SB34 - Alabama Armed Services Accommodation Act

• Establishes a procedure for circuit and district court judges to authorize video testimony from witnesses on active military duty or employees of the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences.

• Permits video testimony in civil cases upon motion by either party if the witness is on active duty, physically absent from Alabama due to official military duty, testifies under oath, and is subject to cross-examination.

• Allows video testimony in criminal cases only with consent of all parties if the witness meets the same requirements as in civil cases.

• Requires all parties, the court, and the witness to be able to see and hear each other during testimony, with only the video technician, assigned counsel, or court-approved persons present with the witness.

• Makes the party requesting video testimony responsible for coordinating the audiovisual feed and bearing all associated costs; requires testimony to be recorded and comply with Alabama rules of evidence.