A) “Algorithmic discrimination” means any condition in which the 1 |
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30 | 30 | | use of an automated decision system results in a differential treatment or 2 |
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31 | 31 | | impact that disfavors an individual on the basis of the individual’s actual or 3 |
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32 | 32 | | perceived age, color, disability, ethnicity, genetic information, immigration or 4 |
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33 | 33 | | citizenship status, limited proficiency in the English language, national origin, 5 |
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34 | 34 | | race, religion, reproductive health, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, 6 |
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35 | 35 | | veteran status, or other classification protected under the laws of this State or 7 |
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36 | 36 | | federal law. 8 |
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37 | 37 | | (B) “Algorithmic discrimination” does not include: 9 |
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38 | 38 | | (i) a developer’s or deployer’s testing of the developer’s or 10 |
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39 | 39 | | deployer’s own automated decision system to identify, mitigate, and prevent 11 |
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40 | 40 | | discrimination; 12 |
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41 | 41 | | (ii) expanding an applicant, customer, or participant pool to 13 |
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42 | 42 | | increase diversity or redress historical discrimination; or 14 |
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43 | 43 | | (iii) an act or omission by or on behalf of a private club or other 15 |
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44 | 44 | | establishment that is not in fact open to the public, as set forth in Title II of the 16 |
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45 | 45 | | federal Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C.§ 2000a(e), as amended. 17 |
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46 | 46 | | (2) “Auditor” refers to an independent entity, including an individual, a 18 |
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47 | 47 | | nonprofit, a firm, a corporation, a partnership, a cooperative, or an association, 19 |
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48 | 48 | | commissioned to perform an audit. 20 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.340 |
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51 | 51 | | |
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52 | 52 | | VT LEG #378965 v.1 |
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53 | 53 | | (3)(A) “Automated decision system” means a computational process 1 |
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54 | 54 | | derived from machine learning, statistical modeling, data analytics, or artificial 2 |
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55 | 55 | | intelligence that issues an output, including a score, classification, or 3 |
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56 | 56 | | recommendation. 4 |
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57 | 57 | | (B) “Automated decision system” does not include any software used 5 |
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58 | 58 | | primarily for basic computerized processes, such as antimalware, antivirus, 6 |
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59 | 59 | | autocorrect functions, calculators, databases, data storage, electronic 7 |
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60 | 60 | | communications, firewall, internet domain registration, website loading, 8 |
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61 | 61 | | networking, spam and robocall filtering, spellcheck tools, spreadsheets, web 9 |
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62 | 62 | | caching, web hosting, or any tool that relates only to nonemployment internal 10 |
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63 | 63 | | management affairs such as ordering office supplies or processing payments, 11 |
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64 | 64 | | and that do not materially affect the rights, liberties, benefits, safety, or welfare 12 |
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65 | 65 | | of any individual within the State. 13 |
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66 | 66 | | (4) “Consequential decision” means a decision that has a material, legal, 14 |
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67 | 67 | | or similarly significant effect on the provision or denial to any consumer of, or 15 |
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68 | 68 | | the cost, terms, or availability of: 16 |
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69 | 69 | | (A) educational and vocational training, including: 17 |
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70 | 70 | | (i) assessment or grading, including detecting student cheating or 18 |
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71 | 71 | | plagiarism; 19 |
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72 | 72 | | (ii) accreditation; 20 |
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73 | 73 | | (iii) certification; 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.340 |
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78 | 78 | | (iv) admissions or enrollment; and 1 |
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79 | 79 | | (v) financial aid or scholarships; 2 |
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80 | 80 | | (B) employment or an employment opportunity, including: 3 |
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81 | 81 | | (i) pay or promotion; 4 |
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82 | 82 | | (ii) hiring or termination; and 5 |
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83 | 83 | | (iii) automated task allocation; 6 |
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84 | 84 | | (C) housing or lodging, including long-term or short-term rentals; 7 |
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85 | 85 | | (D) essential utilities, including electricity, heat, water, internet or 8 |
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86 | 86 | | telecommunications access, or transportation; 9 |
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87 | 87 | | (E) family planning, including adoption services or reproductive 10 |
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88 | 88 | | services, as well as assessments related to child protection services; 11 |
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89 | 89 | | (F) health care or health insurance, including mental health care, 12 |
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90 | 90 | | dental, or vision; 13 |
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91 | 91 | | (G) financial services, including a financial service provided by a 14 |
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92 | 92 | | mortgage company, mortgage broker, or creditor; 15 |
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93 | 93 | | (H) law enforcement activities, including the allocation of law 16 |
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94 | 94 | | enforcement personnel or assets, the enforcement of laws, maintaining public 17 |
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95 | 95 | | order, or managing public safety; 18 |
