§ 16.1-345.1 Use of electronic communication
A. Petitions and orders for emergency custody, temporary detention, and involuntary commitment of minors pursuant to this article may be filed, issued, served, or executed by electronic means, with or without the use of two-way electronic video and audio communication, and returned in the same manner with the same force, effect, and authority as an original document. All signatures thereon shall be treated as original signatures.
B. Any judge may conduct proceedings pursuant to this article using any two-way electronic video and audio communication system to provide for the appearance of any parties and witnesses. Any two-way electronic video and audio communication system used to conduct a proceeding shall meet the standards set forth in subsection B of § 19.2-3.1. When a witness whose testimony would be helpful to the conduct of the proceeding is not able to be physically present, his testimony may be received using a telephonic communication system.
History
This law was first created in 2005. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 51 of that year’s edition of “Acts of Assembly,” the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. It has been modified 3 times. Those modifications are cataloged by “The Acts of Assembly,” a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly’s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 2007, chapters 500 and 897; in 2009, chapters 455 and 555; in 2010, chapters 778 and 825.
2005, c. 51; 2007, cc. 500, 897; 2009, cc. 455, 555; 2010, cc. 778, 825.