Workers' compensation: electronic signatures.

Existing law, the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, applies to certain electronic transactions and provides that a record or signature may not be denied legal effect or enforceability solely because it is in electronic form. The act provides that if a law requires a record to be in writing, or if a law requires a signature, an electronic record satisfies the law. Existing law establishes a workers' compensation system, administered by the Administrative Director of the Division of Workers' Compensation, to compensate an employee for injuries sustained in the course of the employee's employment. Existing law establishes a Workers' Compensation Appeals Board and sets forth various proceedings that are required to be brought forth before the board. Existing law provides that the appeals board is vested with full power, authority, and jurisdiction to try and determine finally all the matters specified in those proceedings subject only to the review by the courts, as specified. For purposes of the workers' compensation system, this bill would allow documents that require a signature to be filed with an "electronic signature," defined as an electronic sound, symbol, or process attached to or logically associated with an electronic record and executed or adopted by a person with the intent to sign the electronic record, where the electronic signature is attributable to the person, as specified, subject to specified restrictions or requirements.