Florida Amends Use of Electronic Signatures For Professional Engineers

March 2014 - Changes to electronic signatures under Rule 61G15-23-003, Procedures for Signing and Sealing Electronically Transmitted Plans, Specifications, Reports or Other Documents has recently gone into effect. 

Rule 61G15-23-003 establishes protocol for signing and sealing electronic deliverables through the use of digital signatures and electronic signatures. Last year it was proposed to amend this procedure in order to make the use of electronic signatures truly paperless. 

Previously under Rule 61G15-23-003, procedures required that the licensee create a report with the Engineer's name and PE number, a brief overall description of the engineering documents and the authentication code (secure hash standard) of the signature filed. This document was printed, manually signed and sealed along with the electronic deliverables. While this method was free of cost, it was not entirely a paperless method. 

Under the amended rule, licensees still must create, print, sign, date and seal the paper report, but now can submit a scanned electronic copy with transmitted electronic deliverables.  The licensee is still required to retain the sign, dated and sealed hardcopy in accordance with Rule 61G15-30.009, F.A.C. 

More information can be found in the Board of Professional Engineers Chapter 61G15-18.