WI AB447

Amends section 885.60(2)(d) of Wisconsin statutes governing videoconferencing in court proceedings

Creates exception for expert witness testimony via videoconference in Chapter 51 (mental health) and Chapter 55 (protective placement) proceedings

Under current law, courts must sustain a respondent's objection to videoconferencing when the respondent has a right to attend in person; this bill removes that automatic protection for expert witness testimony in commitment and protective placement cases

Courts may now use discretion under section 885.56 criteria to determine objections to expert witness videoconference testimony, even when respondents are entitled to be physically present

Applies to involuntary commitment proceedings and protective placement proceedings involving potential loss of liberty or fundamental rights