Statewide e-filing system; creating for civil case filings. (SB980)

Introduced By

Sen. Mark Obenshain (R-Harrisonburg)

Description

Creating a statewide e-filing system for civil case filings. Provides that, except as otherwise provided by law, beginning July 1, 2019, no petition, pleading, motion, order, or decree filed in a civil case in a circuit court, including any agreement of the parties or transcripts, shall contain the social security number of any party, or of any minor child of any party, or any identifying financial information of any party. The bill further provides that, where such information is required by law, such information shall be contained in a separate addendum file by the attorney or party in such civil case. The bill further requires each circuit clerk to establish and operate a system for electronic filing. Current law provides that any such clerk may establish and operate such a system. The bill provides that, in any civil case filed on or after July 1, 2019, clerks of the circuit courts shall maintain all nonconfidential documents in electronic form and make such documents available through secure remote access and searchable by name and case number across all circuit courts that use the Office of the Executive Secretary's electronic imaging system. The bill directs the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court to administer a paid subscription service that provides access to all electronic records maintained by the clerks who use such electronic imaging system for civil cases filed on or after July 1, 2019. The bill specifies that such subscription shall be on an annual basis, with an annual fee to be established by the Judicial Council of Virginia. The bill provides that any sums collected pursuant to such subscription shall be deposited into the state treasury to the credit of the Courts Technology Fund. The bill directs the Virginia Information Technologies Agency to update its document entitled "Security Standard for Restricted Remote Access to Documents on Court-Controlled Websites" consistent with the provisions of the bill by July 1, 2019. The requirement that the Virginia Information Technologies Agency update such document becomes effective in due course; the remaining provisions of the bill become effective on July 1, 2019. The provisions of the bill are contingent upon funding in a general appropriation act. Read the Bill »

Outcome

History