HB29 Summary

• Adopts the Alabama Uniform Unsworn Foreign Declarations Act to allow unsworn declarations signed under penalty of perjury to have the same legal effect as sworn declarations when the declarant is physically located outside the boundaries of the United States.

• Applies only to declarants physically located outside the geographic boundaries of the United States, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, and U.S. territories, but excludes declarants on U.S. property subject to another country's or federally recognized Indian tribe's jurisdiction.

• Excludes depositions, oaths of office, oaths required before specified officials, recorded declarations under Title 35, certain oaths under Sections 43-8-132 and 43-8-133, and durable powers of attorney under Title 26 Chapter 1.

• Requires unsworn declarations to follow a substantially prescribed form that includes the declarant's statement made under penalty of perjury, the specific location outside U.S. boundaries, execution date, printed name, and signature.

• Modifies and supersedes the federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, 15 U.S.C. Section 7001, et seq., effective January 1, 2012.