Tech Tips, 0418 WYBJ, Vol. 41 No. 2. 48

• Author: Blake A. Klinkner, The Klinkner Law Firm, LLC Cheyenne, Wyoming
• Position: Vol. 41 2 Pg. 48

Tech Tips

Vol. 41 No. 2 Pg. 48

Wyoming Bar Journal

April, 2018

The 2018 Legislative Session Proved That Wyoming is a National Leader in Advancing with Technology

Blake A. Klinkner, The Klinkner Law Firm, LLC Cheyenne, Wyoming

The 2018 Wyoming legislative session concluded in March. Several laws were passed during this session which demonstrate that Wyoming plans to be on the cutting edge of technology. These laws address courtroom technology, criminal "spoofing," statewide K-12 computer science education, and cryptocurrency and blockchain legislation which experts throughout the country have already declared to be "a watershed moment for United States blockchain and cryptocurrency law"¹ that will make Wyoming "the Cryptocurrency Capital of America."²

Below are summaries of the key technology-related laws passed during the 2018 legislative session:

Senate Enrolled Act No. 12: Court Information Technology and Equipment

Senate Enrolled Act No. 12 provides for the updating of courtroom technology.³ "Court information technology equipment" is defined under the Act to mean "hardware equipment located in state court facilities necessary to meet, but not exceed...standards adopted by" the Board of Judicial Policy and Administration. "State court facilities" under the Act include circuit and district courtrooms, chambers,jury rooms, and clerk offices. The Act specifies that funds from the Judicial Systems Automation Account may be used to purchase, maintain, and operate "court information technology equipment" in addition to computer hardware and software "to enhance the communication, records, and management needs" of the Wyoming courts. The Act provides that court information technology shall be installed in all state court facilities "in a phased approach." Lastly, Senate Enrolled Act No. 12 specifies that it is the responsibility of each county to provide and maintain the infrastructure necessary to ensure the functionality of court information technology equipment, which may include network audio, and visual drops and all associated connectivity for endpoints and peripherals.

House Enrolled Act No. 58: Impersonating Through Electronic Means - Spoofing

House Enrolled Act No. 58 amends the crime of impersonation through electronic means by delineating that a person is guilty of a misdemeanor for knowingly and intentionally, without consent, impersonating another person through a website or other electronic means for the purpose of harming or harassing others or for the purpose of deceptively facilitating contact with another person.⁴

Senate Enrolled Act No. 48: Education -Computer Science and Computational Thinking

Senate Enrolled Act No. 48 updates existing school curriculum requirements to promote computer science and computational thinking.^[5]The Act provides that computer science classes may be used to satisfy science or...