BILL NUMBER: AB 18 INTRODUCED
BILL TEXT
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Blakeslee
DECEMBER 4, 2006
An act to amend Section 14 of, and to add Section 15 to, the Civil
Code, to amend Section 17 of the Code of Civil Procedure, to amend
Section 17 of the Corporations Code, to amend Section 354.5 of the
Elections Code, to amend Section 17 of the Financial Code, to amend
Section 81 of the Fish and Game Code, to amend Section 16 of the
Government Code, to amend Section 18 of the Harbors and Navigation
Code, to amend Section 18 of the Health and Safety Code, to amend
Section 18 of the Insurance Code, to amend Section 17 of the Labor
Code, to amend Section 17 of the Military and Veterans Code, to amend
Section 7 of the Penal Code, to amend Section 17 of the Public
Resources Code, to amend Section 16 of the Public Utilities Code, to
amend Section 18 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, to amend Section
18 of the Streets and Highways Code, to amend Section 17 of the
Unemployment Insurance Code, to amend Section 17 of the Vehicle Code,
to amend Section 17 of the Water Code, and to amend Section 17 of
the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to disabled persons.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 18, as introduced, Blakeslee. Disabled persons: signature
stamps.
Existing law generally provides that, when a signature is required
on a document or writing, a person who cannot write may satisfy that
requirement by the use of a mark if certain conditions are met,
except as specified.
This bill would establish the Warren Mattingly Signature Stamp
Act, which would provide, in addition, that a person with a physical
disability who, by reason of the physical disability, is unable to
write may use a signature stamp to affix his or her signature to a
document or writing any time that a signature is required by law. The
bill would require a person or governmental entity to treat each
signature affixed with a signature stamp pursuant to these provisions
in the same manner as it treats a signature made in writing. It
would allow a person or governmental entity to require a person who
uses a signature stamp to present valid photographic identification
as proof of his or her identity, and would provide that the owner of
a signature stamp shall be liable for any damages caused by the use
of the signature stamp by another person unless specified
circumstances exist.
The bill would require the State Department of Social Services to
adopt regulations to implement these provisions.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. This act shall be known as the Warren Mattingly
Signature Stamp Act.
SEC. 2. Section 14 of the Civil Code is amended to read:
14. (a) Words used in this code in the
present tense include the future as well as the present; words used
in the masculine gender include the feminine and neuter; the singular
number includes the plural, and the plural the singular ;
the word person .
(1) "Person" includes a
corporation as well as a natural person ; county
.
(2) "County" includes
city and county; writing city and county.
(3) "Writing" includes printing
and typewriting ; oath .
(4) "Oath" includes affirmation
or declaration; and every mode of oral statement, under oath or
affirmation, is embraced by the term "testify," and every written one
in the term "depose"; signature or subscription includes
mark, when the person cannot write, his name being written near it,
by a person who writes his own name as a witness; provided, that when
a signature is by mark it must in order that the same may be
acknowledged or may serve as the signature to any sworn statement be
witnessed by two persons who must subscribe their own names as
witnesses thereto. The "depose."
(b) The following words have in
this code the signification attached to them in this section, unless
otherwise apparent from the context:
1. The word "property"
(1) "Property" includes property
real and personal ; .
2. The words "real property" are
(2) "Real property" is
coextensive with lands, tenements, and hereditaments ;
.
3. The words "personal property" include
(3) "Personal property" includes
money, goods, chattels, things in action, and evidences of debt
; .
4. The word "month"
(4) "Month" means a calendar
month, unless otherwise expressed ; .
5. The word "will"
(5) "Will" includes codicil
; .
6. The word "section"
(6) "Section," whenever
hereinafter employed , refers to a section of
this code, unless some other code or statute is expressly mentioned.
(7) "Signature" or "subscription" includes the following:
(A) A mark when the person cannot write, the signer's or
subscriber's name being written near the mark by a person who writes
his or her own name as a witness, provided that when a signature is
by mark it must, in order that it may be acknowledged or may serve as
the signature to any sworn statement, be witnessed by two persons
who must subscribe their own names as witnesses thereto.
(B) An impression made by the use of a signature stamp pursuant to
the requirements specified in Section 15.
