By Haywood S.B. No. 1385 75R8376 MLS-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the use of videoconferencing technology by the office 1-3 of the attorney general. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 402, Government Code, is 1-6 amended by adding Section 402.0213 to read as follows: 1-7 Sec. 402.0213. APPEARANCE THROUGH VIDEOCONFERENCING 1-8 TECHNOLOGY. (a) The office of the attorney general may use 1-9 videoconferencing technology: 1-10 (1) as a substitute for personal appearances in civil 1-11 and criminal proceedings, as approved by the court; and 1-12 (2) for any proceeding, conference, or training 1-13 conducted by an employee of the office of the attorney general 1-14 whose duties include the implementation of Chapter 56, Code of 1-15 Criminal Procedure, and Chapter 57, Family Code. 1-16 (b) In this section, "videoconferencing technology" means 1-17 technology that provides for a conference of individuals in 1-18 different locations, connected by electronic means, through audio, 1-19 video, or both. 1-20 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997. 1-21 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 1-22 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 1-23 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 1-24 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-1 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.