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96 | 96 | | (I) government services, including the determination, allocation, or 19 |
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97 | 97 | | denial of public benefits and services; and 20 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.340 |
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102 | 102 | | (J) a reasonable accommodation or other right granted under the civil 1 |
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103 | 103 | | rights laws of this State. 2 |
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104 | 104 | | (5) “Consumer” means an individual who is a resident of the State. 3 |
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105 | 105 | | (6) “Deployer” means a person doing business in this State that uses an 4 |
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106 | 106 | | automated decision system in a consequential decision in the State or provides 5 |
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107 | 107 | | an automated decision system for use in a consequential decision by the 6 |
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108 | 108 | | general public in the State. A developer shall also be considered a deployer if 7 |
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109 | 109 | | its actions satisfy this definition. 8 |
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110 | 110 | | (7) “Deployer-employer” means a deployer that is an employer. 9 |
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111 | 111 | | (8) “Developer” means a person doing business in this State that 10 |
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112 | 112 | | designs, codes, or produces an automated decision system for use in a 11 |
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113 | 113 | | consequential decision or creates a substantial change with respect to an 12 |
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114 | 114 | | automated decision system for use in a consequential decision, whether for its 13 |
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115 | 115 | | own use in the State or for use by a third party in the State. 14 |
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116 | 116 | | (9) “Developer-employer” means a developer that is an employer. 15 |
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117 | 117 | | (10) “Employee” means an individual who performs services for and 16 |
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118 | 118 | | under the control and direction of an employer for wages or other 17 |
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119 | 119 | | remuneration, including former employees, or natural persons employed as 18 |
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120 | 120 | | independent contractors to carry out work in furtherance of an employer’s 19 |
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121 | 121 | | business enterprise who are not themselves employers. 20 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.340 |
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125 | 125 | | VT LEG #378965 v.1 |
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126 | 126 | | (11) “Employer” means any person, firm, partnership, institution, 1 |
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127 | 127 | | corporation, or association that employs one or more employees. 2 |
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128 | 128 | | (12) “Software stack” means the group of individual software 3 |
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129 | 129 | | components that work together to support the execution of an automated 4 |
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130 | 130 | | decision system. 5 |
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131 | 131 | | (13) “Substantial change” means any: 6 |
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132 | 132 | | (A) deliberate change to an automated decision system that would 7 |
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133 | 133 | | result in material inaccuracies in the reports created under section 4193f of this 8 |
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134 | 134 | | title; or 9 |
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135 | 135 | | (B) substantial change in the data that the automated decision system 10 |
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136 | 136 | | uses as input or training data. 11 |
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137 | 137 | | § 4193b. ALGORITHMIC DISCRIMINATION 12 |
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138 | 138 | | It shall be unlawful discrimination for a developer or deployer to use, sell, 13 |
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139 | 139 | | or share an automated decision system for use in a consequential decision or a 14 |
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140 | 140 | | product featuring an automated decision system for use in a consequential 15 |
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141 | 141 | | decision that produces algorithmic discrimination. 16 |
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142 | 142 | | § 4193c. DEPLOYER AND DEVELOPER OBLIGATIONS 17 |
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143 | 143 | | (a) Any deployer that employs an automated decision system for a 18 |
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144 | 144 | | consequential decision shall inform the consumer prior to the use of the system 19 |
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145 | 145 | | for a consequential decision in clear, conspicuous, and consumer-friendly 20 |
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146 | 146 | | terms, made available in each of the languages in which the company offers its 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.340 |
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150 | 150 | | VT LEG #378965 v.1 |
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151 | 151 | | end services, that automated decision systems will be used to make a 1 |
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152 | 152 | | consequential decision or to assist in making a consequential decision. 2 |
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153 | 153 | | (b) Any notice provided by a deployer to the consumer pursuant to 3 |
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154 | 154 | | subsection (a) of this section shall include: 4 |
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155 | 155 | | (1) a description of the personal characteristics or attributes that the 5 |
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156 | 156 | | system will measure or assess; 6 |
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157 | 157 | | (2) the method by which the system measures or assesses those 7 |
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158 | 158 | | attributes or characteristics; 8 |
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159 | 159 | | (3) how those attributes or characteristics are relevant to the 9 |
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160 | 160 | | consequential decisions for which the system should be used; 10 |
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161 | 161 | | (4) any human components of the system; 11 |
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162 | 162 | | (5) how any automated components of the system are used to inform the 12 |
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163 | 163 | | consequential decision; and 13 |
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164 | 164 | | (6) a direct link to a publicly accessible page on the deployer’s website 14 |
