For the purposes of this chapter, the term:
(1) “Agreement” means the bargain of the parties in fact, as found in their language or inferred from other circumstances and from rules, regulations, and procedures given the effect of agreements under laws otherwise applicable to a particular transaction.
(2) “Automated transaction” means a transaction conducted or performed, in whole or in part, by electronic means or electronic records, in which the acts or records of one or both parties are not reviewed by an individual in the ordinary course in forming a contract, performing under an existing contract, or fulfilling an obligation required by the transaction.
(3) “Computer program” means a set of statements or instructions to be used directly or indirectly in an information processing system in order to bring about a certain result.
(4) “Contract” means the total legal obligation resulting from the parties' agreement as affected by this chapter and other applicable law.
(5) “Electronic” means relating to technology having electrical, digital, magnetic, wireless, optical, electromagnetic, or similar capabilities.
(6) “Electronic agent” means a computer program or an electronic or other automated means used independently to initiate an action or respond to electronic records or performances in whole or in part, without review or action by an individual.
(7) “Electronic record” means a record created, generated, sent, communicated, received, or stored by electronic means.
(8) “Electronic signature” means an electronic sound, symbol, or process attached to or logically associated with a record and executed or adopted by a person with the intent to sign the record.
(9) “Governmental agency” means an executive, legislative, or judicial agency, department, board, commission, authority, institution, or instrumentality of the federal government or of a State or of a county, municipality, or other political subdivision of a State.
(10) “Information” means data, text, images, sounds, codes, computer programs, software, databases, or the like.
(11) “Information processing system” means an electronic system for creating, generating, sending, receiving, storing, displaying, or processing information.
(12) “Person” means an individual, corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture, governmental agency, public corporation, or any other legal or commercial entity.
(13) “Record” means information that is inscribed on a tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in perceivable form.
(14) “Security procedure” means a procedure employed for the purpose of verifying that an electronic signature, record, or performance is that of a specific person or for detecting changes or errors in the information in an electronic record. The term includes a procedure that requires the use of algorithms or other codes, identifying words or numbers, encryption, or callback or other acknowledgment procedures.
(15) “State” means a State of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, or any territory or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. The term includes an Indian tribe or band, or Alaskan native village, which is recognized by federal law or formally acknowledged by a State.
(16) “Transaction” means an action or set of actions occurring between two or more persons relating to the conduct of business, commercial, or governmental affairs.
CREDIT(S)
(Oct. 3, 2001, D.C. Law 14-28, § 3502(b), 48 DCR 6981; Mar. 13, 2004, D.C. Law 15-105, § 64, 51 DCR 881.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Effect of Amendments
D.C. Law 15-105 validated previously made technical corrections.
Emergency Act Amendments
For temporary (90 day) addition of section, see § 3202(b) of Fiscal Year 2002 Budget Support Emergency Act of 2001 (D.C. Act 14-124, August 3, 2001, 48 DCR 7861).
Legislative History of Laws
Law 14-28, the “Fiscal Year 2002 Budget Support Act of 2001”, was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 14-144, which was referred to the Committee Of the Whole. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on May 1, 2001, and June 5, 2001, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on June 29, 2001, it was assigned Act No. 14-85 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review. D.C. Law 14-28 became effective on October 3, 2001.
For Law 15-105, see notes following § 28-3904.
Miscellaneous Notes
Citywide Email Retention Policy, see Mayor's Order 2007-157, July 5, 2007 (54 DCR 9613).
Citywide Email Retention Policy, see Mayor's Order 2007-207, September 21, 2007 (55 DCR 127).
Rescission of Mayor's Order 2007-157, dated July 5, 2007, on Citywide Email Retention Policy, see Mayor's Order 2007-228, October 15, 2007 (55 DCR 149).
Uniform Law
This section is based upon § 2 of the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (1999 Act). See 7A, Pt. I, Uniform Laws Annotated, Master Edition, or ULA Database on Westlaw.