By: Crockett H.B. No. 4081
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to allowing the option of remote conduct in court
  proceedings.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  REMOTE CONDUCT OF PROCEEDINGS. (a) In this
  section, "remote proceeding" means a proceeding in which one or
  more of the participants, including a judge, party, attorney,
  witness, court reporter, juror, or other individual, attends the
  proceeding remotely through the use of technology and the Internet,
  including through teleconferencing or videoconferencing. 
         (b)  A court shall: 
               (1)  allow anyone involved in any hearing, deposition,
  or other proceeding of any kind including-but not limited-to a
  party, attorney, witness, or court reporter to participate by
  remote proceeding without the consent of the parties unless the
  United States or Texas Constitution requires consent.
         (c)  The Office of Court Administration of the Texas Judicial
  System shall provide guidance and assistance to the extent possible
  to a court conducting a remote proceeding involving a jury.
         (d)  The judge shall submit to the Office of Court
  Administration of the Texas Judicial System a plan for conducting
  remote proceedings under this title.  The plan must:
               (1)  include protocols for handling physical evidence;
  and
               (2)  require an unobstructed view of any party or
  witness who provides testimony from a remote location. 
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.