SSB 3110 (LSB 5710SC (2) 83)

SENATE FILE _____

BY  (PROPOSED COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY BILL BY CHAIRPERSON KREIMAN)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to conducting court hearings by video conference.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 602.4201, subsection 1, Code Supplement 2009, is amended to read as follows:
   1.  The supreme court may prescribe all rules of pleading, practice, evidence, and procedure, and the forms of process, writs, and notices, for all proceedings in all courts of this state, for the purposes of simplifying the proceedings and promoting the speedy determination of litigation upon its merits.  The supreme court may also prescribe rules allowing judicial officers, at the discretion of the judicial officer, to conduct hearings using video conferencing to meet statutory in-person requirements. The rules prescribing video conferencing shall allow a party to make an application to the court requesting the hearing be in the presence of the judicial officer.
EXPLANATION
   This bill relates to conducting court hearings by video conference. 
   Under the bill, the supreme court may prescribe rules allowing a judicial officer, at the discretion of such officer, to conduct hearings using video conferencing to meet statutory in-person requirements. If a judicial officer orders a hearing by video conferencing, the rules shall allow a party to make an application requesting the hearing be in the presence of the judicial officer.