Bill Text: TX SB344 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating to the use of electronic signatures that employ blockchain or distributed ledger technology in certain business or governmental transactions.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-04-06 - Co-author authorized [SB344 Detail]

Download: Texas-2021-SB344-Introduced.html
  87R1812 JES-D
 
  By: Paxton S.B. No. 344
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the use of electronic signatures that employ blockchain
  or distributed ledger technology in certain business or
  governmental transactions.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 322.002(8), Business & Commerce Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
               (8)  "Electronic signature" means an electronic sound,
  symbol, or process, including one that employs blockchain or
  distributed ledger technology, attached to or logically associated
  with a record and executed or adopted by a person with the intent to
  sign the record.
         SECTION 2.  Section 322.017, Business & Commerce Code, is
  amended by amending Subsections (a) and (c) and adding Subsection
  (d) to read as follows:
         (a)  Except as otherwise provided by Subsection (d) or
  Section 322.012(f), each state agency shall determine whether, and
  the extent to which, the agency will send and accept electronic
  records and electronic signatures to and from other persons and
  otherwise create, generate, communicate, store, process, use, and
  rely upon electronic records and electronic signatures.
         (c)  Except as otherwise provided in Subsection (d) or
  Section 322.012(f), this chapter does not require a governmental
  agency of this state to use or permit the use of electronic records
  or electronic signatures.
         (d)  A governmental agency of this state must accept valid
  electronic signatures. An electronic signature that employs
  blockchain or distributed ledger technology is a valid electronic
  signature for:
               (1)  the issuance of an apostille by the secretary of
  state, if the apostille may be signed using an electronic
  signature; or 
               (2)  a contract entered into by a governmental agency
  of this state.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
feedback