Whenever any statute requires by the use of the word or words “approve,” “approval,” “authorize,” or “authorization,” the director of the department to approve or authorize any act or transaction, the approval or authorization shall be deemed to have been given only if given in writing by the director, the deputy director, or by some other officer or employee of the department acting pursuant to written authority of the director. The term “in writing” includes a secured electronic signature, whereby an electronically produced document may be signed

electronically by the authorized signatory who possesses a secured electronic password available only to the signatory or his or her designee.