[§576B-316]  Special rules of evidence and
procedure.  (a)  The physical presence of the petitioner in a responding
tribunal of this State is not required for the establishment, enforcement, or
modification of a support order or the rendition of a judgment determining
parentage.



(b)  A verified petition, an affidavit, a
document substantially complying with federally mandated forms, and a document
incorporated by reference in any of them, not excluded under the hearsay rule
if given in person, is admissible in evidence if given under oath by a party or
witness residing in another state.



(c)  A copy of the record of child support
payments certified as a true copy of the original by the custodian of the
record may be forwarded to a responding tribunal.  The copy is evidence of
facts asserted in it, and is admissible to show whether payments were made.



(d)  Copies of bills for testing for parentage,
and for prenatal and postnatal health care of the mother and child, furnished
to the adverse party at least ten days before trial, are admissible in evidence
to prove the amount of the charges billed and that the charges were reasonable,
necessary, and customary.



(e)  Documentary evidence transmitted from
another state to a tribunal of this State by telephone, telecopier, or other
means that do not provide an original writing may not be excluded from evidence
on an objection based on the means of transmission.



(f)  In a proceeding under this chapter, a
tribunal of this State may permit a party or witness residing in another state
to be deposed or to testify by telephone, audiovisual means, or other
electronic means at a designated tribunal or other location in that state.  A
tribunal of this State shall cooperate with tribunals of other states in
designating an appropriate location for the deposition or testimony.



(g)  If a party called to testify at a civil
hearing refuses to answer on the ground that the testimony may be self-incriminating,
the trier of fact may draw an adverse inference from the refusal.



(h)  A privilege against disclosure of
communications between spouses does not apply in a proceeding under this
chapter.



(i)  The defense of immunity based on the
relationship of husband and wife or parent and child does not apply in a
proceeding under this chapter. [L 1997, c 295, pt of §1]