Bill Text: IL HJR0025 | 2017-2018 | 100th General Assembly | Enrolled

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Bill Title: Creates the Illinois Legislative Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Task Force to study how and if the State of Illinois, county governments, and municipal governments can benefit from a transition to a blockchain based system for recordkeeping and service delivery.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2017-06-28 - Adopted Both Houses [HJR0025 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2017-HJR0025-Enrolled.html

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HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 25
WHEREAS, The development of distributed databases and
ledgers protected against revision by publicly-verifiable open
source cryptographic algorithms, and protected from data loss
by distributed records sharing, colloquially called
"blockchain", has reached a point where the opportunities for
efficiency, cost savings, and cybersecurity deserve
legislative study; and
WHEREAS, Blockchain technology is a promising way to
facilitate a transition to more efficient government service
delivery models and economies of scale, including facilitating
safe, paperless transactions, and permanent recordkeeping
immune to cyber-attacks, and data destruction; and
WHEREAS, Blockchain technology can reduce the prevalence
of government's disparate, computer systems, databases, and
custom-built software interfaces, reducing costs associated
with maintenance and implementation and allowing more regions
of the state to participate in electronic government services;
and
WHEREAS, Nations and municipalities across the world are
studying and implementing government reforms that bolster
trust and reduce bureaucracy through verifiable open source

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blockchain technology in a variety of use cases from medical
records, land records, banking, and property auctions; and
WHEREAS, The State of Illinois, through the recently
created Illinois Blockchain Initiative, has promoted a
collaborative regulatory exchange with technology firms,
software developers, and service providers, so that if
regulation is needed, it will be the product of a collaborative
and proactive approach, with the goal of encouraging economic
development through innovation; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE
CONCURRING HEREIN, that there is created the Illinois
Legislative Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Task Force to
study how and if State, county, and municipal governments can
benefit from a transition to a blockchain based system for
recordkeeping and service delivery; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Task Force will consist of the following
members:
(1) two members appointed by the Speaker of the House
of Representatives, one who shall be designated as
Co-Chairperson;

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(2) two members appointed by the House Minority Leader;
(3) two members appointed by the President of the
Senate, one who shall be designated as Co-Chairperson;
(4) two members appointed by the Senate Minority
Leader;
(5) one member appointed by the Cook County Recorder of
Deeds;
(6) one member appointed by the Cook County Clerk;
(7) one member appointed by the state Division of
Banking;
(8) one member appointed by the Secretary of State;
(9) one member appointed by the Illinois Department of
Commerce and Economic Opportunity;
(10) two members appointed by the Illinois Department
of Innovation and Technology;
(11) one member appointed by the Illinois Department of
Insurance; and

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(12) one member appointed by the Illinois Department
Financial and Professional Regulation; and be it further
RESOLVED, That all appointments shall be confirmed by both
Co-Chairpersons; and be it further
RESOLVED, That all appointments to the Task Force shall be
made within 60 days after the adoption of this resolution;
vacancies in the Task Force shall be filled by their respective
appointing authorities within 30 days after the vacancy occurs;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Task Force members shall serve without
compensation; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Task Force may employ skilled experts
with the approval of the Co-Chairpersons, and shall receive the
cooperation of any State agencies it deems appropriate to
assist the Task Force in carrying out its duties; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That the members of the Task Force shall be
considered members with voting rights; a quorum of the Task
Force shall consist of a majority of the members; and be it
further

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RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall meet initially at the
call of the Co-Chairpersons, no later than 90 days after the
adoption of this resolution, and shall thereafter meet at the
call of the Co-Chairpersons; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Illinois Department of Innovation and
Technology shall provide administrative and other support to
the Task Force; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall research, analyze, and
consider:
(1) Opportunities and risks associated with using
blockchain and distributed ledger technology;
(2) Different types of blockchains, both public and
private, and different consensus algorithms;
(3) Projects and use cases currently under development
in other states and nations, and how those cases could be
applied in Illinois;
(4) How current State laws can be modified to support
secure, paperless recordkeeping;

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(5) The State Public Key Infrastructure and digital
signatures; and
(6) Official reports and recommendations from the
Illinois Blockchain Initiative; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall present its findings
and recommendations to the General Assembly in a report on or
before January 1, 2018.