Treasury's Proposed Electronic Certification of Vouchered Payments

Questions were raised concerning the Department of the Treasury's proposed use of electronic methods of certifying payments. It was determined that: (1) the current practice of requiring a handwritten signature to accompany a certification typed or printed on paper is not the only legal method of certification; (2) a symbol that is unique, within the sole control or custody of the certifying officer, and capable of verification by the disbursing officer, would be sufficient to attest to the authenticity of a certificate, and therefore would be legally acceptable; and (3) the proposed electronic certification system together with a document recording the transaction should be legally sufficient to provide for the certification of Treasury payments, as well as afford increased safeguards against certification by unauthorized persons.