BILL NUMBER: AB 788	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Wagner

                        FEBRUARY 21, 2013

   An act to amend Section 69954 of the Government Code, relating to
court transcripts.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 788, as introduced, Wagner. Court transcripts.
   Existing law requires that transcripts prepared by a reporter
using computer assistance and delivered on a medium other than paper
be compensated at the same rate set for paper transcripts, except as
specified. Existing law establishes certain fees for second copies of
transcripts, as specified, including transcripts in
computer-readable format.
   Existing law authorizes a court, party, or person who has
purchased a transcript to reproduce a copy or portion thereof as an
exhibit, pursuant to court order or rule, or for internal use,
without paying a further fee to the reporter, but prohibits otherwise
providing or selling a copy or copies to any other party or person.
   This bill would limit the reproduction provisions described above
to computer-readable transcripts.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 69954 of the Government Code is amended to
read:
   69954.  (a) Transcripts prepared by a reporter using computer
assistance and delivered on a medium other than paper shall be
compensated at the same rate set for paper transcripts, except the
reporter may also charge an additional fee not to exceed the cost of
the medium or any copies thereof.
   (b) The fee for a second copy of a transcript on appeal in
computer-readable format ordered by or on behalf of a requesting
party within 120 days of the filing or delivery of the original
transcript shall be compensated at one-third the rate set forth for a
second copy of a transcript as provided in Section 69950. A reporter
may also charge an additional fee not to exceed the cost of the
medium or any copies thereof.
   (c) The fee for a computer-readable transcript shall be paid by
the requesting court, party, or person, unless the computer-readable
transcript is requested by a party in lieu of a paper transcript
required to be delivered to that party by the rules of court. In that
event, the fee shall be chargeable as statute or rule provides for
the paper transcript.
   (d) Any court, party, or person who has purchased a 
computer-readable  transcript may, without paying a further fee
to the reporter, reproduce a copy or portion thereof as an exhibit
pursuant to court order or rule, or for internal use, but shall not
otherwise provide or sell a copy or copies to any other party or
person.