In a conversation with Techwire, Calderon — considered the Legislature’s first millennial — discussed his accomplishments this year in technology and innovation and what he has planned for his final legislative session. Among the takeaways:
• Calderon, D-Whittier, said creation of the state Blockchain Working Group, which he formalized by authoring Assembly Bill 2658, was his greatest accomplishment this year in tech. The working group, which includes Calderon and state Sen. Bob Hertzberg, D-Van Nuys, has also been forced to answer questions to which it didn’t initially have answers, Calderon said — thereby stimulating debate and knowledge. Group members, who are mandated to produce a report to the Legislature by July 1 on the electronic ledger technology, have also thought carefully about how best to define blockchain in a way that won’t limit future applications or technology.
• In January, the longtime Assembly member will scrap and reintroduce a bill from last session that worked from a Uniform Law Commission report to place ground rules on the use of cryptocurrency. Calderon, who’s also the co-chairman of the California Legislative Technology and Innovation Caucus, said he’ll work with Manuel P. Alvarez, commissioner of the California Department of Business Oversight, regulators and industry representatives on “what we think is going to work best in California when it comes to the regulation and use of cryptocurrencies. …”
• It becomes law Jan. 1, but legislators will likely continue to fine-tune the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), the Assembly member said. The bill’s original version had “too many detriments” for business, but “the Legislature essentially had to act with a gun to its head,” Calderon said, adding: “… when you act quick, that doesn’t mean you catch everything.” San Francisco privacy advocate Alastair MacTaggart, a driving force behind the CCPA’s creation, has readied a new data protection initiative, but Calderon said he hasn’t had a chance to read it — emphasizing he’s not aware it was created with any bad intent. But the Calderon said he views Mactaggart’s M.O. with some concern.
“You’re taking our elected responsibility away from us. And I just don’t think that that is what’s right. It’s direct democracy getting in the way of democracy,” Calderon said, referring to making the case directly to voters instead of letting the Legislature introduce bills.
• The July 1 due date for the Blockchain Working Group’s report is a terrible fit for legislators who might then be inspired to introduce related legislation: Feb. 21 is the last day for bills to be introduced in the state Senate and Assembly. With that in mind, Calderon said he and Hertzberg will “work concurrently” to incorporate any blockchain issues that emerge into legislation that could beat the deadline. Otherwise, the Assembly member pointed out, he and his colleagues won’t be able to introduce any such legislation before January 2021 — and if approved on that timeline, it likely wouldn’t take effect before Jan. 1, 2022.
Calderon has said he won’t seek re-election, in order to spend more time with his family — and that means he’ll have to leave his posts on the working group and the Tech Caucus. He’ll continue to be engaged, however, “in my own way,” he said, though that may mean serving in a more advisory role to the Blockchain Working Group.
“And also help these companies understand how to work with government and not to be afraid of government; and when you go to government, here’s … what you need to focus on and this is what you need to be thinking about long-term both for your success, but also at the same time so that people have the confidence when they use your platforms, they’re going to be comfortable,” he said.
