The California Senate’s Judiciary Committee passed multiple bills March 28 meeting.
- Senate Bill 21: Civil actions: remote proceedings by Sen. Tom Umberg (D-Santa Ana)
- Passed to the Appropriations Committee unanimously.
- This bill would extend the authorization of remote proceedings in civil actions until Jan. 1, 2026. Passed to the Appropriations Committee unanimously.
- San Bernardino attorney and president of the Consumer Attorneys of California Greg Rizio spoke in support of the bill. “Many times attorneys have to go up to court at 6 in the morning for an 8:30 calendar and hope it’s a short calendar because if it’s not and you’re late on that calendar you may have to be there at 11:30 in the morning simply to say the following words: ‘Yes, your honor, we will be ready for trial in six months.’ That is so inefficient. The attorneys from our organization love the fact that we don’t actually have to go to court, waste our entire morning to do that. Our clients are thrilled with this. They no longer have to take days off of work, find child care, pay for that.” The California Judges’ Association, California Lawyers Association, Judicial Council, California District Attorneys Association also stated support.
- Senate Bill 22: Courts: remote proceedings by Sen. Tom Umberg (D-Santa Ana)
- Passed to the Appropriations Committee unanimously.
- This bill would extend the authorization of remote proceedings in juvenile actions until Jan. 1, 2026. It originally also applied to criminal actions. Criminal actions were amended out of the bill. Umberg said a different bill might carry this to criminal actions.
- Sharon Riley of the Judicial Council spoke in favor of the bill. There are over 6,000 remote proceedings happening in court each day, Riley said, allowing Californians to avoid 1.55 million trips to courthouses in a year.
- Sandra Barreiro of SIEU California said the bill should require interpreters to be in the same room as the judge and court reporter. She also requested minimum standards for remote hearing equipment. A representative of The California Public Defenders Association agreed with Barreiro. Ignacio Hernandez of the California Court Reporters Association also said they were working to amend the bill to address interpreters.
- SB 280: Review of conservatorships: care plans by Sen. John Laird (D-Santa Cruz)
- Passed to the Appropriations Committee unanimously.
- This bill would require conservators to deliver care plans to the conservatee and their attorney within 120 days of being appointed conservator.
- Trent Smith of Public Conservators and Public Guardians in opposition said the work required by the bill could overwhelm county conservators, but that the bill would work great for private fiduciaries.
- SB 487: Abortion: provider protections by Sen. Toni Atkins (D-San Diego)
- Passed to the Rules Committee 4-1, with Sen. Scott Wilk (R-Santa Clarita) in opposition.
- ”The purpose of SB 487 is to protect California healthcare providers who are willing to take risks by providing abortion care and gender affirming care in other states from additional sanctions,” said Atkins. The bill is co-sponsored by the California Medical Association and Lisa Montzumonta of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California. No opposition at the hearing.
- SB 343: Child support by Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley)
- Passed to the Human Services Committee with a unanimous vote.
- Places California law in accordance with federal law by requiring a court to have proof that a parent can pay child support before incarcerating them for failure to pay.
- SB 16: Civil rights by Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (D-Los Angeles)
- Passed as amended 6-1.
- Allows local agencies to work with the California Civil Rights Department to support actions under the Fair Employment and Housing Act.
Passed by consent agenda
- SB 428: Temporary restraining orders and protective orders: employee harassment by Sen. Catherine Blakespear (D-Encinitas)
- Would allow employees who have suffered harassment to seek a temporary restraining order and an injunction.
- SB 75: Courts: judgeships by Sen. Richard Roth (D-Riverside)
- This bill would authorize 26 additional judgeships across the state, without funding. The Judicial Council would allocate the positions to the courts.
