By Gallego H.B. No. 3418
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the administration of teleconferencing technology
1-3 within the judiciary.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Section 73.003(e), Government Code, is amended to
1-6 read as follows:
1-7 (e) At the discretion of its chief justice, [and with the
1-8 consent of the parties or their attorneys,] a court to which a case
1-9 is transferred may hear oral argument through the use of
1-10 teleconferencing technology as provided by Section 22.302. The
1-11 court and the parties or their attorneys may participate in oral
1-12 argument from any location through the use of teleconferencing
1-13 technology. The actual and necessary expenses of the court in
1-14 hearing an oral argument through the use of teleconferencing
1-15 technology shall be paid by the state from funds appropriated for
1-16 the transfer of case, as specified in Subsection (d).
1-17 SECTION 2. Section 22.302(a), Government Code, is amended to
1-18 read as follows:
1-19 (a) At the discretion of its chief justice or presiding
1-20 judge, [and with the consent of the parties or their attorneys,]
1-21 the supreme court, the court of criminal appeals, or a court of
1-22 appeals may order that oral argument be presented [hear oral
1-23 argument] through the use of teleconferencing technology. The
1-24 court and the parties or their attorneys may participate in oral
2-1 argument from any location through the use of teleconferencing
2-2 technology.
2-3 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
2-4 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the
2-5 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-6 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-7 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-8 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.