(1) Engineering plans, specifications, reports or other documents which must be signed, dated and sealed in accordance with the provisions of Florida Statutes § 471.025, and Fl. Admin. Code R. 61G15-23.001, may be signed digitally as provided herein by the professional engineer in responsible charge. As used herein, the terms “”certification authority,”” and “”digital signature”” shall have the meanings ascribed to them in Sections 668.003(2) and (3), F.S.

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    (2) A professional engineer utilizing a digital signature to electronically sign and seal engineering plans, specifications, reports or other documents shall have their identity authenticated by a certification authority and shall assure that the digital signature is:
    (a) Unique to the person using it;
    (b) Capable of verification;
    (c) Under the sole control of the person using it; and,
    (d) Linked to a document in such a manner that the digital signature and correspondingly the document is invalidated if any data in the document is changed.
    (3) The affixing of a digital signature to engineering plans, specifications, reports or other documents as provided herein shall constitute the signing and sealing of such items.
    (a) A digitally created seal as set forth in Fl. Admin. Code R. 61G15-23.002, may be placed where it would appear if the item were being physically signed, dated and sealed.
    (b) The date that the digital signature was placed into the document must appear on the document in accordance with subsection 61G15-23.001(4), F.A.C., and where it would appear if the item were being physically signed, dated and sealed.
    (c) The engineering plans, specifications, reports or other documents being digitally signed and sealed shall include text to indicate the following and place it where an original signature would appear if the item were being physically signed, dated and sealed:
    1. The same information required by subsection 61G15-23.002(2), F.A.C., if a digitally created image of the seal is not use;
    2. The item has been digitally signed and sealed; and,
    3. Printed copies of this document are not considered signed and sealed and all signatures must be verified on any electronic copies.
    (d) Formatting of seals and text similar to that depicted below shall be used. While the formatting may be altered, the text must remain identical.
    1. When a digitally created seal is used: