Bill Text: CA SB22 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Amended

California Senate Bill 22

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

Bill Title: Crimes.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed) 2024-01-12 - From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on JUD. [SB22 Detail]

Download: California-2023-SB22-Amended.html

Amended IN Senate February 14, 2023

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill

No. 22

Introduced by Senator Umberg

December 05, 2022

An act to add Section 367.76 to the Code of Civil Procedure, to amend Section 71651.1 of the Government Code, and to amend Sections 977, 977.3, and 1043.5 of the Penal Code, relating to courts, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SB 22, as amended, Umberg. Courts: 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 authorize, until January 1, 2026, a party to appear remotely and a court to conduct conferences, hearings, proceedings, and trials in specific types of proceedings, including, among others, a juvenile court proceeding and an extension of a juvenile commitment, in whole or in part, through the use of remote technology. The bill would authorize the court to require a party or witness to appear in person at a conference, hearing, or proceeding, if any specified condition is present. The bill would require the court to have a process for a party, court reporter, court interpreter, or other court personnel to alert the judicial officer of technology or audibility issues. The bill would prohibit a court from requiring a party to appear remotely. The bill would allow self-represented parties to appear remotely only if they agree to do so. The bill would require the Judicial Council to adopt rules to implement these provisions, as specified. The bill would also 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.

Existing law prohibits, until January 1, 2024, a trial court from retaliating against an official court reporter or official court reporter pro tempore for notifying a judicial officer that technology or audibility issues are interfering with the creation of the verbatim record for a remote proceeding.
This bill would extend this provision until January 1, 2028.
Existing law allows a defendant in a misdemeanor case to appear by counsel, except as specified. Until January 1, 2024, existing law allows a court to conduct all proceedings, except jury and court trials, remotely through the use of remote technology if a defendant agrees. Existing law requires a defendant in a felony case to be physically present at the time of plea, during the preliminary hearing, during those portions of the trial when evidence is taken before the trier of fact, and at the time of the imposition of sentence. Existing law allows, until January 1, 2024, a defendant to be physically or remotely present at all other proceedings, unless the defendant waived their right to be physically or remotely present with leave of the court and approval by defendant’s counsel.
This bill would extend the provisions that would expire on January 1, 2024, until January 1, 2028.
Existing law generally allows, until January 1, 2024, upon a defendant’s waiver of the right to be physically present, criminal proceedings to be conducted through the use of remote technology. Commencing on January 1, 2024, existing law authorizes a court to permit the initial court appearance and arraignment of a defendant held in any state, county, or local facility, under specified circumstances, to be conducted by 2-way electronic audiovideo communication between the defendant and the courtroom in lieu of the defendant’s physical presence.
This bill would extend the provisions that would expire on January 1, 2024, until January 1, 2028, and extend the implementation of provisions that would commence on January 1, 2024, until January 1, 2028.
Existing law authorizes the court, until January 1, 2024, to direct the defendant to be physically present at any particular felony proceeding, prohibits a defendant charged with a felony to appear remotely for sentencing, except as specified, and prohibits a defendant charged with a felony or misdemeanor to appear remotely for a jury or court trial, except as specified.
This bill would extend the provisions that would expire on January 1, 2024, until January 1, 2028.
Existing law, until January 1, 2024, authorizes the court to allow a prosecuting attorney or defense counsel to participate in a criminal proceeding through the use of remote technology, requires a court to require a prosecuting attorney, defense counsel, defendant, or witness to appear in person at a proceeding under specified circumstances, and requires a reporter to be physically present in the courtroom when the court conducts a remote proceeding that is reported.
This bill would extend the provisions that would expire on January 1, 2024, until January 1, 2028.
Existing law authorizes, until January 1, 2024, a witness in a criminal proceeding to testify using remote technology, as provided by statutes regarding the examination of victims of sexual crimes and conditional examinations of witnesses.
This bill would extend these provisions until January 1, 2028, and broaden the provisions to testifying remotely as otherwise provided by any law.
Existing law requires a defendant to be personally present in a preliminary hearing unless otherwise specified. Existing law prohibits these provisions from limiting the right of a defendant to waive the right to be present. Existing law, until January 1, 2024, includes the defendant’s right to waive the right to appear through the use of remote technology from being limited by these provisions.
This bill would extend the provisions that would expire on January 1, 2024, until January 1, 2028.

This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.

Vote: 2/3 Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section 367.76 is added to the Code of Civil Procedure, to read:

367.76.