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165 | 165 | | that contains a plain-language description of the: 15 |
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166 | 166 | | (A) system’s outputs; 16 |
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167 | 167 | | (B) types and sources of data collected from natural persons and 17 |
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168 | 168 | | processed by the system when it is used to make, or assists in making, a 18 |
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169 | 169 | | consequential decision; and 19 |
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170 | 170 | | (C) results of the most recent impact assessment, or an active link to 20 |
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171 | 171 | | a web page where a consumer can review those results. 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.340 |
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175 | 175 | | VT LEG #378965 v.1 |
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176 | 176 | | (c) Any deployer that employs an automated decision system for a 1 |
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177 | 177 | | consequential decision shall provide the consumer with a single notice 2 |
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178 | 178 | | containing a plain-language explanation of the decision that identifies the 3 |
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179 | 179 | | principal reason or reasons for the consequential decision, including: 4 |
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180 | 180 | | (1) the identity of the developer of the automated decision system used 5 |
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181 | 181 | | in the consequential decision, if the deployer is not also the developer; 6 |
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182 | 182 | | (2) a description of what the output of the automated decision system is, 7 |
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183 | 183 | | such as a score, recommendation, or other similar description; 8 |
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184 | 184 | | (3) the degree and manner to which the automated decision system 9 |
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185 | 185 | | contributed to the decision; 10 |
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186 | 186 | | (4) the types and sources of data processed by the automated decision 11 |
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187 | 187 | | system in making the consequential decision; 12 |
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188 | 188 | | (5) a plain language explanation of how the consumer’s personal data 13 |
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189 | 189 | | informed the consequential decision; and 14 |
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190 | 190 | | (6) what actions, if any, the consumer might have taken to secure a 15 |
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191 | 191 | | different decision and the actions that the consumer might take to secure a 16 |
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192 | 192 | | different decision in the future. 17 |
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193 | 193 | | (d)(1) A deployer shall provide and explain a process for a consumer to 18 |
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194 | 194 | | appeal a decision, which shall at minimum allow the consumer to: 19 |
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195 | 195 | | (A) formally contest the decision; 20 |
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196 | 196 | | (B) provide information to support their position; and 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.340 |
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201 | 201 | | (C) obtain meaningful human review of the decision. 1 |
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202 | 202 | | (2) For an appeal made pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection: 2 |
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203 | 203 | | (A) a deployer shall designate a human reviewer who: 3 |
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204 | 204 | | (i) is trained and qualified to understand the consequential 4 |
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205 | 205 | | decision being appealed, the consequences of the decision for the consumer, 5 |
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206 | 206 | | how to evaluate and how to serve impartially, including by avoiding 6 |
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207 | 207 | | prejudgment of the facts at issue, conflict of interest, and bias; 7 |
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208 | 208 | | (ii) does not have a conflict of interest for or against the deployer 8 |
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209 | 209 | | or the consumer; 9 |
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210 | 210 | | (iii) was not involved in the initial decision being appealed; 10 |
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211 | 211 | | (iv) shall enjoy protection from dismissal or its equivalent, 11 |
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212 | 212 | | disciplinary measures, or other adverse treatment for exercising their functions 12 |
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213 | 213 | | under this section; and 13 |
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214 | 214 | | (v) shall be allocated sufficient human resources by the deployer 14 |
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215 | 215 | | to conduct an effective appeal of the decision; and 15 |
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216 | 216 | | (B) the human reviewer shall consider the information provided by 16 |
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217 | 217 | | the consumer in their appeal and may consider other sources of information 17 |
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218 | 218 | | relevant to the consequential decision. 18 |
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219 | 219 | | (3) A deployer shall respond to a consumer’s appeal not later than 45 19 |
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220 | 220 | | after receipt of the appeal. That period may be extended once by an additional 20 |
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221 | 221 | | 45 days where reasonably necessary, taking into account the complexity and 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.340 |
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226 | 226 | | number of appeals. The deployer shall inform the consumer of any extension 1 |
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227 | 227 | | not later than 45 days after receipt of the appeal, together with the reasons for 2 |
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228 | 228 | | the delay. 3 |
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229 | 229 | | (e) The deployer or developer of an automated decision system is legally 4 |
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230 | 230 | | responsible for the quality and accuracy of all consequential decisions made, 5 |
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231 | 231 | | including any bias or algorithmic discrimination resulting from the operation 6 |
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232 | 232 | | of the automated decision system. 7 |
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233 | 233 | | (f) A developer shall not use, sell, or share an automated decision system 8 |
