Substitute Senate Bill No. 443

Special Act No. 18-8

AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE CONNECTICUT BLOCKCHAIN WORKING GROUP.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. (Effective from passage) (a) The chairpersons and ranking member of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to commerce shall jointly appoint and convene a working group to develop a master plan for fostering the expansion of the blockchain industry in the state and recommend policies and state investments to make Connecticut a leader in blockchain technology. Such master plan shall: (1) Identify the economic growth and development opportunities presented by blockchain technology; (2) assess the existing blockchain industry in the state; (3) review workforce needs and academic programs required to build blockchain expertise across all relevant industries; and (4) make legislative recommendations that will help promote innovation and economic growth by reducing barriers to and expediting the expansion of the state's blockchain industry.

(b) Appointments to the working group shall include, but need not be limited to, (1) not fewer than five members who have knowledge and experience in blockchain technology or represent an industry that could benefit from blockchain technology, and (2) not fewer than two members representing institutions of higher education in the state. The Commissioner of Economic and Community Development, or the commissioner's designee, shall be an ex-officio member of the working group. All appointments to the working group shall be made not later than thirty days after the effective date of this section.

(c) The chairpersons and ranking member of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to commerce shall jointly select the chairperson of the working group. The chairperson shall schedule the first meeting of the working group, which shall be held not later than July 1, 2018. The working group shall meet at such other times as the chairperson deems necessary.

(d) Not later than January 1, 2019, the working group shall submit a report on its findings and recommendations to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to commerce, banking and finance, revenue and bonding, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes. The working group shall terminate on the date that it submits such report or January 1, 2019, whichever is later.