OR 2020-1534 Electronic Signatures
ORDINANCE NO. 2020-1534
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COPPELL,
TEXAS, AMENDING CHAPTER 1 “ADMINISTRATION”, ARTICLE 1-9
“RECORDS MANAGEMENT PROGRAM OF THE CITY OF COPPELL
CODE OF ORDINANCES BY ADOPTING A NEW SECTION 1-9-14
“ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES” AUTHORIZING THE USAGE OF
ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES FOR CITY DOCUMENTS; AND
ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the City of Coppell, Texas (“City”) is a Home Rule municipality possessing
the full power of local self-government pursuant to Article 11, Section 5 of the Texas Constitution,
Chapter 51 of Texas Local Government Code and its Home Rule Charter; and
WHEREAS, electronic signature technology allows the City to collect and preserve
signatures on documents quickly, securely, and efficiently; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Coppell believes that to accomplish the goal
of having a safe, effective, and reliable technological environment the City must adopt regulations
related to electronic signature usage.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF COPPELL, TEXAS, THAT:
SECTION 1. The Code of Ordinances of the City of Coppell, Chapter 1 “Administration”,
Article 1-9 “Records Management Program” is hereby amended by adding a new Section 1-9-14
“Electronic Signatures”, to read as follows:
“CHAPTER 1. ADMINISTRATION
ARTICLE 1-1 . . . .
. . . . .
ARTICLE 1-9 – RECORDS MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
Sec. 1-9-1. – Policy
. . . .
Sec. 1-9-14. - Electronic Signatures.
A. Electronic signatures, an automated or digital function that replaces a
handwritten signature with a system generated signature statement, and
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electronic records can be utilized as a means for authentication of city
documents, computer generated city documents and electronic city entries,
among other execution of authentication uses. System generated electronic
signatures used in accordance with this ordinance, state and federal law are
considered legally binding as a means to identify the author of record for entries
and confirm the content of the signatory
or author. City departments and staff will be allowed to utilize electronic
signatures in accordance with this ordinance, city policies, and state, and/or
federal regulations regarding same.
B. The following list sets forth the acceptable usages of electronic signatures:
(1) For city policies, ordinances, resolutions, laws, regulations, and rules
requiring a signature;
(2) For transactions where the parties agree to conduct the transaction
electronically. Consent may be implied from the circumstances, except
where information is required by law to be in paper or hardcopy form;
and
(3) When the electronic signature contains the elements required by law, if
any.
C. The use of an electronic signature shall have the same force and effect as the
use of an actual signature or manual signature if:
(1) The signature is capable of verification;
(2) The signature is under the sole control of the person using it; and
(3) The signature is linked to the data in such a manner that it is readily
ascertainable if the data is changed after the signature is applied.
D. The City Manager may determine the programs, protocols, and elements that
are required for compliance with Subsection (c) of this ordinance.”
SECTION 2. That all provisions of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Coppell, Texas,
in conflict with the provisions of this ordinance be, and the same are hereby, repealed, and all other
provisions not in conflict with the provisions of this ordinance shall remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 3. That should any word, phrase, paragraph, section or phrase of this ordinance
or of the Code of Ordinances, as amended hereby, be held to be unconstitutional, illegal or invalid,
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the same shall not affect the validity of this ordinance as a whole, or any part or provision thereof
other than the part so decided to be unconstitutional, illegal or invalid,and shall not affect the validity
of the Code of Ordinances as a whole.
SECTION 4. That this ordinance shall take effect immediately from and after its passage
and the publication of the caption, as the law and charter in such cases provide.
DULY PASSEDCity
bythe Council of the City of Coppell, Texas, this the (gam day of
jteu ,2020.
CIT OF COPPELL, TEXAS
• ' 'RO ID: I
1 I
KA' N S LBO H i T, MAYOR
AT = T:
/slur •
1 RISTEL PET 1 OS, CITY SEC' TARY
APPRO - > S TO F!RM:
ROBERT E. HA I'R, CITY ATTORNEY
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