§ 14-15-3. Definitions

As used in the Electronic Authentication of Documents Act: A. “ authenticate ” means to ascertain the identity of the originator, verify the integrity of the electronic data and establish a link between the data and the originator; B. “ document ” means an identifiable collection of words, letters or graphical knowledge representations, regardless of the mode of representation. “ Document ” includes correspondence, agreements, invoices, reports, certifications, maps, drawings and images in both electronic and hard copy formats; C. “ electronic authentication ” means the electronic signing of a document that establishes a verifiable link between the originator of a document and the document by means of optical, electrical, digital, magnetic, electromagnetic, wireless, telephonic, biological, a public key and private key system or other technology providing similar capabilities; D. “ office ” means the information technology management office; E. “ originator ” means the person who signs a document electronically; F. “ person ” means an individual or entity, including: (1) an estate, trust, receiver, cooperative association, club, corporation, company, firm, partnership, joint venture or syndicate; and (2) any federal, state or local governmental unit or subdivision or any agency, department or instrumentality thereof; G. “ signed ” or “ signature ” means a symbol executed or adopted or a security procedure employed or adopted using electronic means or otherwise, by or on behalf of a person with the intent to authenticate a record; and H. “ technological neutrality ” means the methods selected to carry out electronic authentication that do not require or accord greater legal status or effect to the implementation or application of a specific technology or technical specification for performing the functions of creating, storing, generating, receiving, communicating or authenticating electronic records or electronic signatures.