Arizona bill will allow Arizona corporations to have and share data on a blockchain

Arizona governor Doug Ducey signed a new bill on April 3 that will allow Arizona corporations to hold and share data on a blockchain.

The bill was first introduced by representative Jeff Weninger. It amends the Arizona Revised Statutes to legally recognize data written and stored on systems using blockchain technology.

The bill was passed quickly

The Arizona House of Representatives passed the bill in just over a week, eight days after it was introduced. About a month later the Senate also passed the bill unanimously. In the House four Representatives abstained or voted against the bill. The bill was signed within a few days of reaching the governor's desk.

Arizona has passed a previous blockchain law

Arizona had for a year already begun to recognize signatures as recorded on a blockchain and smart contracts as legal documentation. The governor signed a bill to this effect in March of last year: "The measure was first introduced in early February, seeking to enshrine signatures recorded on a blockchain and smart contracts - self-executing pieces of code - under state law. Specifically, the bill aimed to make those types of records "considered to be in an electronic format and to be an electronic record"."

The text of the bill read in part: "A signature that is secured through blockchain technology is considered to be in electronic form and to be an electronic signature ... A record or contract that is secured through blockchain technology is considered to be in an electronic form and to be an electronic record."

In some respects the law mirrors that of a bill passed in Vermont some time ago that would make blockchain data admissible in court. The Vermont bill specifically noted that data tied to a blockchain would be a fact of record.

Other states also have passed blockchain legislation

Many US states are showing interest in blockchain applications even though some are still suspicious of associated cryptocoins.

Delaware back in 2017 passed similar measures to those in Arizona recognizing blockchain signatures and smart contracts as legal. Its legislation also provided a legal basis for trading stocks on a blockchain platform.

In New York state as well, four bills have been introduced with the aim of evaluating blockchain applications to be used for data storage.

In Nebraska a bill was introduced earlier this year that will, if passed, allow the state to recognize smart contracts and documents stored on a blockchain. It would also allow the state to adopt distributed ledger technology and authorize and define smart contracts.

Blockchain technology is explained on the appended video

Previously published in Digital Journal

California and Arizona compete to attract tests of autonomous vehicles

Both Arizona and California appear anxious to allow fully autonomous cars to be tested on their public roads as both have issued orders allowing such tests.

Arizona's regulations

Waymo, a Google-owned autonomous car developer is already showcasing its driverless Pacifica minivans as reported in a recent Digital Journal article.

On Thursday Arizona governor Doug Ducey issued a new executive order making what is already happening official, allowing fully autonomous cars to operate on public roads with no safety driver. The vehicles must follow all existing traffic laws and rules for cars and drivers.

Ducey initially issued his order in 2015, and since then, Uber, Waymo, General Motors and Intel have been testing self-driving cars on public roads in Arizona. Waymo even does so with no driver behind the wheel of the robot cars. Waymo hopes to start its ride-sharing operation this year.

Ducey said: “As technology advances, our policies and priorities must adapt to remain competitive in today’s economy. This executive order embraces new technologies by creating an environment that supports autonomous vehicle innovation and maintains a focus on public safety.”

There are already 600 self-driving cars operating on public roads in Arizona. Not only Waymo is testing the cars but Intel as well. Also, Uber and GM are testing their cars near Scottsdale. The white minivans are a common site in Chandler and also in Phoenix. Uber's grey SUV's can be seen around Arizona State University. GM's white cars are mostly seen around south Scottsdale.

Kevin Beisty, deputy director for policy at the Arizona Department of Transportation said at a public forum that Arizona prided itself as "being part of the innovation and trying to stay out of the way of innovation".

California allows testing as well

The Ducey announcement comes just a few days after California announced that it would let fully autonomous vehicles on public roads in April. Previous tests on public roads required a safety driver be in all cars.

Arizona regulations are fewer than those of California. In California testers are required to get a permit, and must submit annual reports on software disengagements. In contrast Arizona requires no public disclosures of these.

Uber had an argument with California over its regulations last year which prompted them to move their tests to Arizona

Previously published in Digital Journal

Arizona Senator introduces bill to restrict video recording of police activity

Arizona State Senator John Kavanagh introduced a bill which would make it illegal to make a video recording of law enforcement activity within 20 feet without the officers' permission.

Even on private property, according to the bill, police can order any occupants to cease recording should the police believe that the recording is interfering with law enforcement activity or is unsafe. Kavanagh claims that the bill would still allow people to record police activity as long as they are at a reasonable distance so that the person recording would not get hurt or distract the police officers. Critics of the bill say that the bill is not necessary since police can already arrest anyone who interferes with their activities and also courts have upheld recording police in public as a First Amendment right.

The entire bill, SB 1054, is not that long and the text can be found here. For some reason, one part specifically mentions video recording of the handling of an emotionally disturbed person:IT IS UNLAWFUL FOR A PERSON TO KNOWINGLY MAKE A VIDEO RECORDING OF LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITY, INCLUDING THE HANDLING OF AN EMOTIONALLY DISTURBED PERSON, IF THE PERSON MAKING THE VIDEO RECORDING DOES NOT HAVE THE PERMISSION OF A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER AND IS WITHIN TWENTY FEET OF WHERE THE LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITY IS OCCURRING.The bill also has a section that indicates the provisions do not establish a right or authorize any person to make a video recording of any law enforcement activity.

Video recordings of law enforcement activity have often played a key role when police activities resulting in death are disputed. In November of 2014 a dashboard video showed officer Jason Van Dyke shooting a black 17-year old, Laquan McDonald, 16 times leading to an investigation by the Chicago Police Department. The release of the video showed the official police department account was not correct. There were several protests and eventually Van Dyke was charged with murder.

Video recording also played a role in the indictment of six police officers last May on charges that included murder and manslaughter over the death of Freddie Gray while in custody during December of 2014.

In December 2014 the Department of Justice announced that it would launch a civil rights investigation into the death of Eric Garner while in police custody. the choke hold which may have caused his death is shown on video tape captured during his arrest.

Some police forces now have mounted video cameras as part of their equipment to tape interactions when they are arresting people. The Toronto police have a pilot project that started last May in which 100 officers will use the cameras.

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College Graduates with jobs still need food stamps to survive

An article in the Chronicle of Higher Education will challenge the myth that those receiving food stamps and taking advantage of other welfare programs are not working and not educated. The article gives several examples of college graduates who work part time but need to rely on food stamps to help keep their families fed.

Mellissa Bruning-Matteau is white and has a Ph.D. in medieval history. She even has a job as an adjunct professor teaching two course at YavapiCollege in Prescott Arizona.

Bruninga-Matteau thought that she would land a tenure track position at a college or university but she has ended up teaching two courses at poverty wages with no benefits or job security.

She works twenty hours a week at Yavapa an Arizona community college. Her take home pay is about 900 dollars a month. Her rent is 750 dollars but it is that low only because she lives 43 miles from the campus where she teaches so she has the expensive of commuting as well.. Not much left to live on!

She does not blame the college for her plight. Last year Arizona cut the Yavapa operating budget from 4.3 million to 900,000. As a result the college had to cut part time faculty by18,000 hours.

Bruning-Matteau said:"The media gives us this image that people who are on public assistance are dropouts, on drugs or alcohol, and are irresponsible," "I'm not irresponsible. I'm highly educated. I have a whole lot of skills besides knowing about medieval history, and I've had other jobs. I've never made a lot of money, but I've been able to make enough to live on. Until now." The article goes on to describe other graduates facing similar situations to Bruning-Matteau.