CA AB3366

Amends Government Code Section 68115 to allow the Chairperson of the Judicial Council to issue emergency orders sua sponte (on their own initiative) when emergency conditions threaten multiple superior courts across more than one county or render court facilities unsafe.

Authorizes the Chairperson to implement relief measures including holding sessions anywhere within affected counties, transferring civil cases to other counties, extending trial time periods, and extending various criminal and juvenile court deadlines.

Permits extensions of time for felony arraignments from 48 hours to up to 7 days, preliminary examinations from 10 to 15 court days, and trials by up to 30 days during declared states of emergency.

Allows extensions of juvenile court time periods under Welfare and Institutions Code sections by up to 7 days for felony-charged minors and up to 15 days for juvenile petition hearings.

Takes effect immediately as an urgency statute to address the COVID-19 public health emergency and provide statewide authority to modify court operations during crises.