Summary.
The bill proposes amending Article 413 of the Code of Criminal Procedure to expressly provide that, when an expert witness cannot attend a hearing in person due to unforeseeable circumstances or force majeure, they may present their expert report virtually. According to the statement of reasons, such hearings are currently postponed for up to a year when the expert is absent, delaying justice, and there is a shortage of specialists in fields such as forensic psychiatry and legal medicine. The initiative seeks to make virtual participation no longer a matter of discretion so that proceedings can move forward in a timely manner, while preserving cross-examination at trial as required by the accusatory criminal system.