(a) Except as provided in subdivisions (b) and (d), a party may appear remotely and the court may conduct conferences, hearings, and proceedings, in whole or in part, through the use of remote technology when a party has provided notice to the court and all other parties that it intends to appear remotely in any of the following types of proceedings:

(1) A juvenile court proceeding occurring pursuant to Section 601 or 602 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(2) An extension of juvenile commitment pursuant to Section 1800 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(3) A proceeding involving a commitment type identified pursuant to Section 4355 of Title 9 of the California Code of Regulations or any successor regulation.

(4) A proceeding related to an intellectually disabled and dangerous commitment authorized pursuant to Article 2 (commencing with Section 6500) of Chapter 2 of Part 2 of Division 6 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(b) Except as otherwise provided by law, the court may require a party or witness to appear in person at a conference, hearing, or proceeding described in subdivision (a), or under subdivisions (e) and (h), if any of the following conditions are present:

(1) The court with jurisdiction over the case does not have the technology necessary to conduct the conference, hearing, or proceeding remotely.

(2) Although the court has the requisite technology, the quality of the technology or audibility at a conference, hearing, or proceeding prevents the effective management or resolution of the conference, hearing, or proceeding.

(3) The court determines on a hearing-by-hearing basis that an in-person appearance would materially assist in the determination of the conference, hearing, or proceeding or in the effective management or resolution of the particular case.

(4) The quality of the technology or audibility at a conference, hearing, or proceeding inhibits the court reporter’s ability to accurately prepare a transcript of the conference, hearing, or proceeding.

(5) The quality of the technology or audibility at a conference, hearing, or proceeding prevents an attorney from being able to provide effective representation to the attorney’s client.

(6) The quality of the technology or audibility at a conference, hearing, or proceeding inhibits a court interpreter’s ability to provide language access to a court user or authorized individual.

(c) Notwithstanding paragraph (3) of subdivision (b), an expert witness may appear remotely absent good cause to compel in-person testimony.

(d) (1) Except as otherwise provided by law and subject to the limitations of subdivision (b), upon its own motion or the motion of any party, the court may conduct a trial or evidentiary hearing, in whole or in part, through the use of remote technology, absent a showing by the opposing party as to why a remote appearance or testimony should not be allowed.

(2) (A) Except as provided in Section 269 of the Code of Civil Procedure and Section 69957 of the Government Code, if the court conducts a trial, in whole or in part, through the use of remote technology, the official reporter or official reporter pro tempore shall be physically present in the courtroom.

(B) If the court conducts a trial, in whole or in part, through the use of remote technology, upon request, the court interpreter shall be physically present in the courtroom.

(e) (1) Before the court with jurisdiction over the case may proceed with a remote conference, hearing, proceeding, or trial, the court shall have a process for a party, witness, official reporter, official reporter pro tempore, court interpreter, or other court personnel to alert the judicial officer of technology or audibility issues that arise during the conference, hearing, proceeding, or trial.

(2) The court shall require that a remote appearance by a party or witness have the necessary privacy and security appropriate for the conference, hearing, proceeding, or trial.

(3) The court shall inform all parties, particularly parties without legal representation, about the potential technological or audibility issues that could arise when using remote technology, which may require a delay of or halt the conference, hearing, proceeding, or trial. The court shall make information available to self-represented parties regarding the options for appearing in person and through the use of remote technology.

(f) The court shall not require a party to appear through the use of remote technology. If the court permits an appearance through remote technology, the court shall ensure that technology in the courtroom enables all parties, whether appearing remotely or in person, to fully participate in the conference, hearing, or proceeding.

(g) A self-represented party may appear remotely in a conference, hearing, or proceeding conducted through the use of remote technology only if they agree to do so.

(h) Any juvenile dependency proceeding may be conducted in whole or in part through the use of remote technology subject to the following:

(1) Any person authorized to be present may request to appear remotely.

(2) Any party to the proceeding may request that the court compel the physical presence of a witness or party. A witness, including a party providing testimony, may appear through remote technology only with the consent of all parties and if the witness has access to the appropriate technology.

(3) A court shall not require a party to appear through the use of remote technology.

(4) The confidentiality requirements that apply to an in-person juvenile dependency proceeding apply to a juvenile dependency proceeding conducted through the use of remote technology.

(i) For purposes of this section, a party includes a nonparty subject to Chapter 6 of Title 4 of Part 4 (commencing with Section 2020.010).

(j) Subject to the limitations in subdivision (b), this section is not intended to prohibit the use of appearances through the use of remote technology when stipulated by attorneys for represented parties.

