WEST virginia legislature

2024 regular session

Committee Substitute

for

House Bill 5161

By Delegates Willis, Holstein, Chiarelli, Young, Williams, Barnhart, Cannon, Garcia, Hanshaw (Mr. Speaker), Kimble and Worrell

[Originating in the Committee on Technology and Infrastructure; Reported on February 7, 2024]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §31D-1-132, relating to creating a digital wallet to collect and organize learning and employment records, certifications, and licensures on the Secretary of State's one-stop business portal; defining responsibilities for maintenance; and defining what types of information can be stored in the digital wallet.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

Article 1. General Provisions.

Part III. Secretary of State.

§31D-1-132. Digital Wallet.

(a) The Secretary of State, through administration of the one-stop business portal, shall create the online infrastructure for a digital wallet in which an individual's learning and employment records, certifications, and licensures may be stored. The digital wallet shall be made available for public use by January 1, 2025.

(b) While the online infrastructure shall be the responsibility of the Secretary of State to create and maintain, it shall be the responsibility of the individual whose learning and employment records, certifications, and licensures are stored there to upload and organize the credentials and to ensure their accuracy. When used correctly, the digital wallet will serve as a repository of all learning and employment records in one spot for easy reference.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to create a digital wallet for certifications and licensures.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.