HB177 Summary

• Allows each municipality's governing body to determine by ordinance whether its agencies shall create, retain, and convert written records to electronic records.

• Permits municipalities to decide by ordinance whether their agencies may send, accept, and rely upon electronic records and electronic signatures in conducting business with other persons.

• Authorizes the Alabama Office of Information Technology to establish rules allowing state agencies under its purview to create, retain, and accept electronic records and signatures, provided such rules remain permissive and do not repeal or alter existing agency rules.

• Requires governmental agencies that adopt electronic record and signature standards to specify the manner, format, types of signatures, control processes, and security procedures appropriate for handling electronic documents.

• Act becomes effective immediately upon passage and approval by the Governor.