(k) Consistent with its constitutional rulemaking authority, the Judicial Council shall adopt rules to implement the policies and provisions in this section to promote statewide consistency, including, but not limited to, the following procedures:

(1) A deadline by which a party must notify the court and the other parties of their request to appear remotely.

(2) Procedures and standards for a judicial officer to determine when a conference, hearing, or proceeding may be conducted through the use of remote technology. The procedures and standards shall require that a judicial officer give consideration to the limited access to technology or transportation that a party or witness might have.

(l) Each superior court shall report to the Judicial Council on or before October 1, 2023, and annually thereafter, and the Judicial Council shall 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 all purchases and leases of technology or equipment to facilitate civil remote conferences, hearings, or proceedings, specifying all of the following for each annual reporting period:

(1) The number of civil proceedings conducted with the use of remote technology.

(2) Any superior court in which technology issues or problems occurred.

(3) The superior courts in which remote technology was used.

(4) The types of civil trial court conferences, hearings, or proceedings in which remote technology was used.

(5) The cost of purchasing, leasing, or upgrading remote technology.

(6) The type of technology and equipment purchased or leased.

(m) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2026, and as of that date is repealed.

SEC. 2.

Section 71651.1 of the Government Code is amended to read:

71651.1.

(a) Consistent with federal and California labor law, a trial court shall not retaliate against an official reporter or official reporter pro tempore who notifies the judicial officer that technology or audibility issues are interfering with the creation of the verbatim record for a remote proceeding pursuant to subdivisions (f) and (g) of Section 977 of the Penal Code.

(b) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, ~~2024,~~ 2028, and as of that date is repealed.

SEC. 3.

Section 977 of the Penal Code, as amended by Section 12 of Chapter 57 of the Statutes of 2022, is amended to read:

977.

(a) (1) In all cases in which the accused is charged with a misdemeanor only, they may appear by counsel only, except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3). If the accused agrees, the initial court appearance, arraignment, plea, and all other proceedings, except jury and court trials, may be conducted remotely through the use of technology, as provided by subdivision (c).

(2) If the accused is charged with a misdemeanor offense involving domestic violence, as defined in Section 6211 of the Family Code, or a misdemeanor violation of Section 273.6, the accused shall be present for arraignment and sentencing, and at any time during the proceedings when ordered by the court for the purpose of being informed of the conditions of a protective order issued pursuant to Section 136.2.

(3) If the accused is charged with a misdemeanor offense involving driving under the influence, in an appropriate case, the court may order a defendant to be present for arraignment, at the time of plea, or at sentencing. For purposes of this paragraph, a misdemeanor offense involving driving under the influence shall include a misdemeanor violation of any of the following:

(A) Subdivision (b) of Section 191.5.

(B) Section 23103 as specified in Section 23103.5 of the Vehicle Code.

(D) Section 23153 of the Vehicle Code.

(b) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (c), in all cases in which a felony is charged, the accused shall be physically present at the arraignment, at the time of plea, during the preliminary hearing, during those portions of the trial when evidence is taken before the trier of fact, and at the time of the imposition of sentence. The accused shall be physically or remotely present at all other proceedings unless they waive their right to be physically or remotely present, with leave of court and with approval by defendant’s counsel.

(2) The waiver of a defendant’s right to be physically or remotely present may be in writing and filed with the court or, with the court’s consent, may be entered personally by the defendant or by the defendant’s counsel of record.

(A) A defendant’s personal waiver of the right to be physically or remotely present shall be on the record and state that the defendant has been advised of the right to be physically or remotely present for the hearing at issue and agrees that notice to the attorney that the defendant’s physical or remote presence in court at a future date and time is required is notice to the defendant of that requirement.

(B) A waiver of the defendant’s physical or remote presence may be entered by counsel, after counsel has stated on the record that the defendant has been advised of the right to be physically or remotely present for the hearing at issue, has waived that right, and agrees that notice to the attorney that the defendant’s physical or remote presence in court at a future date and time is required is notice to the defendant of that requirement.

(3) The court may specifically direct the defendant, either personally or through counsel, to be physically or remotely present at any particular proceeding or portion thereof, including upon request of a victim, to the extent required by Section 28 of Article I of the California Constitution.

