47-10-118 - Acceptance and distribution of electronic records by governmental agencies. - Tennessee Statutes

47-10-118. Acceptance and distribution of electronic records by governmental agencies.

(a)  Except as may otherwise be specifically required or prohibited by applicable law, and except as otherwise provided in § 47-10-112(f):

     (1)  The information systems council established under § 4-3-5501, shall further determine whether, and the extent to which, this state or any of its agencies and departments will send and accept electronic records and electronic signatures to and from other persons and otherwise create, generate, communicate, store, process, use, and rely upon electronic records and electronic signatures; and

     (2)  Subject to the provisions of § 47-10-120, any local governmental public official, including but not limited to officials of counties, municipalities, utility districts, other local governmental entities and those offices enumerated under § 8-22-101, making determinations under § 47-10-117(b), shall each themselves further determine whether, and the extent to which, they will send and accept electronic records and electronic signatures to and from other persons and otherwise create, generate, communicate, store, process, use, and rely upon electronic records and electronic signatures.

(b)  To the extent that any governmental agency uses electronic records or electronic signatures under subsection (a), the information systems council established under § 4-3-5501, giving due consideration to security, may so specify as set forth below:

     (1)  The manner and format in which the electronic records must be created, generated, sent, communicated, received, and stored and the systems established for those purposes;

     (2)  If electronic records must be signed by electronic means, the type of electronic signature required, the manner and format in which the electronic signature must be affixed to the electronic record, and the identify of, or criteria that must be met by, any third party used by a person filing a document to facilitate the process;

     (3)  Control processes and procedures as appropriate to ensure adequate preservation, disposition, integrity, security, confidentiality, and auditability of electronic records; and

     (4)  Any other required attributes for electronic records which are specified for corresponding non-electronic records or reasonably necessary under the circumstances.

(c)  Except as otherwise provided in § 47-10-112(f), this chapter does not require a governmental agency of this state to use or permit the use of electronic records or electronic signatures.

[Acts 2001, ch. 72, § 18.]