Provides with respect to electronic credentials (OR SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)

House Bill 874 amends Louisiana Revised Statutes 39:17.2(A) to establish specific coordination duties for the commissioner of administration regarding digitized credentials. The bill retains existing law authorizing any state-authorized or state-required credential to be made available in digitized format through an electronic wallet program. The new provision requires the commissioner of administration to affirmatively coordinate with the governing bodies of three categories of professional and occupational credentialing entities to implement digitized credentials: the Louisiana State Bar Association for bar membership cards, the Louisiana High School Athletic Association for referee credentials, and public and private universities and colleges in Louisiana for faculty, staff, and student credentials.

The practical effect of this legislation reaches multiple stakeholder groups. The Louisiana State Bar Association, Louisiana High School Athletic Association, and all public and private universities and colleges in Louisiana must now engage with the commissioner of administration to develop and implement digitized versions of their respective credentials in the LA Wallet electronic wallet system. Bar members, high school athletic referees, and university and college faculty, staff, and students gain the ability to carry these credentials in digital form on their devices. The commissioner of administration assumes the responsibility of coordinating and facilitating these implementations across these disparate credentialing bodies.

This legislation operates within the existing framework of R.S. 39:17.2, which creates the legal authority for digitized credentials to be made available through electronic wallet programs for any state-authorized or state-required credential. By amending this statute, the bill transforms digitized credential availability from a general authorization into a mandatory coordination requirement for specified professional and occupational credentials. The statute is codified within Title 39 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes, which addresses state administration and the office of the commissioner of administration, establishing the commissioner's existing authority to undertake such coordination activities.