HB2134

THE CONTEXT: The Arizona Department of Administration (ADOA) must develop, implement and maintain a coordinated statewide plan for information technology, including evaluating specific information technology projects relating to the approved budget unit and statewide information technology plans in consultation with the statewide information security and privacy office in the Arizona Department of Homeland Security ( A. R.

WHAT THE BILL DID: The final vetoed version would prohibit any software used for critical infrastructure in the state from being produced by a Chinese company, require any critical communications infrastructure provider (Communications Provider) to certify, by January 1 of each year, to the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) any instance of prohibited critical communications infrastructure equipment along with the geographical coordinates of the area served, and instruct a communications provider, certified by the ACC, to submit a status report to the ACC at the same time a report is sent to the federal government.

WHY IT MATTERED: The practical reason for this bill was to set a clear legal boundary for critical infrastructure instead of leaving the conduct unaddressed. It would prohibit any software used for critical infrastructure in the state from being produced by a Chinese company, and would also require any critical communications infrastructure provider (Communications Provider) to certify, by January 1 of each year, to the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) any instance of prohibited critical communications infrastructure equipment along with the geographical coordinates of the area served, rather than leave the current rule unchanged.