Senate Bill No. 396 amends the Children's Code to allow children in the custody of the office of juvenile justice (OJJ) to attend review hearings via secure video conference instead of requiring their physical transportation to the committing court. Specifically, the bill changes the language in Article 906(B)(1) to state that children "shall participate in a review hearing via a video conferencing platform" not more than six months after their commitment and at least every six months thereafter, unless waived by counsel and the committing court. Additionally, it mandates that OJJ staff and contract staff must also participate virtually in these hearings.

The bill also clarifies the definition of a child "committed by a court to the custody of the office of juvenile justice" in Article 906(B)(3), confirming that this includes children held in juvenile detention centers. This reclassification aims to ensure that the legal framework surrounding juvenile justice is updated to reflect modern practices and technology, enhancing the efficiency of the review process while maintaining the rights of the children involved.