(4) A written waiver of the defendant’s physical or remote presence shall be substantially in the following form:

“Waiver of Defendant’s Physical or Remote Presence”

“The undersigned defendant, having been advised of their right to be present at all stages of the proceedings, including, but not limited to, presentation of and arguments on questions of fact and law, and to be confronted by and cross-examine all witnesses, hereby knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily waives the right to be physically or remotely present at the hearing of any motion or other proceeding in this cause. The undersigned defendant hereby requests the court to proceed during every absence of the defendant that the court may permit pursuant to this waiver, and hereby agrees that their interest is represented at all times by the presence of their attorney the same as if the defendant were physically or remotely present in court, and further agrees that notice to their attorney that their physical or remote presence in court on a particular day at a particular time is required is notice to the defendant of the requirement of their physical or remote appearance at that time and place.”

(c) (1) (A) Upon waiver of the right to be physically present by the defendant, criminal proceedings may be conducted through the use of remote technology, except as provided in subparagraphs (D) and (E). The defendant may withdraw the waiver at any time.

(B) The court may specifically direct the defendant, either personally or through counsel, to be physically present at any particular felony proceeding or portion thereof, including as provided in subdivision (f).

(C) If the defendant is represented by counsel, the attorney shall not be required to be physically present with the defendant if remote technology allows for private communication between the defendant and the attorney prior to and during the proceeding, unless, upon request of defense counsel, the court allows the appearance without private communication. Any private communication shall be confidential and privileged pursuant to Section 952 of the Evidence Code.

(D) A defendant charged with a felony or misdemeanor shall not appear remotely for a jury trial or court trial, except as provided in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2).

(E) A defendant charged with a felony shall not appear remotely at sentencing, except for postconviction relief proceedings and as otherwise provided by law.

(F) A witness may appear at any misdemeanor or felony criminal proceeding, except for felony trial, remotely pursuant to section 977.3.

(2) (A) A felony defendant who does not wish to be physically or remotely present for noncritical portions of the trial when no testimonial evidence is taken may make an oral waiver in open court prior to the proceeding, or may submit a written request to the court, which the court may grant in its discretion.

(B) This paragraph does not expand or limit the right of a defendant to be personally present with their counsel at a particular proceeding as required by Section 15 of Article 1 of the California Constitution.

(d) (1) Notwithstanding any other provision in this section, the court may allow a defendant to appear by counsel on that day, at a trial, hearing, or other proceeding, with or without a written waiver, if the court finds, by clear and convincing evidence, all of the following to be true:

(A) The defendant is in custody and is refusing, without good cause, to appear in court on that day for that trial, hearing, or other proceeding.

(B) The defendant has been informed of their right and obligation to be personally present in court.

(C) The defendant has been informed that the trial, hearing, or other proceeding will proceed without the defendant being present.

(D) The defendant has been informed that they have the right to remain silent during the trial, hearing, or other proceeding.

(E) The defendant has been informed that their absence without good cause will constitute a voluntary waiver of any constitutional or statutory right to confront any witnesses against them or to testify on their own behalf.

(F) The defendant has been informed whether or not defense counsel will be present.

(2) The court shall state on the record the reasons for the court’s findings and shall cause those findings and reasons to be entered into the minutes.

(3) If the trial, hearing, or other proceeding lasts for more than one day, the court is required to make the findings required by this subdivision anew for each day that the defendant is absent.

(4) This subdivision does not apply to any trial, hearing, or other proceeding in which the defendant was personally present in court at the commencement of the trial, hearing, or other proceeding.

(e) A court may, as appropriate and practicable, allow a prosecuting attorney or defense counsel to participate in a criminal proceeding through the use of remote technology without being physically present in the courtroom and in accordance with subdivision (f).

(f) Except as otherwise provided by law, the court shall require a prosecuting attorney, defense counsel, defendant, or witness to appear in person at a proceeding, if any of the following conditions are present and cannot be resolved in a reasonable amount of time:

(1) The court does not have the technology necessary to conduct the proceeding remotely.

(2) Although the court has the requisite technology, the quality of the technology or audibility at a proceeding prevents the effective management or resolution of the proceeding.

(3) The quality of the technology or audibility at a proceeding inhibits the court reporter’s ability to accurately prepare a transcript of the proceeding.

(4) The quality of the technology or audibility at a proceeding prevents defense counsel from being able to provide effective representation to the defendant.

(5) The quality of the technology or audibility at a proceeding inhibits a court interpreter’s ability to provide language access, including the ability to communicate and translate directly with the defendant and the court during the proceeding.

(g) (1) Before the court may proceed with a remote proceeding, the court shall have a process for a defendant, defense counsel, prosecuting attorney, witness, official reporter, official reporter pro tempore, court interpreter, or other court personnel to alert the judicial officer of technological or audibility issues that arise during the proceeding.

(2) When the court conducts a remote proceeding that will be reported by an official reporter or official reporter pro tempore, the reporter shall be physically present in a courtroom.