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234 | 234 | | for use in a consequential decision or a product featuring an automated 9 |
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235 | 235 | | decision system for use in a consequential decision that has not passed an 10 |
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236 | 236 | | independent audit, in accordance with section 4193e of this title. If an 11 |
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237 | 237 | | independent audit finds that an automated decision system for use in a 12 |
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238 | 238 | | consequential decision does produce algorithmic discrimination, the developer 13 |
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239 | 239 | | shall not use, sell, or share the system until the algorithmic discrimination has 14 |
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240 | 240 | | been proven to be rectified by a post-adjustment audit. 15 |
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241 | 241 | | (g) Except as provided in subsection 4193e(a) of this title, the rights and 16 |
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242 | 242 | | obligations under this section may not be waived by any person, partnership, 17 |
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243 | 243 | | association, or corporation. 18 |
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244 | 244 | | § 4193d. WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTIONS 19 |
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245 | 245 | | (a) Developer-employers and deployer-employers of automated decision 20 |
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246 | 246 | | systems used in consequential decisions shall not: 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.340 |
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251 | 251 | | (1) prevent an employee from disclosing information to the Attorney 1 |
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252 | 252 | | General, including through terms and conditions of employment or seeking 2 |
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253 | 253 | | to enforce terms and conditions of employment, if the employee has reasonable 3 |
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254 | 254 | | cause to believe the information indicates a violation of this subchapter; or 4 |
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255 | 255 | | (2) retaliate against an employee for disclosing information to the 5 |
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256 | 256 | | Attorney General pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection. 6 |
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257 | 257 | | (b) Developer-employers and deployer-employers of automated decision 7 |
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258 | 258 | | systems used in consequential decisions shall provide a clear notice to all 8 |
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259 | 259 | | employees working on automated decision systems of their rights and 9 |
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260 | 260 | | responsibilities under this subchapter, including the right of employees of 10 |
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261 | 261 | | contractors and subcontractors to use the developer’s internal process for 11 |
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262 | 262 | | making protected disclosures pursuant to subsection (c) of this section. A 12 |
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263 | 263 | | developer-employer or deployer-employer is presumed to be in compliance 13 |
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264 | 264 | | with the requirements of this subsection if the developer-employer or deployer-14 |
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265 | 265 | | employer does either of the following: 15 |
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266 | 266 | | (1) at all times: 16 |
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267 | 267 | | (A) posts and displays within all workplaces maintained by 17 |
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268 | 268 | | the developer-employer or deployer-employer a notice to all employees of 18 |
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269 | 269 | | their rights and responsibilities under this subchapter; 19 |
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270 | 270 | | (B) ensures that all new employees receive equivalent notice; and 20 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.340 |
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275 | 275 | | (C) ensures that employees who work remotely periodically receive 1 |
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276 | 276 | | an equivalent notice; or 2 |
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277 | 277 | | (2) not less frequently than once every year, provides written notice 3 |
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278 | 278 | | to all employees of their rights and responsibilities under this subchapter and 4 |
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279 | 279 | | ensures that the notice is received and acknowledged by all of those 5 |
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280 | 280 | | employees. 6 |
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281 | 281 | | (c) Each developer-employer shall provide a reasonable internal process 7 |
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282 | 282 | | through which an employee may anonymously disclose information to the 8 |
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283 | 283 | | developer if the employee believes in good faith that the information indicates 9 |
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284 | 284 | | that the developer has violated any provision of this subchapter or any other 10 |
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285 | 285 | | law, or has made false or materially misleading statements related to its safety 11 |
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286 | 286 | | and security protocol, or failed to disclose known risks to employees, 12 |
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287 | 287 | | including, at a minimum, a monthly update to the person who made the 13 |
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288 | 288 | | disclosure regarding the status of the developer’s investigation of the 14 |
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289 | 289 | | disclosure and the actions taken by the developer in response to the disclosure. 15 |
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290 | 290 | | § 4193e. AUDITS 16 |
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291 | 291 | | (a) Prior to deployment of an automated decision system for use in a 17 |
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292 | 292 | | consequential decision, six months after deployment, and at least every 18 18 |
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293 | 293 | | months thereafter for each calendar year an automated decision system is in 19 |
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294 | 294 | | use in consequential decisions after the first post-deployment audit, the 20 |
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295 | 295 | | developer and deployer shall be jointly responsible for ensuring that an 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.340 |
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300 | 300 | | independent audit is conducted in compliance with the provisions of this 1 |
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301 | 301 | | section to ensure that the product does not produce algorithmic discrimination 2 |
