California Legalizes Blockchain-Based Vital Records
New state legislation has cleared the way forward for the creation of blockchain-based birth, death and marriage certificates – and possibly added a crucial building block for a broader digital ID program.
Proposed by Senator Robert Hertzberg, the legislation authorizes county records offices to issue certified copies of vital records via blockchain technology. Last week, it was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom.
As a summary of the bill explains, while existing law requires such records to “contain certain information and be printed on chemically sensitized security paper, as specified,” the new legislation allows a county registrar to, upon request, issue a birth, death , or marriage record “using verifiable credentials, as defined, using blockchain technology, defined as a decentralized computer system, where the data stored is mathematically verifiable, that uses distributed ledgers or databases to store specialized data in the permanent sequence of transactions recorded.”
Speaking to the Senate in August, Senator Hertzberg argued that when it comes to important records, blockchain technology offers “a faster, cheaper and more efficient method of delivery, saving Californians both time and money,” adding that “it is also much more secure as blockchain is almost impossible to hack.” Commenting to CoinDesk now that the bill has passed into law, the senator boasted that it “demonstrates that California continues to lead the way in innovation.”
Senator Hertzberg was an early proponent of blockchain technology. In 2018, he proposed a piece of state legislation that would allow companies to store corporate information, including shareholder information, on a blockchain ledger and would ensure that such data is legally recognized. That bill was also passed.
While a cynical observer might suspect that the growing political influence of the crypto lobby represents a major factor motivating Senator Hertzberg’s legislative efforts, the industry does not appear to be a significant supporter of the politician. His top funding contributors, aside from the California Democratic Party, are mainly unions representing groups such as firefighters and electrical workers. And his 2018 bill was proposed amid a significant crash in crypto prices that sent the industry into disarray. Senator Hertzberg may simply be a true believer in the transformative potential of blockchain technology.
And by tying blockchain technology directly to some of the most important personal records that can be tied to a Californian’s personal identity, the senator could also subtly, and even inadvertently, advocate for the rise of digital identity programs in the state, where stakeholders such as .ex. The DMV is already exploring new possibilities in the form of mobile driver’s licenses and IDs.
Sources: CoinDesk, UTB, PYMNTS.com
