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§6-14-1. Definitions.
As used in this article:

(a) "Public security" means a bond, note, certificate of indebtedness or other obligation for the payment of money issued by this state or by any of its departments, agencies, boards, commissions or other instrumentalities or by any of its public corporations, political subdivisions, municipal corporations or other governmental units.

(b) "Instrument of payment" means a check, draft, warrant or order for the payment, delivery or transfer of funds.

(c) "Authorized officer" means any official of this state or of any of its departments, agencies, boards, commissions or other instrumentalities or of any of its public corporations, political subdivisions, municipal corporations or other governmental units whose signature to a public security or instrument of payment is required or permitted.

(d) "Facsimile signature" means a reproduction by engraving, imprinting, stamping or other means of the manual signature of an authorized officer.

§6-14-2. Facsimile signature; use; legal effect.
Any authorized officer, after filing with the secretary of state his manual signature certified by him under oath, may execute or cause to be executed with a facsimile signature in lieu of his manual signature:

(a) Any public security, provided that at least one signature required or permitted to be placed thereon shall be manually subscribed. If a public security is required to be manually signed by a trustee, issuing agent, fiscal agent, registrar, or other agent or custodian, the signature of any or all authorized officers may be executed by facsimile; and

(b) Any instrument of payment.

Upon compliance with this article by the authorized officer, his facsimile signature shall have the same legal effect as his manual signature.

§6-14-3. Facsimile seal; use; legal effect.
When the seal of this state or of any of its departments, agencies, boards, commissions or other instrumentalities or of any of its public corporations, political subdivisions, municipal corporations or other governmental units is required in the execution of a public security or instrument of payment, the authorized officer may cause the seal to be printed, engraved, stamped or otherwise placed in facsimile thereon. The facsimile seal shall have the same legal effect as the impression of the seal.

§6-14-4. Use with intent to defraud; penalty.
Any person who with intent to defraud uses on a public security or an instrument of payment:

(a) A facsimile signature of any authorized officer or any reproduction of such facsimile signature, or

(b) Any facsimile seal of this state or of any of its departments, agencies, boards, commissions or other instrumentalities or of any of its public corporations, political subdivisions, municipal corporations or other governmental units, or any reproduction of such facsimile seal is guilty of a felony and shall be imprisoned in the penitentiary not less than one nor more than ten years.

§6-14-5. Construction.
This article shall be so construed as to effectuate its general purpose to make uniform the law of those states which enact it.

§6-14-6. Citation.
This article may be known and cited as the "Uniform Facsimile Signatures of Public Officials Act."

§6-14-7. Severability provision.
If any provision of this article or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of this article which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application and to that end the provisions of this article are severable.

§6-14-8. Inconsistent articles repealed.
All articles and parts of articles inconsistent with the provisions of this article are, to the extent of such inconsistency only, hereby repealed.

Note: WV Code updated with legislation passed through the 2012 1st Special Session