HB 1126 -- DIGITAL SIGNATURES (Thomason)

This bill establishes the Missouri Digital Signatures Act.

The bill contains comprehensive provisions regarding the
establishment of a digital signature system within the state to
minimize the incidence of forged digital signatures, enable
reliable authentication of computer based information, and
foster the verification of digital signatures on computer based
documents.

These provisions cover the following topics:  the authority of
the division (Commissions Division of the Secretary of State's
office); licensing qualifications of certificating authorities;
performance audits and investigations of business practices,
executed by the division; issuance of certificates; obligations
of subscribers and certificating authorities; suspension and
revocation of certificates; digital signature requirements;
reliance limits, liability, and bonding requirements of
certificating authorities; and recognition of repositories by
the division and liability of repositories.

This bill also allows contracts executed by political
subdivisions to contain facsimile signatures.

Finally, this bill allows the Secretary of State to accept or
transmit documents in an electronic format unless the document
relates to the Secretary's constitutional duties concerning
elections.  The Secretary is authorized to accept electronically
transmitted signatures and to establish a new revenue collection
center which may accept credit or debit cards.

FISCAL NOTE:  Partial Net Cost to General Revenue Fund of
$155,797 or $395,454 in FY 1999, $137,725 or $219,487 in FY
2000, and $144,138 or $228,355 in FY 2001.  Does not include
income from fees for licensing certification authorities.

HB 1126, HCA 1 -- DIGITAL SIGNATURES

SPONSOR:  Thomason

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Commerce
by a vote of 23 to 0.

This bill establishes the Missouri Digital Signatures Act.

The bill contains comprehensive provisions regarding the
establishment of a digital signature system within the state to
minimize the incidence of forged digital signatures, enable
reliable authentication of computer based information, and
foster the verification of digital signatures on computer based
documents.

These provisions cover the following topics:  the authority of
the division (Commissions Division of the Secretary of State's
office); licensing qualifications of certificating authorities;
performance audits and investigations of business practices,
executed by the division; issuance of certificates; obligations
of subscribers and certificating authorities; suspension and
revocation of certificates; digital signature requirements;
reliance limits, liability and bonding requirements of
certificating authorities; and recognition of repositories by
the division and liability of repositories.

HCA 1  --  Changes the title of the bill from "digital
signatures" to "certain authorized signatures"; allows contracts
executed by political subdivisions to contain facsimile
signatures.

FISCAL NOTE:  Partial Net Cost to General Revenue Fund of
$155,797 or $395,454 in FY 1999, $137,725 or $219,487 in FY
2000, and $144,138 or $228,355 in FY 2001.  Does not include
income from fees for licensing certification authorities.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that this bill creates a secure
method for electronically transacting business.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Thomason; Tier
Technologies; and Secretary of State's Office.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Debra Cheshier, Senior Legislative Analyst

HB 1126 -- Digital Signatures

Sponsor:  Thomason

This bill establishes the Missouri Digital Signatures Act.

The bill contains comprehensive provisions regarding the
establishment of a digital signature system within the state to
minimize the incidence of forged digital signatures, enable
reliable authentication of computer based information, and
foster the verification of digital signatures on computer based
documents.

These provisions cover the following topics:  the authority of
the division (Commissions Division of the Secretary of State's
office); licensing qualifications of certificating authorities;
performance audits and investigations of business practices,
executed by the division; issuance of certificates; obligations
of subscribers and certificating authorities; suspension and
revocation of certificates; digital signature requirements;
reliance limits, liability and bonding requirements of
certificating authorities; and recognition of repositories by
the division and liability of repositories.