SEC. 3. Section 15 is added to the Civil Code, to read:
15. (a) Except as provided in subdivisions (b) and (c), and
notwithstanding any other provision of law, the following provisions
apply:
(1) A person with a physical disability who, by reason of the
physical disability, is unable to write may use a signature stamp to
affix his or her signature to a document or writing any time that a
signature is required by law.
(2) A person or governmental entity shall treat each signature
affixed with a signature stamp by a person described in subdivision
(a) in the same manner as it treats a signature made in writing.
(b) If the requirement that a document or writing be signed is
accompanied by any additional qualifying requirement, subdivision (a)
shall apply only if each additional qualifying requirement is
satisfied.
(c) (1) A person shall not use a signature stamp unless the person
is the owner of the signature stamp.
(2) A person or governmental entity may require a person who uses
a signature stamp pursuant to subdivision (a) to present valid
photographic identification as proof of his or her identity to ensure
that the person using the signature stamp is the owner of the
signature stamp. For the purposes of this paragraph, "valid
photographic identification" means a valid driver's license,
identification card, passport, or any other documentation that is
issued by a governmental entity, that contains a photograph of the
person, and that the person or governmental entity considers
satisfactory proof of a person's identity.
(d) (1) The owner of a signature stamp shall be liable for any
damages caused by the use of the signature stamp by another person,
unless both of the following are true:
(A) The signature stamp was lost or stolen.
(B) The owner reported the loss or theft of the signature stamp to
the appropriate law enforcement agency.
(2) The owner of a signature stamp shall be liable to a financial
institution with whom he or she maintains an account for any damages
caused by the use of the signature stamp by another person, unless
the requirements specified in paragraph (1) are met and the owner of
the signature stamp reported the loss or theft of the signature stamp
to that financial institution within 10 days after discovering the
loss or theft.
(3) A person or governmental entity shall be liable for any
damages caused by the use of a signature stamp by a person other than
the owner of the signature stamp if the person or governmental
entity had an opportunity to verify, in person, the identity of the
person who used the signature stamp and failed to verify his or her
identity.
(e) As used in this section, "signature stamp" means a stamp that
contains the impression of any of the following:
(1) The actual signature of a person with a physical disability.
(2) A mark or symbol that is adopted by the person with the
physical disability.
(3) A signature of the name of a person with a physical disability
that is made by another person and is adopted by the person with the
physical disability.
(f) The State Department of Social Services shall develop and
adopt regulations to implement this section. The regulations shall
specify standards relating to each of the following:
(1) The development of a signature stamp.
(2) The use of a signature stamp.
(3) The verification of a signature stamp.
(4) Any other matter relating to the use or verification of a
signature stamp that the department determines to be necessary.
SEC. 4. Section 17 of the Code of Civil Procedure is amended to
read:
17. (a) Words used in this code in the present tense include the
future as well as the present; words used in the masculine gender
include the feminine and neuter; the singular number includes the
plural and the plural the singular ; the word "person"
.
(1) "Person includes a
corporation as well as a natural person ; the word "county"
.
(2) "County" includes
"city and county"; writing "city and county."
(3) Writing includes printing and
typewriting ; oath .
(4) Oath includes affirmation or
declaration; and every mode of oral statement, under oath or
affirmation, is embraced by the term "testify," and every written one
in the term "depose"; signature or subscription includes
mark, when the person cannot write, his or her name being written
near it by a person who writes his or her own name as a witness;
provided, that when a signature is by mark it must, in order that the
same may be acknowledged or may serve as the signature to any sworn
statement, be witnessed by two persons who must subscribe their own
names as witness thereto. "depose."
(b) The following words have in this code the signification
attached to them in this section, unless otherwise apparent from the
context:
(1) The word "property" "Property"
includes both real and personal property.
(2) The words "real property" are "Real
property" is coextensive with lands, tenements, and
hereditaments.
(3) The words "personal property" include
"Personal property" includes money, goods, chattels,
things in action, and evidences of debt.
(4) The word "month" "Month" means a
calendar month, unless otherwise expressed.
(5) The word "will" "Will" includes
codicil.
(6) The word "writ" "Writ" signifies
an order or precept in writing , issued in the
name of the people, or of a court or judicial officer, and
the word "process" signifies a writ or summons issued in
the course of judicial proceedings.
