2005 Washington Revised Code RCW 19.34.010: Purpose and construction.

This chapter shall be construed consistently with what is commercially reasonable under the circumstances and to effectuate the following purposes:

     (1) To facilitate commerce by means of reliable electronic messages;

     (2) To ensure that electronic signatures are not denied legal recognition solely because they are in electronic form;

     (3) To provide a voluntary licensing mechanism for digital signature certification authorities by which businesses, consumers, courts, government agencies, and other entities can reasonably be assured as to the integrity, authenticity, and nonrepudiation of a digitally signed electronic communication;

     (4) To establish procedures governing the use of digital signatures for official public business to provide reasonable assurance of the integrity, authenticity, and nonrepudiation of an electronic communication;

     (5) To minimize the incidence of forged digital signatures and fraud in electronic commerce;

     (6) To implement legally the general import of relevant standards; and

     (7) To establish, in coordination with states and other jurisdictions, uniform rules regarding the authentication and reliability of electronic messages.

[1999 c 287 § 1; 1996 c 250 § 102.]

Effective date -- 1999 c 287: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately [May 13, 1999]." [1999 c 287 § 20.]