NY S08891

Adds new section 190.95 to Criminal Procedure Law allowing parties and witnesses to appear electronically before grand juries during the COVID-19 state disaster emergency declared by Executive Order 202 of 2020 and extensions thereof.

Permits electronic appearance when the court finds that personal appearance would create unreasonable hardship due to the person's circumstances and the disaster emergency.

Requires jurors to hear and see witness testimony with audio and visual quality equivalent to in-person testimony; allows documents and photographs to be exchanged electronically; mandates stenographic transcription or audio recording, with video recording of electronic testimony where practicable.

Establishes that electronic appearance authority satisfies requirements for conducting grand jury hearings under section 190.30 of Criminal Procedure Law.

Takes effect 30 days after enactment and automatically expires and is repealed on April 30, 2021.