Sec. 1-260. Definitions. As used in this chapter: Sec. 1-261. Exemptions. This chapter shall not apply to a record described in section 45a-251 or 47-5. Sec. 1-262. Electronic records. (a) A state agency may allow any governmental
record that is created, owned, used, distributed or maintained by such agency to be in the
form of an electronic record. A state agency may allow governmental records received by
such agency and identified in regulations adopted pursuant to section 1-264 to be in the
form of electronic records. Sec. 1-263. Electronic signatures. (a) A state agency may allow any governmental
record created, owned, used, distributed or maintained by such agency to be signed with
an electronic signature. A state agency may allow governmental records received by
such agency and identified in regulations adopted pursuant to section 1-264 to be signed
with an electronic signature. Sec. 1-264. Regulations. (a) The Chief Information Officer of the Department of
Information Technology, in consultation with the Secretary of the Office of Policy and
Management, may adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54,
governing: Sec. 1-265. Reports. Not later than July 1, 2000, and annually thereafter, each state
agency in the executive branch shall submit a status report to the Chief Information
Officer of the Department of Information Technology and the Secretary of the Office
of Policy and Management on the progress of the state agency in implementing the
provisions of sections 1-260 to 1-264, inclusive. Not later than September 1, 2000, and
annually thereafter, the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management shall prepare
a summary of such reports and submit the summary to the joint standing committee of the
General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to government administration.
(1) "Electronic" means of or relating to technology having electrical, digital, magnetic, wireless, optical, analog or electromagnetic technology or other similar capabilities.
(2) "Electronic record" means a record created, stored, generated, received or communicated by electronic means.
(3) "Electronic signature" means any signature in electronic form, attached to or
logically associated with an electronic record.
(4) "Governmental record" means any record relating to the conduct of the public's
business, that is created, owned, used, distributed, maintained or received by a state
agency.
(5) "Information" means data, text, images, sounds, codes, computer programs,
software or databases.
(6) "Person" means a natural person, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, association, society or state agency.
(7) "Record" means information that is inscribed on a tangible medium and is retrievable in perceivable form.
(8) "Sign" means to execute or adopt a signature.
(9) "Signature" means an identifying symbol, sound or process of a record in whole
or in part that is executed or adopted by a person as part of the record.
(10) "State agency" means an officer, department, board, council, commission, institution or other agency of the state government.
(11) "Writing" includes printing and any other intentional reduction of a record to
tangible form.
(P.A. 99-155, S. 1.)
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(P.A. 99-155, S. 2.)
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(b) No governmental record described in subsection (a) of this section or authorized
under any other provision of the general statutes to be in the form of an electronic record
may be denied legal effect, validity or enforceability solely because it is an electronic
record.
(c) If a law requires or allows a governmental record described in subsection (a) of
this section to be in writing, or provides consequences if it is not, an electronic record
complies with such law.
(d) If a law requires a governmental record to be retained in its original form, or
provides consequences if the record is not presented or retained in its original form,
such requirement is met by an electronic record if the electronic record accurately reflects
the information set forth in the record after it was first generated in its final form and
the electronic record remains accessible for later reference.
(P.A. 99-155, S. 3; P.A. 00-66, S. 8; 00-134, S. 2.)
History: P.A. 00-66 corrected a section reference in Subsec. (a); P.A. 00-134 amended Subsec. (a) to substitute "regulations adopted pursuant to section 1-264" for "regulations adopted by such agency pursuant to section 1-263".
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(b) A state agency may certify an electronic signature as an original signature.
(c) No electronic signature authorized in subsection (a) of this section or under any
other provision of the general statutes or certified under subsection (b) of this section
may be denied legal effect, validity or enforceability solely because it is an electronic
signature.
(d) If a law requires or allows a signature on a governmental record to be in electronic
form, or provides consequences in the absence of a signature on such a record, an electronic signature complies with such law.
(P.A. 99-155, S. 4; P.A. 00-134, S. 3.)
History: P.A. 00-134 amended Subsec. (a) to substitute "regulations adopted pursuant to section 1-264" for "regulations
adopted by such agency pursuant to section 1-264".
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(1) Executive branch state agencies' creation, ownership, use, distribution, receipt
and maintenance of governmental records, in accordance with sections 11-8 and 11-8a,
in the form of electronic records;
(2) The conversion of written governmental records into electronic records; and
(3) If a governmental record may be electronically signed, the manner and format
in which the electronic signature may be affixed to the electronic record.
(b) Regulations adopted under subsection (a) of this section relating to the use of
electronic records or electronic signatures shall (1) encourage and promote consistency
and interoperability between executive branch state agencies, and (2) ensure the integrity
of the original information contained in electronic records.
(c) Regulations adopted under subsections (a) and (b) of this section shall not apply
to the offices of the State Treasurer, Comptroller, Secretary of the State and Attorney
General. Each said office may adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of
chapter 54, to carry out the purposes of the regulations adopted under subsections (a)
and (b) of this section with regard to said office.
(d) Any other state agency may adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions
of chapter 54, to carry out the purposes of the regulations adopted under subsections
(a) and (b) of this section, with regard to the agency and to address the agency's needs
and circumstances, provided the regulations are consistent with the regulations adopted
by the Chief Information Officer pursuant to this section.
(P.A. 99-155, S. 5; P.A. 00-134, S. 4.)
History: P.A. 00-134 amended Subsec. (a) to substitute "the Chief Information Officer of the Department of Information
Technology, in consultation with the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management" for "a state agency" re adoption
of regulations, amended Subsec. (a)(1) to substitute "executive branch state agencies'" for "the state agency's", deleted
"the type of electronic signature required" from Subsec. (a)(3), amended Subsec. (b) to substitute "regulations adopted
under subsection (a)" for "regulations adopted by a state agency" and to substitute "interoperability between executive
branch state agencies" for "interoperability with similar requirements adopted by other state agencies" and added new
Subsecs. (c) and (d) re adoption of regulations by constitutional offices, and adoption of regulations by other state agencies,
respectively.
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(P.A. 99-155, S. 6.)
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