Amendment SSA1-AB811

AB811-SSA1,2,12 137.01 (4) (a) Every official act of a notary public shall be attested by the notary public's written signature or electronic signature, as defined in s. 137.04 (2).

AB811-SSA1, s. 6 Section 6. Subchapter II of chapter 137 [precedes 137.04] of the statutes is created to read:

AB811-SSA1,2,15 Chapter 137

AB811-SSA1,2,17 Subchapter II Electronic signatures

AB811-SSA1,2,18 137.04 Definitions. In this subchapter:

AB811-SSA1,2,21 (1) "Authenticate" means to validate a document in such a manner that the identity of the person who originates the document is incontrovertible and the information contained in the document is identical to that originated by the person.

AB811-SSA1,2,25 (2) "Electronic signature" means any combination of words, letters, symbols or characters that is attached to or logically associated with an electronic record and used by a person for the purpose of authenticating a document that has been created in or transformed into an electronic format.

AB811-SSA1,3,6 (3) "Governmental unit" means any association, authority, board, commission, department, independent agency, institution, office, society or other body in state government created or authorized to be created by the constitution or any law, including the legislature, the office of the governor and the courts, and any political subdivision of the state or body within one or more political subdivisions which is created by law or by action of one or more political subdivisions.

AB811-SSA1,3,11 137.05 Submission of written documents. Unless otherwise prohibited by law, any document that is required by law to be submitted in writing to a governmental unit and that requires a written signature may be submitted by transforming the document into electronic format, but only with the consent of the governmental unit that is to receive the document.

AB811-SSA1,3,16 137.06 Electronic signature. (1) Unless otherwise prohibited by law, any document that requires a manual, facsimile or other form of signature or that is given effect with a manual, facsimile or other form of signature may be signed or given effect with an electronic signature if the electronic signature meets all of the following requirements:

AB811-SSA1,3,17 1. The electronic signature is unique to the person using it.

AB811-SSA1,3,18 2. The electronic signature is capable of verification.

AB811-SSA1,3,19 3. The electronic signature is under the sole control of the person using it.

AB811-SSA1,3,22 4. The electronic signature is linked to the document to which it is attached or associated in such a manner that, if the document is altered after the electronic signature is created, the electronic signature is invalidated.

AB811-SSA1,3,25 (2) An electronic signature that satisfies all of the requirements specified in sub. (1) has the same force and effect as a manual, facsimile or other form of signature.

AB811-SSA1, s. 7 Section 7. 990.01 (38) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB811-SSA1,4,6 990.01 (38) Signature. If the signature of any person is required by law it shall always be the handwriting of such person or, if the person is unable to write, the person's mark or the person's name written by some other person at the person's request and in the person's presence, or, subject to any applicable requirements under subch. II of ch. 137, the electronic signature of the person.

AB811-SSA1, s. 8 Section 8. Nonstatutory provisions.

AB811-SSA1,4,8 (1) Commission on the use of electronic signatures.

AB811-SSA1,4,9 (a) In this subsection:

AB811-SSA1,4,10 1. "Committee" has the meaning specified in section 15.01 (3) of the statutes.

AB811-SSA1,4,12 2. "Electronic signature" has the meaning specified in section 137.04 (2) of the statutes, as created by this act.

AB811-SSA1,4,14 3. "Governmental unit" has the meaning specified in section 137.04 (3) of the statutes, as created by this act.

AB811-SSA1,4,16 (b) There is established a committee called the commission on the use of electronic signatures consisting of members appointed by the governor.

AB811-SSA1,4,19 (c) The commission shall study the use and regulation of electronic signatures in this state and any other matter affecting the use and regulation of electronic signatures.

AB811-SSA1,4,22 (d) The department of administration shall provide to the commission information on the expected uses of electronic signatures by governmental units in exercising their powers and performing their duties.

AB811-SSA1,5,2 (e) No later than the first day of the 12th month beginning after the publication of this act, the commission shall submit a report to the legislature in the manner provided under section 13.172 (2) of the statutes. The report shall include the commission's proposed recommendations regarding the use and regulation of electronic signatures.

AB811-SSA1, s. 9 Section 9. Effective dates. This act takes effect on the day after publication, except as follows:

AB811-SSA1,5,8 (1) The treatment of sections 16.855 (23), 20.575 (1) (g), 137.01 (4) (a) and 990.01 (38) and subchapter II of chapter 137 of the statutes, the renumbering of chapter 137 of the statutes and the creation of chapter 137 (title) of the statutes take effect on the first day of the 18th month beginning after publication.

AB811-SSA1,5,9 (End)