SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 5534
As of January 10, 2022
Title: An act relating to the use of verifiable credentials.
Brief Description: Concerning the use of verifiable credentials.
Sponsors: Senator Brown.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Environment, Energy & Technology: 1/12/22.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Requires the Consolidated Technology Services Agency (CTS), the departments of Health and Licensing, institutions of higher education, and the Secretary of State to each report which programs, services, and projects may be well-suited to the use of verifiable credentials as a means of improving efficiency, customer experience, and safeguarding privacy, by December 1, 2022.
  • Requires CTS to create a process for developing a recommended trust framework for verifiable credentials (trust framework) in Washington, by October 1, 2022.
  • Requires CTS to engage in the the process developed for creating a trust framework and submit the trust framework by December 1, 2023.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT, ENERGY & TECHNOLOGY
Staff: Angela Kleis (786-7469)
Background:

The Consolidated Technology Services Agency (CTS), also known as Washington Technology Solutions, supports state agencies as a centralized provider and procurer of information technology (IT) services.  CTS powers and duties, among others, include enabling the standardization and consolidation of IT infrastructure across all state agencies to support enterprise-based system development and improve and maintain service delivery.
Summary of Bill:

Reports on Use of Verifiable Credentials.  By December 1, 2022, CTS, the departments of Health and Licensing, institutions of higher education, and the Secretary of State must each report to the Legislature which programs, services, and projects may be well-suited to the inclusion and use of verifiable credentials as a means of improving efficiency, customer experience, and safeguarding privacy.  Appropriate technology industry representatives must be consulted in preparing the reports to ensure each agency becomes informed of basic definitions and standards used by the technology industry in Washington for verifiable credentials.

 

Verifiable credentials means a tamper-evident credential that has authorship that can be cryptographically verified.

 

Recommended Trust Framework for Verifiable Credentials.  By October 1, 2022,  CTS must develop a process for creating a trust framework for verifiable credentials (trust framework) in Washington.  The process should include the public and private sectors and must involve participation with technology industry representatives, consumer protection advocates, and other similar stakeholders.

 

By December 1, 2023, CTS must engage with stakeholders and others through the process developed for creating the trust framework and submit the trust framework, along with any recommendations for legislation necessary to enact or implement the trust framework, to the appropriate committees of the Legislature.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 6, 2022.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.