1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to state agencies; providing for the 
  1.3             electronic conduct of state business; authorizing the 
  1.4             commissioner of administration to approve digital 
  1.5             signatures; amending Minnesota Statutes 1996, sections 
  1.6             16B.05, subdivision 2; and 16B.467.  
  1.7   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.8      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 16B.05, 
  1.9   subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
  1.10     Subd. 2.  [FACSIMILE SIGNATURES AND ELECTRONIC APPROVALS.] 
  1.11  When authorized by the commissioner, facsimile signatures and, 
  1.12  electronic approvals, or digital signatures may be used by 
  1.13  personnel of the department of administration in accordance with 
  1.14  the commissioner's delegated authority and instructions,.  
  1.15  Copies of which shall the delegated authority and instructions 
  1.16  must be filed with the commissioner of finance, state treasurer, 
  1.17  and the secretary of state.  A facsimile signature or, 
  1.18  electronic approval, or digital signature, when used in 
  1.19  accordance with the commissioner's delegated authority and 
  1.20  instructions, is as effective as an original signature. 
  1.21     Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 16B.467, is 
  1.22  amended to read: 
  1.23     16B.467 [ELECTRONIC PERMITTING AND LICENSING CONDUCT OF 
  1.24  STATE BUSINESS.] 
  1.25     The commissioner of administration shall develop and 
  1.26  implement a system under which people seeking state state 
  2.1   business can be conducted and permits or licenses that can be 
  2.2   issued immediately upon payment of a fee can obtain these 
  2.3   permits and licenses obtained through electronic access to 
  2.4   communication with the appropriate state agencies.