Art. 522.  Hearings on motions; audio-visual appearance

A.  If provided by local rule of the court, a defendant's appearance at the seventy-two hour hearing and the initial setting of bail may be by simultaneous transmission through audio-visual electronic equipment.

B.  If provided by local rule of the court and approved by the defense counsel, a defendant's appearance at any pretrial motion or at any hearing on a pretrial motion, except as provided in Paragraph A of this Article, may be by simultaneous transmission through audio-visual  electronic equipment.

Acts 1997, No. 1015, §1.