(7) The word "state," "State," when
applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the
District of Columbia and the territories, and the words
"United States" may include the district and territories.
(8) The word "section," "Section,"
whenever hereinafter employed, refers to a section
of this code, unless some other code or statute is expressly
mentioned.
(9) The word "affinity," "Affinity,"
when applied to the marriage relation, signifies the connection
existing , in consequence of marriage, between each of the
married persons and the blood relatives of the other.
(10) The word "sheriff" shall include
"Sheriff" includes "marshal."
(11) "Signature" or "subscription" includes the following:
(A) A mark when the person cannot write, the signer's or
subscriber's name being written near the mark by a person who writes
his or her own name as a witness, provided that when a signature is
by mark it must, in order that it may be acknowledged or may serve as
the signature to any sworn statement, be witnessed by two persons
who must subscribe their own names as witnesses thereto.
(B) An impression made by the use of a signature stamp pursuant to
the requirements specified in Section 15 of the Civil Code.
SEC. 5. Section 17 of the Corporations Code is amended to read:
17. (a) "Signature" includes mark when the
signer cannot write, such signer's the signer'
s name being written near the mark by a witness who writes his
own name near the signer's signer's
name; but a signature by mark can may be
acknowledged or can may serve as a
signature to a sworn statement only when two witnesses so sign their
own names thereto.
(b) "Signature" also includes an impression made by the use of a
signature stamp pursuant to the requirements specified in Section 15
of the Civil Code.
SEC. 6. Section 354.5 of the Elections Code is amended to read:
354.5. (a) "Signature" includes a both of
the following:
(1) A person's mark if the name
of the person affixing the mark is written near the mark by a witness
over the age of 18 years designated by the person and the designee
subscribes his or her own name as a witness thereto.
(2) An impression made by the use of a signature stamp pursuant to
the requirements specified in Section 15 of the Civil Code.
(b) A mark attested as provided in paragraph (1) of
subdivision (a) , or an impression made by a signature stamp as
provided in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a), may serve as a
signature for any purpose specified in this code, including a sworn
statement.
SEC. 7. Section 17 of the Financial Code is amended to read:
17. (a) "Signature" or "subscription"
includes mark. The mark shall be made as required in the Civil Code.
(b) "Signature" or "subscription" also includes an impression made
by the use of a signature stamp pursuant to the requirements
specified in Section 15 of the Civil Code.
SEC. 8. Section 81 of the Fish and Game Code is amended to read:
81. (a) "Signature" or "subscription"
includes mark when the signer or subscriber cannot write,
such signer's or subscriber's the signer's or
subscriber's name being written near the mark by a witness who
writes his or her own name near the signer's or
subscriber's signer's or subscriber's name; but
a signature or subscription by mark can may
be acknowledged or can may serve
as a signature or subscription to a sworn statement only when two
witnesses also sign their own names.
(b) "Signature" or "subscription" also includes an impression made
by the use of a signature stamp pursuant to the requirements
specified in Section 15 of the Civil Code.
SEC. 9. Section 16 of the Government Code is amended to read:
16. (a) "Signature" or "subscription"
includes mark when the signer or subscriber can not
cannot write, such signer's or
subscriber's the signer's or subscriber's name
being written near the mark by a witness who writes his or her
own name near the signer's or subscriber's
signer's or subscriber's name; but a signature or
subscription by mark can may be
acknowledged or can may serve as a
signature or subscription to a sworn statement only when two
witnesses so sign their own names thereto.
(b) "Signature" or "subscription" also includes an impression made
by the use of a signature stamp pursuant to the requirements
specified in Section 15 of the Civil Code.
SEC. 10. Section 18 of the Harbors and Navigation Code is amended
to read:
18. (a) "Signature" or "subscription"
includes mark when the signer or subscriber can not
cannot write, such signer's or
subscriber's the signer's or subscriber's name
being written near the mark by a witness who writes his or her
own name near the signer's or subscriber's
signer's or subscriber's name; but a signature or
subscription by mark can may be
acknowledged or can may serve as a
signature or subscription to a sworn statement only when two
witnesses so sign their own names thereto.
(b) "Signature" or "subscription" also includes an impression made
by the use of a signature stamp pursuant to the requirements
specified in Section 15 of the Civil Code.