(h) The court shall make findings on the record that any waiver entered into pursuant to this section is knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently made by the defendant.

(i) The Judicial Council shall adopt rules and standards that are necessary to implement the policies and provisions of this section and the intent of the Legislature.

(j) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, ~~2024,~~ 2028, and as of that date is repealed.

SEC. 4.

Section 977 of the Penal Code, as added by Section 13 of Chapter 57 of the Statutes of 2022, is amended to read:

977.

(a) (1) In all cases in which the accused is charged with a misdemeanor only, they may appear by counsel only, except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3). If the accused agrees, the initial court appearance, arraignment, and plea may be by video, as provided by subdivision (c).

(A) Subdivision (b) of Section 191.5.

(B) Section 23103 as specified in Section 23103.5 of the Vehicle Code.

(D) Section 23153 of the Vehicle Code.

(b) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (c), in all cases in which a felony is charged, the accused shall be personally present at the arraignment, at the time of plea, during the preliminary hearing, during those portions of the trial when evidence is taken before the trier of fact, and at the time of the imposition of sentence. The accused shall be personally present at all other proceedings unless they shall, with leave of court, execute in open court, a written waiver of their right to be personally present, as provided by paragraph (2). If the accused agrees, the initial court appearance, arraignment, and plea may be by video, as provided by subdivision (c).

(2) The accused may execute a written waiver of their right to be personally present, approved by their counsel, and the waiver shall be filed with the court. However, the court may specifically direct the defendant to be personally present at any particular proceeding or portion thereof. The waiver shall be substantially in the following form:

“Waiver of Defendant’s Personal Presence”

“The undersigned defendant, having been advised of their right to be present at all stages of the proceedings, including, but not limited to, presentation of and arguments on questions of fact and law, and to be confronted by and cross-examine all witnesses, hereby waives the right to be present at the hearing of any motion or other proceeding in this cause. The undersigned defendant hereby requests the court to proceed during every absence of the defendant that the court may permit pursuant to this waiver, and hereby agrees that their interest is represented at all times by the presence of their attorney the same as if the defendant were personally present in court, and further agrees that notice to their attorney that their presence in court on a particular day at a particular time is required is notice to the defendant of the requirement of their appearance at that time and place.”

(c) (1) The court may permit the initial court appearance and arraignment of defendants held in any state, county, or local facility within the county on felony or misdemeanor charges, except for those defendants who were indicted by a grand jury, to be conducted by two-way electronic audiovideo communication between the defendant and the courtroom in lieu of the physical presence of the defendant in the courtroom. If the defendant is represented by counsel, the attorney shall be present with the defendant at the initial court appearance and arraignment, and may enter a plea during the arraignment. However, if the defendant is represented by counsel at an arraignment on an information in a felony case, and if the defendant does not plead guilty or nolo contendere to any charge, the attorney shall be present with the defendant or if the attorney is not present with the defendant, the attorney shall be present in court during the hearing. The defendant shall have the right to make their plea while physically present in the courtroom if they request to do so. If the defendant decides not to exercise the right to be physically present in the courtroom they shall execute a written waiver of that right. A judge may order a defendant’s personal appearance in court for the initial court appearance and arraignment. In a misdemeanor case, a judge may, pursuant to this subdivision, accept a plea of guilty or no contest from a defendant who is not physically in the courtroom. In a felony case, a judge may, pursuant to this subdivision, accept a plea of guilty or no contest from a defendant who is not physically in the courtroom if the parties stipulate thereto.

(2) (A) A defendant who does not wish to be personally present for noncritical portions of the trial when no testimonial evidence is taken may make an oral waiver in open court prior to the proceeding or may submit a written request to the court, which the court may grant in its discretion. The court may, when a defendant has waived the right to be personally present, require a defendant held in any state, county, or local facility within the county on felony or misdemeanor charges to be present for noncritical portions of the trial when no testimonial evidence is taken, including, but not limited to, confirmation of the preliminary hearing, status conferences, trial readiness conferences, discovery motions, receipt of records, the setting of the trial date, a motion to vacate the trial date, and motions in limine, by two-way electronic audiovideo communication between the defendant and the courtroom in lieu of the physical presence of the defendant in the courtroom. If the defendant is represented by counsel, the attorney shall not be required to be personally present with the defendant for noncritical portions of the trial, if the audiovideo conferencing system or other technology allows for private communication between the defendant and the attorney prior to and during the noncritical portion of trial. Any private communication shall be confidential and privileged pursuant to Section 952 of the Evidence Code.