AN ACT relating to the use of information technology.
     Establish KRS Chapter 369 and create new sections of that chapter relating to electronic signatures and electronic records; establish the purposes; define "electronic", "electronic record", "electronic signature," and "record"; establish exemptions to the application of this Act; direct that a person cannot be required to accept an electronic signature or an electronic record unless both parties have agreed to its use prior to transmission; allow the recipient of an electronic record or an electronic signature to establish his own conditions for acceptance; direct that a state or local governmental entity or agency is not required to accept an electronic record or electronic signature unless the entity or agency has agreed to accept it and unless the manner and medium of transmission is acceptable to the entity or agency; direct that if parties to a private sector transaction agree, or, in dealings with a state or local governmental entity or agency, if that entity or agency agrees to accept an electronic signature or electronic record, the following apply: (1) information, records, and electronic signatures shall not be denied legal effect, validity, or enforceability solely on the grounds that they are in electronic, duplicate, or imaged form, (2) where a statute or administrative regulation requires a manual signature, an electronic signature shall have the same force and effect as a manual signature, (3) where a statute or administrative regulation requires information to be "written" or "in writing," an electronic record shall satisfy that requirement, (4) where a statute or administrative regulation requires information to be presented or retained in its original form, an electronic record shall satisfy that requirement if there exists reliable assurance as to the integrity of the data or information from when it was first generated to its final form; amend KRS 61.950 to allow the Kentucky Information Resources Management Commission to promulgate administrative regulations establishing electronic signature standards for the executive branch of state government.

     Feb 24-introduced in House
     Feb 25-to State Government (H)
     Feb 27-posted in committee
     Mar 4-reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar
     Mar 5-2nd reading, to Rules; posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for March 6, 1998
     Mar 9-3rd reading, passed 94-0
     Mar 10-received in Senate
     Mar 11-to State and Local Government (S)
     Mar 19-reported favorably, 1st reading, to Consent Calendar
     Mar 20-2nd reading, to Rules
     Mar 23-posted for passage in the Consent Orders of the Day for March 25, 1998
     Mar 25-3rd reading, passed 37-0
     Mar 26-received in House; enrolled, signed by each presiding officer
     Mar 27-delivered to Governor
     Apr 7-signed by Governor