SEC. 11. Section 18 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to
read:
18. (a) "Signature" or "subscription"
includes mark when the signer or subscriber can not
cannot write, such signer's or
subscriber's the signer's or subscriber's name
being written near the mark by a witness who writes his or her
own name near the signer's or subscriber's
signer's or subscriber's name; but a signature or
subscription by mark can may be
acknowledged or can may serve as a
signature or subscription to a sworn statement only when two
witnesses so sign their own names thereto.
(b) "Signature" or "subscription" also includes an impression made
by the use of a signature stamp pursuant to the requirements
specified in Section 15 of the Civil Code.
SEC. 12. Section 18 of the Insurance Code is amended to read:
18. (a) "Signature" or "subscription"
includes mark when the signer or subscriber can not
cannot write, such signer's or
subscriber's the signer's or subscriber's name
being written near the mark by a witness who writes his or her
own name near the signer's or subscriber's
signer's or subscriber's name; but a signature or
subscription by mark can may be
acknowledged or can may serve as a
signature or subscription to a sworn statement only when two
witnesses so sign their own names thereto.
(b) "Signature" or "subscription" also includes an impression made
by the use of a signature stamp pursuant to the requirements
specified in Section 15 of the Civil Code.
SEC. 13. Section 17 of the Labor Code is amended to read:
17. (a) "Signature" or "subscription"
includes mark when the signer or subscriber can not
cannot write, such signer's or
subscriber's the signer's or subscriber's name
being written near the mark by a witness who writes his or her
own name near the signer's or subscriber's
signer's or subscriber's name; but a signature or
subscription by mark can may be
acknowledged or can may serve as a
signature or subscription to a sworn statement only when two
witnesses so sign their own names thereto.
(b) "Signature" or "subscription" also includes an impression made
by the use of a signature stamp pursuant to the requirements
specified in Section 15 of the Civil Code.
SEC. 14. Section 17 of the Military and Veterans Code is amended
to read:
17. (a) "Signature" or "subscription"
includes mark when the signer or subscriber cannot write,
such signer's or subscriber's the signer's or
subscriber's name being written near the mark by a witness who
writes his or her own name near the signer's or
subscriber's signer's or subscriber's name; but
a signature or subscription by mark may be acknowledged or may serve
as a signature or subscription to a sworn statement only when two
witnesses so sign the same.
(b) "Signature" or "subscription" also includes an impression made
by the use of a signature stamp pursuant to the requirements
specified in Section 15 of the Civil Code.
SEC. 15. Section 7 of the Penal Code is amended to read:
7. (a) Words used in this code in the
present tense include the future as well as the present; words used
in the masculine gender include the feminine and neuter; the singular
number includes the plural, and the plural the singular ;
the word "person" .
(1) "Person" includes a
corporation as well as a natural person ; the word "county"
.
(2) "County" includes
"city and county"; writing "city and county."
(3) "Writing" includes printing
and typewriting ; oath .
(4) "Oath" includes affirmation
or declaration; and every mode of oral statement, under oath or
affirmation, is embraced by the term "testify," and every written one
in the term "depose"; signature or subscription includes
mark, when the person cannot write, his or her name being written
near it, by a person who writes his or her own name as a witness;
provided, that when a signature is made by mark it must, in order
that the same may be acknowledged or serve as the signature to any
sworn statement, be witnessed by two persons who must subscribe their
own names as witnesses thereto. "depose."
(b) The following words have in this code
the signification attached to them in this section, unless otherwise
apparent from the context:
1. The word "willfully,"
(1) "Willfully," when applied to
the intent with which an act is done or omitted, implies simply a
purpose or willingness to commit the act, or make the omission
referred to. It does not require any intent to violate law, or to
injure another, or to acquire any advantage.
2. The words "neglect,"
(2) "Neglect," "negligence,"
"negligent," and "negligently" import a want of such
the attention to the nature or probable
consequences of the act or omission as that
a prudent man person ordinarily
bestows in acting in his or her own
concerns.
3. The word "corruptly"
(3) "Corruptly" imports a
wrongful design to acquire or cause some pecuniary or other advantage
to the person guilty of the act or omission referred to, or to some
other person.
4. The words "malice"
(4) "Malice" and "maliciously"
import a wish to vex, annoy, or injure another person, or an intent
to do a wrongful act, established either by proof or presumption of
law.
