Authorized officers may use facsimile signatures and facsimile seals for public securities and instruments of payment, but fraudulent use of them is a felony.
§244. Use of facsimile signatures and seals authorized; penalty for fraudulent use A. As used in this Section: (1) "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, or other instrumentalities or by any of its political subdivisions. (2) "Instrument of payment" means a check, draft, warrant, or order for the payment, delivery, or transfer of funds. (3) "Authorized officer" means any official of this state or any of its boards, commissions, departments, or agencies or of any of its political subdivisions whose signature to a public security or instrument of payment is required or permitted. (4) "Facsimile signature" means a reproduction by engraving, imprinting, stamping, or other means of the manual signature of an authorized officer. B.(1) 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. (b) Any instrument of payment. (2) Upon compliance with this Section by the authorized officer, his facsimile signature has the same legal effect as his manual signature. C. When the seal of the state of Louisiana or any of its departments, agencies, or other instrumentalities or of any of its political subdivisions 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 has the same legal effect as the impression of the seal. D. Any person who with intent to defraud uses on a public security or an instrument of payment a facsimile signature, or any reproduction of it, of any authorized officer, or any facsimile seal, or any reproduction of it, of the state of Louisiana or any of its departments, agencies, or other instrumentalities or of any of its political subdivisions, is guilty of a felony and shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or both. Acts 1989, No. 836, §1, eff. July 1, 1989; Acts 1990, No. 507, §1.