Read first time 01/16/09.   Referred to Committee on Early Learning & Children's Services.

     AN ACT Relating to permitting electronic signatures on applications for public assistance and for benefits administered by the health care authority; amending RCW 74.08.055; and adding a new section to chapter 41.05 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   RCW 74.08.055 and 2003 c 53 s 366 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Each applicant for or recipient of public assistance shall ((make an)) complete and sign a physical application or, if available, electronic application for assistance which shall contain or be verified by a written declaration that it is ((made)) signed under the penalties of perjury. The department may make electronic applications available. The secretary, by rule and regulation, may require that any other forms filled out by applicants or recipients of public assistance shall contain or be verified by a written declaration that it is made under the penalties of perjury and such declaration shall be in lieu of any oath otherwise required, and each applicant shall be so informed at the time of the signing. The application and signature verification shall be in accordance with federal requirements for that program.
     (2) Any applicant for or recipient of public assistance who willfully makes and ((subscribes)) signs any application, statement ((or)), other paper, or electronic record which contains or is verified by a written declaration that it is made under the penalties of perjury and which he or she does not believe to be true and correct as to every material matter is guilty of a class B felony punishable according to chapter 9A.20 RCW.
     (3) As used in this section:
     (a) "Electronic record" means a record generated, communicated, received, or stored by electronic means for use in an information system or for transmission from one information system to another.
     (b) "Electronic signature" means a signature in electronic form attached to or logically associated with an electronic record including, but not limited to, a digital signature. An electronic signature is a paperless way to sign a document using an electronic sound, symbol, or process, attached to or logically associated with a record and executed or adopted by a person with the intent to sign the record.
     (c) "Sign" includes signing by physical signature, if available, or electronic signature. An application must contain a signature in either physical or, if available, electronic form.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 41.05 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The administrator may require applications, enrollment forms, and eligibility certification documents for benefits that are administered by the authority under this chapter and chapters 70.47 and 70.47A RCW to be signed by the person submitting them. The administrator may accept electronic signatures.
     (2) For the purpose of this section, "electronic signature" means a signature in electronic form attached to or logically associated with an electronic record including, but not limited to, a digital signature.