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302 | 302 | | and complies with the provisions of this subchapter. The developer and 3 |
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303 | 303 | | deployer shall enter into a contract specifying which party is responsible for 4 |
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304 | 304 | | the costs, oversight, and results of the audit. Absent an agreement of 5 |
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305 | 305 | | responsibility through contract, the developer and deployer shall be jointly and 6 |
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306 | 306 | | severally liable for any violations of this section. Regardless of final findings, 7 |
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307 | 307 | | the deployer or developer shall deliver all audits conducted under this section 8 |
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308 | 308 | | to the Attorney General. 9 |
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309 | 309 | | (b) A deployer or developer may contract with more than one auditor to 10 |
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310 | 310 | | fulfill the requirements of this section. 11 |
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311 | 311 | | (c) The audit shall include the following: 12 |
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312 | 312 | | (1) an analysis of data management policies, including whether personal 13 |
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313 | 313 | | or sensitive data relating to a consumer is subject to data security protection 14 |
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314 | 314 | | standards that comply with the requirements of applicable State law; 15 |
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315 | 315 | | (2) an analysis of the system validity and reliability according to each 16 |
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316 | 316 | | specified use case listed in the entity’s reporting document filed by the 17 |
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317 | 317 | | developer or deployer pursuant to section 4193f of this title; 18 |
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318 | 318 | | (3) a comparative analysis of the system’s performance when used on 19 |
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319 | 319 | | consumers of different demographic groups and a determination of whether the 20 |
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320 | 320 | | system produces algorithmic discrimination in violation of this subchapter by 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.340 |
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325 | 325 | | each intended and foreseeable identified use as identified by the deployer and 1 |
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326 | 326 | | developer pursuant to section 4193f of this title; 2 |
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327 | 327 | | (4) an analysis of how the technology complies with existing relevant 3 |
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328 | 328 | | federal, State, and local labor, civil rights, consumer protection, privacy, and 4 |
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329 | 329 | | data privacy laws; and 5 |
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330 | 330 | | (5) an evaluation of the developer’s or deployer’s documented risk 6 |
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331 | 331 | | management policy and program as set forth in section 4193g of this title for 7 |
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332 | 332 | | conformity with subsection 4193g(a) of this title. 8 |
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333 | 333 | | (d) The Attorney General may adopt further rules as necessary to ensure 9 |
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334 | 334 | | that audits under this section assess whether or not automated decision systems 10 |
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335 | 335 | | used in consequential decisions produce algorithmic discrimination and 11 |
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336 | 336 | | otherwise comply with the provisions of this subchapter. 12 |
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337 | 337 | | (e) The independent auditor shall have complete and unredacted copies of 13 |
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338 | 338 | | all reports previously filed by the deployer or developer pursuant to section 14 |
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339 | 339 | | 4193f of this title. 15 |
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340 | 340 | | (f) An audit conducted under this section shall be completed in its entirety 16 |
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341 | 341 | | without the assistance of an automated decision system. 17 |
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342 | 342 | | (g)(1) An auditor shall be an independent entity, including an individual, 18 |
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343 | 343 | | nonprofit, firm, corporation, partnership, cooperative, or association. 19 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.340 |
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348 | 348 | | (2) For the purposes of this subchapter, no auditor may be 1 |
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349 | 349 | | commissioned by a developer or deployer of an automated decision system 2 |
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350 | 350 | | used in consequential decisions if the auditor: 3 |
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351 | 351 | | (A) has already been commissioned to provide any auditing or 4 |
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352 | 352 | | nonauditing service, including financial auditing, cybersecurity auditing, or 5 |
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353 | 353 | | consulting services of any type, to the commissioning company in the past 12 6 |
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354 | 354 | | months; 7 |
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355 | 355 | | (B) is or was involved in using, developing, integrating, offering, 8 |
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356 | 356 | | licensing, or deploying the automated decision system; 9 |
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357 | 357 | | (C) has or had an employment relationship with a developer or 10 |
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358 | 358 | | deployer that uses, offers, or licenses the automated decision system; or 11 |
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359 | 359 | | (D) has or had a direct financial interest or a material indirect 12 |
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360 | 360 | | financial interest in a developer or deployer that uses, offers, or licenses the 13 |
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361 | 361 | | automated decision system. 14 |
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362 | 362 | | (3) Fees paid to auditors may not be contingent on the result of the audit 15 |
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363 | 363 | | and the commissioning company shall not provide any incentives or bonuses 16 |
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364 | 364 | | for a positive audit result. 17 |
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365 | 365 | | (h) The Attorney General may adopt rules to ensure: 18 |
