CA AB2658

Secretary of the Government Operations Agency must appoint a blockchain working group by July 1, 2019 to evaluate uses, risks, benefits, legal implications, and best practices of blockchain technology for state government and California-based businesses.

Working group composition includes 3 technology industry appointees, 3 non-technology industry appointees, 3 legal appointees (selected with Judicial Council consultation), 2 privacy organization representatives, 2 consumer organization representatives, State Chief Information Officer, Director of Finance, 3 state agency CIOs, and 1 Senate and 1 Assembly member.

Blockchain is defined as a mathematically secured, chronological, and decentralized ledger or database.

Working group must report to the Legislature by July 1, 2020 with recommendations for modifications to the blockchain definition and amendments to other code sections impacted by blockchain deployment.

Both the definition section and working group provisions expire January 1, 2022 unless extended by subsequent legislation enacted before that date.