16.1-345.1 - Use of electronic communication. - Virginia Statutes

§ 16.1-345.1. Use of electronic communication.

A. Petitions and orders for emergency custody, temporary detention, andinvoluntary commitment of minors pursuant to this article may be filed,issued, served, or executed by electronic means, with or without the use oftwo-way electronic video and audio communication, and returned in the samemanner 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 anytwo-way electronic video and audio communication system to provide for theappearance of any parties and witnesses. Any two-way electronic video andaudio communication system used to conduct a proceeding shall meet thestandards set forth in subsection B of § 19.2-3.1. When a witness whosetestimony would be helpful to the conduct of the proceeding is not able to bephysically present, his testimony may be received using a telephoniccommunication system.

(2005, c. 51; 2007, cc. 500, 897; 2009, cc. 455, 555; 2010, cc. 778, 825.)