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366 | 366 | | (1) the independence of auditors under this section; 19 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.340 |
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368 | 368 | | |
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369 | 369 | | |
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370 | 370 | | VT LEG #378965 v.1 |
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371 | 371 | | (2) that teams conducting audits incorporate feedback from communities 1 |
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372 | 372 | | that may foreseeably be the subject of algorithmic discrimination with respect 2 |
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373 | 373 | | to the automated decision system being audited; and 3 |
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374 | 374 | | (3) that the requirements of an audit as set forth in subsection (c) of this 4 |
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375 | 375 | | section are updated to reflect responsible evaluation practices and include 5 |
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376 | 376 | | adequate information to enforce this subchapter. 6 |
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377 | 377 | | § 4193f. AUTOMATED DECISION SYSTEM REPORTING 7 |
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378 | 378 | | REQUIREMENTS 8 |
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379 | 379 | | (a) Every developer and deployer of an automated decision system used in 9 |
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380 | 380 | | a consequential decision shall comply with the reporting requirements of this 10 |
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381 | 381 | | section. Regardless of final findings, reports shall be filed with the Attorney 11 |
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382 | 382 | | General prior to deployment of an automated decision system used in a 12 |
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383 | 383 | | consequential decision and then annually, or after each substantial change to 13 |
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384 | 384 | | the system, whichever comes first. 14 |
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385 | 385 | | (b) Together with each report required to be filed under this section, 15 |
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386 | 386 | | developers and deployers shall file with the Attorney General a copy of the last 16 |
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387 | 387 | | completed independent audit required by this subchapter and a legal attestation 17 |
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388 | 388 | | that the automated decision system used in a consequential decision: 18 |
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389 | 389 | | (1) does not violate any provision of this subchapter; or 19 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.340 |
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391 | 391 | | |
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392 | 392 | | |
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393 | 393 | | VT LEG #378965 v.1 |
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394 | 394 | | (2) may violate or does violate one or more provisions of this article, 1 |
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395 | 395 | | that there is a plan of remediation to bring the automated decision system into 2 |
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396 | 396 | | compliance with this subchapter, and a summary of the plan of remediation. 3 |
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397 | 397 | | (c) Developers of automated decision systems shall file with the Attorney 4 |
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398 | 398 | | General a report containing the following: 5 |
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399 | 399 | | (1) a description of the system including: 6 |
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400 | 400 | | (A) a description of the system’s software stack; 7 |
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401 | 401 | | (B) the purpose of the system and its expected benefits; and 8 |
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402 | 402 | | (C) the system’s current and intended uses, including what 9 |
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403 | 403 | | consequential decisions it will support and what stakeholders will be impacted; 10 |
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404 | 404 | | (2) the intended outputs of the system and whether the outputs can be or 11 |
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405 | 405 | | are otherwise appropriate to be used for any purpose not previously articulated; 12 |
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406 | 406 | | (3) the methods for training of their models including: 13 |
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407 | 407 | | (A) any pre-processing steps taken to prepare datasets for the training 14 |
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408 | 408 | | of a model underlying an automated decision system; 15 |
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409 | 409 | | (B) descriptions of the datasets upon which models were trained and 16 |
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410 | 410 | | evaluated, how and why datasets were collected and the sources of those 17 |
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411 | 411 | | datasets, and how that training data will be used and maintained; 18 |
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412 | 412 | | (C) the quality and appropriateness of the data used in the automated 19 |
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413 | 413 | | decision system’s design, development, testing, and operation; 20 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.340 |
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415 | 415 | | |
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416 | 416 | | |
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417 | 417 | | VT LEG #378965 v.1 |
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418 | 418 | | (D) whether the data contains sufficient breadth to address the range 1 |
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419 | 419 | | of real-world inputs the automated decision system might encounter and how 2 |
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420 | 420 | | any data gaps have been addressed; and 3 |
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421 | 421 | | (E) steps taken to ensure compliance with privacy, data privacy, 4 |
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422 | 422 | | data security, and copyright laws; 5 |
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423 | 423 | | (4) use and data management policies; 6 |
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424 | 424 | | (5) any other information necessary to allow the deployer to understand 7 |
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425 | 425 | | the outputs and monitor the system for compliance with this subchapter; 8 |
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426 | 426 | | (6) any other information necessary to allow the deployer to comply 9 |
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427 | 427 | | with the requirements of subsection (d) of this section; 10 |
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428 | 428 | | (7) a description of the system’s capabilities and any developer-imposed 11 |
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429 | 429 | | limitations, including capabilities outside of its intended use, when the system 12 |
