Most "systems" that collect signatures do so electronically in compliance with the Government Paperwork Elimination Act. I've included the text of the act below.  There are cases when a digital representation of the persons signature is desired and while I'm most familiar with Kuali Coeus (http://www.kuali.org/kc), and know that letters and correspondences can have the representatives signatures included, I assume other systems can perform this as well and hope they will chime in.  In Kuali the signature is an image that is uploaded and paired with a users record and when that user is a signatory that image is included in the document.

Hope this helps?

-Chris

http://www,moderas.org


Section 2. What is an "electronic signature?"

  1. GPEA defines "electronic signature" as follows:

    " . . . a method of signing an electronic message that --

    (A) identifies and authenticates a particular person as the source of the electronic message; and

    (B) indicates such person's approval of the information contained in the electronic message." (GPEA, section 1709(1)). 

    This definition is consistent with other accepted legal definitions of signature. The term "signature" has long been understood as including "any symbol executed or adopted by a party with present intention to authenticate a writing." (Uniform Commercial Code, 1-201(39)(1970)). The "Uniform Electronic Transactions Act," recently adopted by the National Conference of Commissioners of Uniform State Laws, and which is being enacted by the States, contains a similar definition (see http://www.nccusl.org). These flexible definitions permit the use of different electronic signature technologies, such as digital signatures, personal identifying numbers, and biometrics (section 7 provides more detail on electronic signature technologies). While it is the case that, for historical reasons, the Federal Rules of Evidence are tailored to support the admissibility of paper-based evidence, the Federal Rules of Evidence have no actual bias against electronic evidence.

  2. In enacting GPEA, Congress addressed the legal effect and validity of electronic signatures or other electronic authentication: 

    "Electronic records submitted or maintained in accordance with procedures developed under this title, or electronic signatures or other forms of electronic authentication used in accordance with such procedures, must not be denied legal effect, validity, or enforceability because such records are in electronic form" (GPEA, section 1707).



On 6/27/2014 12:34 PM, Matthew Katz wrote:

I’d be interested in that as well.  Thanks!

 

Matthew D. Katz, MHA

Assistant Vice President,

Sponsored Programs and Contracts Management

Western University of Health Sciences

309 E. 2nd Street

Pomona, CA  91766-1854

(909) 469-5567

(909) 469-5569 FAX

 

From: Research Administration List [mailto:xxxxxx@lists.healthresearch.org] On Behalf Of Ellen Jamieson
Sent: Friday, June 27, 2014 7:47 AM
To: xxxxxx@lists.healthresearch.org
Subject: [RESADM-L] Automated Systems for obtaining Institutional Signatures for Research Applications

 

To the Research Community:

 

Boston Medical Center Research Operations is looking at altenative processes for obtaining Institutional signatures (PI, Chief, Chair, etc) on internal research proposal/application routing forms.   Please let me know if your Institution has automated this process, or has any written procedures on when or who signs off on a research grant application (besides the Sponsored Programs or Grants Office).  If your Institution has a written procedure, please send me the weblink.

 

Thank you

Ellen Jamieson

Director, Grants and Contracts

Boston Medical Center

617-414-5646

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