Early childhood education and childcare: electronic signatures

The law makes qualifying electronic signatures legally equivalent to handwritten signatures for required childcare-program documents. It also permits electronic creation and storage of signed records.

What the law does ​

• Allows signatures required under the Child Care and Development Services Act to be completed electronically if they comply with the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.
• Allows required documents containing compliant electronic signatures to be created and stored electronically.
• Allows the State Department of Social Services to issue regulations on authentication, consent, and record retention.
• Confirms that early education and childcare contractors may use compliant electronic signatures and retain records electronically, while preserving applicable retention and record-preservation standards.

Who it affects ​

• Contractors operating California early education, childcare, and development services.
• Families and others who sign documents required for childcare and development services.
• The State Department of Social Services.