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430 | 430 | | should not be used, any safeguards or guardrails in place to protect against 13 |
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431 | 431 | | unintended, inappropriate, or disallowed uses, and testing of any safeguards or 14 |
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432 | 432 | | guardrails; 15 |
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433 | 433 | | (8) an internal risk assessment including documentation and results of 16 |
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434 | 434 | | testing conducted to identify all reasonably foreseeable risks related to 17 |
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435 | 435 | | algorithmic discrimination, validity and reliability, privacy and autonomy, and 18 |
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436 | 436 | | safety and security, as well as actions taken to address those risks, and 19 |
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437 | 437 | | subsequent testing to assess the efficacy of actions taken to address risks; and 20 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.340 |
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439 | 439 | | |
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440 | 440 | | |
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441 | 441 | | VT LEG #378965 v.1 |
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442 | 442 | | (9) whether the system should be monitored and, if so, how the system 1 |
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443 | 443 | | should be monitored. 2 |
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444 | 444 | | (d) Deployers of automated decision systems used in consequential 3 |
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445 | 445 | | decisions shall file with the Attorney General a report containing the 4 |
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446 | 446 | | following: 5 |
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447 | 447 | | (1) a description of the system, including: 6 |
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448 | 448 | | (A) a description of the system’s software stack; 7 |
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449 | 449 | | (B) the purpose of the system and its expected benefits; and 8 |
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450 | 450 | | (C) the system’s current and intended uses, including what 9 |
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451 | 451 | | consequential decisions it will support and what stakeholders will be impacted; 10 |
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452 | 452 | | (2) the intended outputs of the system and whether the outputs can be 11 |
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453 | 453 | | or are otherwise appropriate to be used for any purpose not previously 12 |
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454 | 454 | | articulated; 13 |
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455 | 455 | | (3) whether the deployer collects revenue or plans to collect revenue 14 |
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456 | 456 | | from use of the automated decision system in a consequential decision and, if 15 |
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457 | 457 | | so, how it monetizes or plans to monetize use of the system; 16 |
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458 | 458 | | (4) whether the system is designed to make consequential decisions 17 |
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459 | 459 | | itself or whether and how it supports consequential decisions; 18 |
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460 | 460 | | (5) a description of the system’s capabilities and any deployer-imposed 19 |
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461 | 461 | | limitations, including capabilities outside of its intended use, when the system 20 |
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462 | 462 | | should not be used, any safeguards or guardrails in place to protect against 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.340 |
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464 | 464 | | |
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465 | 465 | | |
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466 | 466 | | VT LEG #378965 v.1 |
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467 | 467 | | unintended, inappropriate, or disallowed uses, and testing of any safeguards or 1 |
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468 | 468 | | guardrails; 2 |
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469 | 469 | | (6) an assessment of the relative benefits and costs to the consumer 3 |
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470 | 470 | | given the system’s purpose, capabilities, and probable use cases; 4 |
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471 | 471 | | (7) an internal risk assessment including documentation and results of 5 |
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472 | 472 | | testing conducted to identify all reasonably foreseeable risks related to 6 |
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473 | 473 | | algorithmic discrimination, accuracy and reliability, privacy and autonomy, 7 |
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474 | 474 | | and safety and security, as well as actions taken to address those risks, and 8 |
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475 | 475 | | subsequent testing to assess the efficacy of actions taken to address risks; and 9 |
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476 | 476 | | (8) whether the system should be monitored and, if so, how the 10 |
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477 | 477 | | system should be monitored. 11 |
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478 | 478 | | (e) The Attorney General shall: 12 |
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479 | 479 | | (1) adopt rules: 13 |
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480 | 480 | | (A) for a process whereby developers and deployers may request 14 |
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481 | 481 | | redaction of portions of reports required under this section to ensure that they 15 |
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482 | 482 | | are not required to disclose sensitive and protected information; and 16 |
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483 | 483 | | (B) to determine reasonably foreseeable risks related to algorithmic 17 |
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484 | 484 | | discrimination, validity and reliability, privacy and autonomy, and safety and 18 |
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485 | 485 | | security, pursuant to subsections (c) and (d) of this section; and 19 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.340 |
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487 | 487 | | |
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488 | 488 | | |
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489 | 489 | | VT LEG #378965 v.1 |
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490 | 490 | | (2) maintain an online database that is accessible to the general public 1 |
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491 | 491 | | with reports, redacted in accordance with this section, and audits required by 2 |
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492 | 492 | | this subchapter, which shall be updated biannually. 3 |
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493 | 493 | | (f) For automated decision systems already in deployment for use in 4 |
