(1) Each applicant for or recipient of
public assistance shall complete and sign a physical application
or, if available, electronic application for assistance which
shall contain or be verified by a written declaration that it is
signed under the penalties of perjury. The department may make
electronic applications available. The secretary, by rule and
regulation, may require that any other forms filled out by
applicants or recipients of public assistance shall contain or be
verified by a written declaration that it is made under the
penalties of perjury and such declaration shall be in lieu of any
oath otherwise required, and each applicant shall be so informed
at the time of the signing. The application and signature
verification shall be in accordance with federal requirements for
that program.
(2) Any applicant for or recipient of public assistance who
willfully makes and signs any application, statement, other
paper, or electronic record which contains or is verified by a
written declaration that it is made under the penalties of
perjury and which he or she does not believe to be true and
correct as to every material matter is guilty of a class B felony
punishable according to chapter 9A.20 RCW.
(3) As used in this section:
(a) "Electronic record" means a record generated,
communicated, received, or stored by electronic means for use in
an information system or for transmission from one information
system to another.
(b) "Electronic signature" means a signature in electronic
form attached to or logically associated with an electronic
record including, but not limited to, a digital signature. An
electronic signature is a paperless way to sign a document using
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.
(c) "Sign" includes signing by physical signature, if
available, or electronic signature. An application must contain
a signature in either physical or, if available, electronic form.
[2009 c 201 § 1; 2003 c 53 § 366; 1979 c 141 § 323; 1959 c 26 §74.08.055 . Prior: 1953 c 174 § 27.]
NOTES:
Intent -- Effective date -- 2003 c 53: See notes following RCW 2.48.180.