§ 19-a. Electronic lease regulations. 1. The commissioner, in consultation with the electronic facilitator as defined in § 303 of the state technology law, shall promulgate rules and regulations authorizing the use of electronic records or signatures on a voluntary basis by tenants for residential leases and lease renewals of units for which the owner is required to file annual registration statements, pursuant to either section twelve-a of the emergency tenant protection act of nineteen seventy-four or section 26-517 of the administrative code of the city of New York, in a manner that conforms with the requirements of Article 3 of the state technology law.

2. Such rules and regulations shall include, but not be limited to, procedures regarding notification to tenants regarding affirmative consent to the use of electronic records and that the use of electronic records and signatures is voluntary pursuant to § 309 of the state technology law.

3. The division shall also develop a form in the top six languages other than English spoken in the state according to the latest available data from the U.S. Bureau of Census that confirms a tenant's affirmative consent to the use of electronic records. Such form shall clearly state the requirement that the use of electronic records and signatures is voluntary and cannot be required by a landlord, cite the relevant parts of the electronic signatures and records act, and require that copies of this signed consent form be provided to the tenant. No electronic records shall be accepted by any court or any unit of the division unless such consent form is provided to such courts or the division.