November 2013

PE REPORT
Electronic Seals and Signatures Bill Headed for Michigan Senate

A bill that would allow licensed architects, professional engineers, and professional surveyors to use electronic seals and signatures when filing plans, specifications, plats, or reports with a public authority has passed the Michigan House and is headed to the Senate.

The Michigan Society of Professional Engineers, which supports H.B. 4585, is currently making its case to senators and hopes the bill will be on Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder's desk for signature into law before Thanksgiving. The bill was sponsored by Republican House Rep. Rob VerHeulen.

"MSPE, as part of the Architects, Engineers and Surveyors Legislative Committee has been working with our legislators to introduce and move this bill forward since February 2013," says MSPE Executive Director Nancy McClain, P.E. "Prior to taking the request to the Michigan Legislature, [the American Institute of Architects] Michigan, also a member of the AESLC, was working with the Michigan Bureau of Construction Codes for several years on determining the best manner in which to implement electronic seals and signatures at all levels and sizes of municipalities."

The Bureau of Construction Codes is poised to roll out a new process for accepting electronically submitted plans, permits, and other documentation. If passed, the bill would assist in the implementation of that process.

"The bill is intended to modernize the submission process and provide greater efficiency," McClain says. "It is common practice for plans and reports to be prepared electronically and allowing these professions to submit the plans using an electronic seal and signature, instead of requiring a handwritten signature and a seal affixed to a paper copy of the document, would modernize the business practices of many local units of government. Additionally, allowing the use of electronic seals and signatures would eliminate the need to store and maintain paper copies of documents and may lead to more efficient storage and retrieval of such documents."

The bill would not require plans and other documentation to be submitted electronically. Local governments without the technology to accept and store documents electronically would be able to require paper copies be submitted.

At press time, the bill was in the Senate's Regulatory Reform Committee, and a hearing date had not yet been set.