Child custody proceedings: testimony by electronic means.

Existing law authorizes the court in a child custody proceeding to permit testimony by telephone, audiovisual means, or other electronic means when a witness or party resides in another state. Existing law also requires a court to permit a party to present testimony and participate in court-ordered child custody mediation by electronic means when the party's military deployment has a material effect on his or her ability to appear in person, to the extent that this technology is reasonably available to the court and protects the due process rights of all parties. This bill would require the court to allow a party whose deportation or detention by the federal Department of Homeland Security materially effects his or her ability to appear in person at a child custody proceeding to present testimony and evidence and participate in mandatory child custody mediation by electronic means, including telephone, video teleconferencing, or other means, to the extent that this technology is reasonably available to the court and protects the due process rights of all parties.