5. The word "knowingly"
(5) "Knowingly" imports only a
knowledge that the facts exist which bring the act or omission within
the provisions of this code. It does not require any knowledge of
the unlawfulness of such that act or
omission.
6. The word "bribe"
(6) "Bribe" signifies anything of
value or advantage, present or prospective, or any promise or
undertaking to give any, asked, given, or accepted, with a corrupt
intent to influence, unlawfully, the person to whom it is given, in
his or her action, vote, or opinion, in any public or official
capacity.
7. The word "vessel,"
(7) "Vessel," when used with
reference to shipping, includes ships of all kinds, steamboats,
canalboats, barges, and every structure adapted to be navigated from
place to place for the transportation of merchandise or persons,
except that, as used in Sections 192.5 and 193.5, the word
"vessel" means a vessel as defined in subdivision (c) of
Section 651 of the Harbors and Navigation Code.
8. The words "peace officer" signify
(8) "Peace officer" signifies any
one of the officers mentioned in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with
Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2.
9. The word "magistrate"
(9) "Magistrate" signifies any
one of the officers mentioned in Section 808.
10. The word "property"
(10) "Property" includes both
real and personal property.
11. The words "real property" are
(11) "Real property" is
coextensive with lands, tenements, and hereditaments.
12. The words "personal property" include
(12) "Personal property" includes
money, goods, chattels, things in action, and evidences of debt.
13. The word "month"
(13) "Month" means a calendar
month, unless otherwise expressed; the word
"daytime" means the period between sunrise and sunset, and
the word "nighttime" means the period between sunset and
sunrise.
14. The word "will"
(14) "Will" includes codicil.
15. The word "writ"
(15) "Writ" signifies an order or
precept in writing, issued in the name of the people, or of a court
or judicial officer, and the word "process" a writ
or summons issued in the course of judicial proceedings.
16.
(16) When the seal of a court or public
officer is required by law to be affixed to any paper, the word "se
al" includes an impression of the seal upon the
paper alone, or upon any substance attached to the paper capable of
receiving a visible impression. The seal of a private person may be
made in like manner, or by the scroll of a pen, or by writing the
word "seal" against his or her name.
(17) "State," when applied to the different parts of the United
States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories, and
"United States" may include the district and territories.
(18) "Section," whenever hereinafter employed, refers to a section
of this code, unless some other code or statute is expressly
mentioned.
(19) To "book" signifies the recordation of an arrest in official
police records, and the taking by the police of fingerprints and
photographs of the person arrested, or any of these acts following an
arrest.
(20) "Signature" or "subscription" includes both of the following:
(1) A mark when the person cannot write, the signer's or
subscriber's name being written near the mark by a person who writes
his or her own name as a witness; provided, that when a signature is
made by mark it must, in order that it may be acknowledged or serve
as the signature to any sworn statement, be witnessed by two persons
who must subscribe their own names as witnesses thereto.
(2) An impression made by the use of a signature stamp pursuant to
the requirements specified in Section 15 of the Civil Code.
(c) Words and phrases must be construed according to
the context and the approved usage of the language; but technical
words and phrases, and such any others
as may have acquired a peculiar and appropriate meaning in law,
must shall be construed according to
such that peculiar and appropriate
meaning.
17.
(d) Words giving a joint authority to three or more
public officers or other persons, are construed as giving
such that authority to a majority of them,
unless it is otherwise expressed in the act giving the authority.
18. When the seal of a court or public officer is required by law
to be affixed to any paper, the word "seal" includes an impression of
such seal upon the paper alone, or upon any substance attached to
the paper capable of receiving a visible impression. The seal of a
private person may be made in like manner, or by the scroll of a pen,
or by writing the word "seal" against his or her name.
19. The word "state," when applied to the different parts of the
United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories,
and the words "United States" may include the district and
territories.
20. The word "section," whenever hereinafter employed, refers to a
section of this code, unless some other code or statute is expressly
mentioned.
21. To "book" signifies the recordation of an arrest in official
police records, and the taking by the police of fingerprints and
photographs of the person arrested, or any of these acts following an
arrest.
