Civil actions: service of summons.

Senator Umberg's civil procedure reform measure expands California courts' authority to permit electronic service of summons when traditional methods prove unsuccessful. The legislation allows courts to authorize service via email or other electronic technologies in cases where plaintiffs have exercised due diligence but failed to complete service through existing statutory methods.

The bill modifies current law by explicitly incorporating electronic service options while maintaining courts' discretion to ensure actual notice to parties. Under the new provisions, courts retain authority to specify how proof of electronic service must be documented. The measure excludes actions against government entities and their employees, preserving existing service requirements for those cases.

This update to California's civil procedure code addresses scenarios where conventional service methods are ineffective, while preserving established protocols for government-related proceedings. Courts must determine that electronic service methods are reasonably calculated to provide actual notice before authorizing their use.