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494 | 494 | | consequential decisions on or before July 1, 2025, developers and deployers 5 |
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495 | 495 | | shall not later than 18 months after July 1, 2025 complete and file the reports 6 |
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496 | 496 | | and complete the independent audit required by this subchapter. 7 |
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497 | 497 | | § 4193g. RISK MANAGEMENT POLICY AND PROGRAM 8 |
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498 | 498 | | (a) Each developer or deployer of automated decision systems used in 9 |
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499 | 499 | | consequential decisions shall plan, document, and implement a risk 10 |
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500 | 500 | | management policy and program to govern development or deployment, as 11 |
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501 | 501 | | applicable, of the automated decision system. The risk management policy and 12 |
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502 | 502 | | program shall specify and incorporate the principles, processes, and personnel 13 |
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503 | 503 | | that the deployer uses to identify, document, and mitigate known or reasonably 14 |
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504 | 504 | | foreseeable risks of algorithmic discrimination covered under section 4193b of 15 |
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505 | 505 | | this title. The risk management policy and program shall be an iterative 16 |
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506 | 506 | | process planned, implemented, and regularly and systematically reviewed and 17 |
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507 | 507 | | updated over the life cycle of an automated decision system, requiring regular, 18 |
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508 | 508 | | systematic review and updates, including updates to documentation. A risk 19 |
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509 | 509 | | management policy and program implemented and maintained pursuant to this 20 |
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510 | 510 | | subsection shall be reasonable considering the: 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.340 |
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512 | 512 | | |
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513 | 513 | | |
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514 | 514 | | VT LEG #378965 v.1 |
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515 | 515 | | (1) guidance and standards set forth in version 1.0 of the Artificial 1 |
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516 | 516 | | Intelligence Risk Management Framework published by the National Institute 2 |
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517 | 517 | | of Standards and Technology in the U.S. Department of Commerce, or the 3 |
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518 | 518 | | latest version of the Artificial Intelligence Risk Management Framework 4 |
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519 | 519 | | published by the National Institute of Standards and Technology if, in the 5 |
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520 | 520 | | Attorney General’s discretion, the latest version of the Artificial Intelligence 6 |
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521 | 521 | | Risk Management Framework published by the National Institute of Standards 7 |
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522 | 522 | | and Technology in the U.S. Department of Commerce is at least as stringent as 8 |
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523 | 523 | | version 1.0; 9 |
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524 | 524 | | (2) size and complexity of the developer or deployer; 10 |
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525 | 525 | | (3) nature, scope, and intended uses of the automated decision system 11 |
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526 | 526 | | developed or deployed for use in consequential decisions; and 12 |
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527 | 527 | | (4) sensitivity and volume of data processed in connection with 13 |
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528 | 528 | | the automated decision system. 14 |
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529 | 529 | | (b) A risk management policy and program implemented pursuant to 15 |
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530 | 530 | | subsection (a) of this section may cover multiple automated decision systems 16 |
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531 | 531 | | developed by the same developer or deployed by the same deployer for use in 17 |
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532 | 532 | | consequential decisions if sufficient. 18 |
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533 | 533 | | (c) The Attorney General may require a developer or a deployer to 19 |
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534 | 534 | | disclose the risk management policy and program implemented pursuant to 20 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.340 |
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536 | 536 | | |
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537 | 537 | | |
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538 | 538 | | VT LEG #378965 v.1 |
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539 | 539 | | subsection (a) of this section in a form and manner prescribed by the Attorney 1 |
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540 | 540 | | General. The Attorney General may evaluate the risk management policy and 2 |
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541 | 541 | | program to ensure compliance with this section. 3 |
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542 | 542 | | § 4193h. ENFORCEMENT AND RULEMAKING 4 |
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543 | 543 | | (a) A person who violates this subchapter or rules adopted pursuant to this 5 |
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544 | 544 | | subchapter commits an unfair and deceptive act in commerce in violation of 6 |
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545 | 545 | | section 2453 of this title (Vermont Consumer Protection Act). A consumer 7 |
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546 | 546 | | harmed by a violation is eligible to all remedies provided under the Vermont 8 |
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547 | 547 | | Consumer Protection Act. 9 |
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548 | 548 | | (b) The Attorney General has the same authority to adopt rules to 10 |
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549 | 549 | | implement the provisions of this section and to conduct civil investigations, 11 |
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550 | 550 | | enter into assurances of discontinuance, bring civil actions, and take other 12 |
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551 | 551 | | enforcement actions as provided under chapter 63, subchapter 1 of this title. 13 |
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552 | 552 | | Sec. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE 14 |
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553 | 553 | | This act shall take effect on July 1, 2025. 15 |
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