SEC. 16. Section 17 of the Public Resources Code is amended to
read:
17. (a) "Signature" or "subscription"
includes mark when the signer or subscriber can not
cannot write, such signer's or
subscriber's the signer's or subscriber's name
being written near the mark by a witness who writes his or her
own name near the signer's or subscriber's
signer's or subscriber's name; but a signature or
subscription by mark can may be
acknowledged or can may serve as a
signature or subscription to a sworn statement only when two
witnesses so sign their own names thereto.
(b) "Signature" or "subscription" also includes an impression made
by the use of a signature stamp pursuant to the requirements
specified in Section 15 of the Civil Code.
SEC. 17. Section 16 of the Public Utilities Code is amended to
read:
16. (a) "Signature" or
"subscription" includes mark when the signer or subscriber cannot
write, such signer's or subscriber's the
signer's or subscriber's name being written near the mark by a
witness who writes his or her own name near the
signer's or subscriber's signer's or subscriber's
name; but a signature or subscription by mark can
may be acknowledged or can
may serve as a signature or subscription to a sworn
statement only when two witnesses so sign their own names thereto.
(b) "Signature" or "subscription" also includes an impression made
by the use of a signature stamp pursuant to the requirements
specified in Section 15 of the Civil Code.
SEC. 18. Section 18 of the Revenue and Taxation Code is amended to
read:
18. (a) "Signature" or "subscription"
includes mark. Such The mark shall be
made as required in the Civil Code.
(b) "Signature" or "subscription" also includes an impression made
by the use of a signature stamp pursuant to the requirements
specified in Section 15 of the Civil Code.
SEC. 19. Section 18 of the Streets and Highways Code is amended to
read:
18. (a) "Signature" or "subscription"
includes mark when the signer or subscriber can not
cannot write, such signer's or
subscriber's the signer's or subscriber's name
being written near the mark by a witness who writes his or her
own name near the signer's or subscriber's
signer's or subscriber's name; but a signature or
subscription by mark can may be
acknowledged or can may serve as a
signature or subscription to a sworn statement only when two
witnesses so sign their own names thereto.
(b) "Signature" or "subscription" also includes an impression made
by the use of a signature stamp pursuant to the requirements
specified in Section 15 of the Civil Code.
SEC. 20. Section 17 of the Unemployment Insurance Code is amended
to read:
17. (a) "Signature" or "subscription"
includes mark. The mark shall be made as required in the Civil Code.
(b) "Signature" or "subscription" also includes an impression made
by the use of a signature stamp pursuant to the requirements
specified in Section 15 of the Civil Code.
SEC. 21. Section 17 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:
17. (a) "Signature" or "subscription"
includes mark when the signer or subscriber cannot write,
such signer's or subscriber's the signer's or
subscriber's name being written near the mark by a witness who
writes his or her own name near the signer's or
subscriber's signer's or subscriber's name; but
a signature or subscription by mark can may
be acknowledged or can may serve
as a signature or subscription to a sworn statement only when two
witnesses so sign their own names thereto.
(b) "Signature" or "subscription" also includes an impression made
by the use of a signature stamp pursuant to the requirements
specified in Section 15 of the Civil Code.
SEC. 22. Section 17 of the Water Code is amended to read:
17. (a) "Signature" or "subscription"
includes mark when the signer or subscriber can not
cannot write, such signer's or
subscriber's the signer's or subscriber's name
being written near the mark by a witness who writes his or her
own name near the signer's or subscriber's
signer's or subscriber's name; but a signature or
subscription by mark can may be
acknowledged or can may serve as a
signature or subscription to a sworn statement only when two
witnesses so sign their own names thereto.
(b) "Signature" or "subscription" also includes an impression made
by the use of a signature stamp pursuant to the requirements
specified in Section 15 of the Civil Code.
SEC. 23. Section 17 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is
amended to read:
17. (a) "Signature" or "subscription"
includes mark when the signer or subscriber can not
cannot write, such signer's or
subscriber's the signer's or subscriber's name
being written near the mark by a witness who writes his or her
own name near the signer's or subscriber's
signer's or subscriber's name; but a signature or
subscription by mark can may be
acknowledged or can may serve as a
signature or subscription to a sworn statement only when two
witnesses so sign their own names thereto.
(b) "Signature" or "subscription" also includes an impression made
by the use of a signature stamp pursuant to the requirements
specified in Section 15 of the Civil Code.