Child care: contractors: digital signatures.

The Child Care and Development Services Act, administered by the State Department of Education, provides that children from infancy to 13 years of age are eligible, with certain requirements, for child care and development services. The act authorizes the Superintendent of Public Instruction to enter into and execute local contractual agreements with any public or private entity or agency for the delivery of child care and development services. The act authorizes these contractors to maintain records electronically. This bill would authorize the contractors to use a digital signature, as provided, and would require that the use of a digital signature have the same force and effect as a manual signature if specified requirements are met. The bill would require the use of a digital signature to be in compliance with state and federal standards, as determined by the department.