CA SB 21

Title: Civil actions: remote proceedings.
Author: Thomas J. Umberg

Summary
SB 21, as amended, Umberg. Civil actions: remote proceedings. Existing law authorizes, until July 1, 2023, a party to appear remotely and a court to conduct conferences, hearings, proceedings, and trials in civil cases, in whole or in part, through the use of remote technology.This bill would extend these provisions until January 1, 2026. The bill would exempt specific types of proceedings from these provisions. The bill would authorize, until January 1, 2026, a court to conduct an adoption finalization hearing, in whole or in part, through the use of remote technology, without the court making specific findings and would prohibit a court from requiring a party to appear through the use of remote technology. The bill would require each superior court to report to the Judicial Council on or before October 1, 2023, and annually thereafter, and would require the Judicial Council to report to the Legislature on or before December 31, 2023, and annually thereafter, to assess the impact of technology issues or problems affecting civil remote proceedings and purchases and leases of technology and equipment to facilitate civil remote conferences, hearings, or proceedings.This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.

Status
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (June 13). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

Bill Documents
CA SB 21 - 05/02/24 - Amended Assembly
05/02/24 - CA SB 21 (05/02/24 - Amended Assembly)