Bill Text: TX HB1576 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Relating to the creation of a work group on blockchain matters concerning this state.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 5-1)
Status: (Passed) 2021-06-07 - Effective on 9/1/21 [HB1576 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-HB1576-Enrolled.html
| H.B. No. 1576 | ||
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| relating to the creation of a work group on blockchain matters | ||
| concerning this state. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. (a) In this section: | ||
| (1) "Blockchain" includes digital assets, virtual | ||
| currency, and the integration of smart contracts. | ||
| (2) "Work group" means the work group on blockchain | ||
| matters established under this section. | ||
| (b) The work group on blockchain matters is composed of the | ||
| following 16 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) two members representing institutions of higher | ||
| education appointed by the governor; | ||
| (4) one ex-officio member representing the Department | ||
| of Information Resources appointed by the governor; | ||
| (5) one ex-officio member representing the secretary | ||
| of state appointed by the governor; and | ||
| (6) 10 members of the public, five of whom are | ||
| appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and five of | ||
| whom are appointed by the lieutenant governor, who: | ||
| (A) have knowledge and experience in blockchain | ||
| technology; or | ||
| (B) represent an industry that would benefit from | ||
| the use of blockchain technology. | ||
| (c) The governor shall designate a member of the work group | ||
| appointed under Subsection (b)(3) of this section to serve as chair | ||
| of the work group. The members of the work group appointed under | ||
| Subsections (b)(1) and (2) of this section shall serve as co-vice | ||
| chairs of the work group. | ||
| (d) A member of the work group may not receive compensation | ||
| for serving on the work group but is entitled to reimbursement for | ||
| expenses incurred by the member in the performance of official | ||
| duties as a member of the work group as provided by the General | ||
| Appropriations Act. | ||
| (e) The Department of Information Resources shall provide | ||
| to the work group the administrative support necessary to implement | ||
| this Act. | ||
| (f) The work group shall meet at the call of the chair. | ||
| (g) The work group shall develop a master plan for the | ||
| expansion of the blockchain industry in this state and recommend | ||
| policies and state investments in connection with blockchain | ||
| technology. In developing the master plan, the work group shall: | ||
| (1) identify economic growth and development | ||
| opportunities presented by blockchain technology; | ||
| (2) assess the existing blockchain industry in this | ||
| state; | ||
| (3) review workforce needs and academic programs | ||
| required to build blockchain expertise across all relevant | ||
| industries; and | ||
| (4) make any legislative recommendations that will | ||
| help promote innovation and economic growth by reducing barriers to | ||
| and expediting the expansion of the state's blockchain industry | ||
| based on its findings under Subdivisions (1)-(3) of this | ||
| subsection. | ||
| (h) The chair of the work group may create sub-work groups | ||
| at the chair's discretion for the efficient operation of the work | ||
| group. The chair shall appoint the chair of each sub-work group. | ||
| The chair of a sub-work group may invite other members of the work | ||
| group to serve on the sub-work group. A sub-work group may consult | ||
| with subject matter experts. | ||
| (i) Not later than October 31, 2022, the work group shall | ||
| submit a report that includes the master plan developed under | ||
| Subsection (g) of this section and any findings and recommendations | ||
| from the sub-work groups appointed under Subsection (h) of this | ||
| section to each standing committee of the senate and house of | ||
| representatives with primary jurisdiction over economic | ||
| development or technology issues. | ||
| (j) The work group may adopt rules, procedures, and policies | ||
| as necessary to administer this section and implement the | ||
| responsibilities of the work group. | ||
| (k) This Act expires and the work group is abolished June | ||
| 30, 2023. | ||
| SECTION 2. As soon as practicable, but not later than | ||
| October 1, 2021, the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of | ||
| the house of representatives shall appoint the members of the work | ||
| group on blockchain matters established by this Act. | ||
| SECTION 3. Not later than November 1, 2021, the work group | ||
| on blockchain matters shall hold its initial meeting. | ||
| SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. | ||
| ______________________________ | ______________________________ | |
| President of the Senate | Speaker of the House | |
| I certify that H.B. No. 1576 was passed by the House on April | ||
| 23, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 126, Nays 20, 2 present, not | ||
| voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B. | ||
| No. 1576 on May 24, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 135, Nays 10, | ||
| 1 present, not voting. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
| I certify that H.B. No. 1576 was passed by the Senate, with | ||
| amendments, on May 19, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays | ||
| 0. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Secretary of the Senate | ||
| APPROVED: __________________ | ||
| Date | ||
| __________________ | ||
| Governor | ||
