The History of UCITA

1990-1998
• Early efforts to amend Article 2 of the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) evolve into separate effort to draft a computer information law known as UCC-2B
• American Law Institute (ALI) works with NCCUSL in drafting process.

1999
• In an unprecedented move, ALI withdraws from drafting UCC2B
• NCCUSL renames UCC2B as Uniform Computer Information Transactions Act (UCITA)
• 26 state attorneys general send a letter to NCCUSL opposing UCITA
· NCCUSL gives UCITA final approval as a uniform law

2000
• UCITA introduced in 6 states; passes in Virginia and Maryland
• Iowa enacts a UCITA “bomb-shelter” law protecting its citizens from certain UCITA provisions
• 4Cite, later renamed AFFECT, forms as a national coalition to oppose UCITA

2001
• UCITA is introduced and fails in 8 state legislatures
• UCITA “bomb-shelter” legislation passes in West Virginia and North Carolina
• The American Bar Association (ABA) tables a resolution to reject UCITA and
appoints the ABA UCITA Working Group to review the act
• 33 state attorneys general voice concerns about UCITA’s impact on consumers’ rights in a letter to NCCUSL
• UCITA Standby Committee holds amendment hearings; 80 amendments are submitted by diverse set of stakeholders; refers 19 amendments for NCCUSL approval

2002
• ABA UCITA Working Group makes 18 recommendations for change and points out “that UCITA should be redrafted to make it easier to understand and use”
• NCCUSL approves UCITA Standby Committee revisions

2003
• NCCUSL submits resolution to the ABA House of Delegates for approval” of UCITA
• None of the six ABA sections and two committees charged with considering the resolution voted to approve it
• The President of the American Law Institute (ALI) advises the ABA House of Delegates that he would not vote to approve UCITA
• Seven of the nine members of the ABA UCITA Working Group advise the House of Delegates that UCITA should not be approved
• NCCUSL withdraws the UCITA resolution from consideration at the ABA House of Delegates
• UCITA “bomb-shelter” bill enacted in Vermont; another bill pending in Massachusetts
• UCITA introductions fail in Nevada and Oklahoma
• NCCUSL discharges UCITA Standby Drafting Committee and announces it will no longer promote UCITA

2004

• UCITA is introduced in the U.S. Virgin Islands
• UCITA Bomb Shelter Bills are considered in MA and LA

Return to What is UCITA

The information contained in these pages may be downloaded, reproduced and redistributed as long as it has not been altered and is properly attributed. Permission to use AFFECT materials for publications may easily be attained by contacting us.