Rule 1.5 - Electronic Transmission of Documents; Hearings Conducted By Remote Electronic Means; Electronic Record Allowed When Necessary(a)Electronic filing. Documents may be filed by facsimile or other electronic data transmission. If the sender communicates directly with the clerk the time at which the transmission will occur, the clerk must take all reasonable steps to assure that the confidentiality of the received transmission will be maintained.(b)Electronic transmission by court and clerk. The court and clerk may transmit orders, rulings, notices, and other documents by facsimile or other electronic data transmission. But before the transmission is initiated, the sender must take all reasonable steps to assure that the confidentiality of the received transmission will be maintained. The time and date of a transmission by the court is the time and date when it was initiated.(c)Hearings by electronic means. Consistent with the anonymity and confidentiality requirements of these rules, with the court's permission, the attorney ad litem, the guardian ad litem, and any witnesses may participate in hearings under these rules by video conferencing, telephone, or other remote electronic means. The minor must appear before the court in person unless the court determines that the minor's appearance by video conferencing will allow the court to view the minor during the hearing sufficiently well to assess her credibility and demeanor.(d)Record of hearing made by electronic means if necessary. If the court determines that a court reporter is unavailable for a hearing, the court may have a record of the hearing made by audio recording or other electronic means. If a notice of appeal is filed, the court must have the recording transcribed if possible. The person transcribing the recording must certify to the accuracy of the transcription. The court must transmit both the recording and the transcription to the court of appeals.Tex. Parent. Noti. R. And. Form. 1.5
Amended effective 3/1/2007.