[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 5, Volume 2]
[Revised as of January 1, 2008]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 5CFR850.106]

[Page 398]
 
                    TITLE 5--ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL
 
          CHAPTER I--OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT (CONTINUED)
 
PART 850_RETIREMENT SYSTEMS MODERNIZATION--Table of Contents
 
                      Subpart A_General Provisions
 
Sec.  850.106  Electronic signatures.

    (a) Subject to any provisions prescribed by the Director under Sec.  
850.104--
    (1) An electronic communication may be deemed to satisfy any 
statutory or regulatory requirement under CSRS, FERS, FEGLI, FEHB or 
RFEHB for a written election, notice, application, consent, request, or 
specific form format;
    (2) An electronic signature of an electronic communication may be 
deemed to satisfy any statutory or regulatory requirement under CSRS, 
FERS, FEGLI, FEHB or RFEHB that an individual submit a signed writing to 
OPM;
    (3) An electronic signature of a witness to an electronic signature 
may be deemed to satisfy any statutory or regulatory requirement under 
CSRS, FERS, FEGLI, FEHB or RFEHB for a signature to be witnessed; and
    (4) Any statutory or regulatory requirement under CSRS, FERS, FEGLI, 
FEHB or RFEHB that a signature be notarized may be satisfied if the 
electronic signature of the person authorized to sign is attached to or 
logically associated with all other information and records required to 
be included by the applicable statute or regulation.
    (b) For purposes of this section, an electronic signature is a 
method of signing an electronic communication, including an application, 
claim, or notice, designation of beneficiary, or assignment that--
    (1) Identifies and authenticates a particular person as the source 
of the electronic communication; and
    (2) Indicates such person's approval of the information contained in 
the electronic communication.
    (c) The Director will issue directives under Sec.  850.104 that 
identify the acceptable methods of effecting electronic signatures for 
particular purposes under this part. Acceptable methods of creating an 
electronic signature may include--
    (1) Non-cryptographic methods, including--
    (i) Personal Identification Number (PIN) or password;
    (ii) Smart card;
    (iii) Digitized signature; or
    (iv) Biometrics, such as fingerprints, retinal patterns, and voice 
recognition;
    (2) Cryptographic control methods, including--
    (i) Shared symmetric key cryptography;
    (ii) Public/private key (asymmetric) cryptography, also known as 
digital signatures;
    (3) Any combination of methods described in paragraphs (c)(1) and 
(c)(2) of this section; or
    (4) Such other means as the Director may find appropriate.