2025 -- S 0354

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LC001187

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- COURTS -- COURT SECRETARIES,

COURT REPORTERS, AND ELECTRONIC COURT REPORTERS

     Introduced By: Senators Dimitri, Vargas, DiMario, Appollonio, Tikoian, and Bissaillon

     Date Introduced: February 21, 2025

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 8-5-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 8-5 entitled "Court Secretaries,

Court Reporters, and Electronic Court Reporters" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     8-5-5. Reports of superior, family and district court and traffic tribunal.

     Court reporters shall report stenographically or electronic court reporters or similar

recording personnel shall report electronically the proceedings in the trial of every action or

proceeding, civil or criminal, in the superior court, family court, district court and traffic tribunal.

Each court reporter or electronic court reporter or similar recording personnel shall also, upon the

order of any justice of the court, transcribe or otherwise reproduce his or her report to be filed with

the papers in the case. He or she shall also make a transcript of or otherwise reproduce the whole

or any part of the report upon the written request, filed with the clerk, by either party to the action

or proceeding, and when completed and within the time limited by the court for filing the transcript,

shall immediately deliver the transcript to the party ordering it, or to the attorney of record of the

party, and in the case of transcription by court reporters for such service shall be paid a reasonable

compensation, not less than five dollars ($5.00) and not exceeding three dollars ($3.00) three dollars

and fifty cents ($3.50) per page for originals and one dollar and fifty cents ($1.50) two dollars

($2.00) per page for copies thereof, to be allowed by the court; and, in case the transcript is used in

subsequent proceedings in the cause, the cost of the transcript may be allowed as a part of the costs.

In the case of electronic court recordings the person making the recordings or another person so

designated by the court may be requested or ordered, in lieu of making a transcript, to reproduce

the recording and certify its authenticity, and in such case each party requesting the reproduction

shall pay to the court the sum of ten dollars ($10.00) per cassette.

     SECTION 2. Section 8-10-37 of the General Laws in Chapter 8-10 entitled "Family Court"

is hereby amended to read as follows:

     8-10-37. Report of trials — Transcripts.

     Subject to the provisions of § 8-10-21, court reporters shall report stenographically, or court

recording clerks or similar recording personnel shall report electronically, the proceedings in the

trial of every action or proceeding, civil or criminal, in the family court. Each court reporter or

court recording clerk or similar recording personnel shall also, upon the order of any justice of the

court, transcribe or otherwise reproduce his or her report to be filed with the papers in the case. He

or she shall also make a transcript or otherwise reproduce the whole or any part of the report upon

the written request, filed with the clerk, by either party to the action or proceeding, and when

completed and within the time limited by the court for filing the transcript, shall immediately

deliver the same to the party ordering it, or to the attorney of record of the party, and in the case of

transcription by court reporters for such service shall be paid a reasonable compensation, not less

than five dollars ($5.00) and not exceeding three dollars ($3.00) three dollars and fifty cents ($3.50)

per page for originals and one dollar and fifty cents ($1.50) two dollars ($2.00) per page for copies

thereof to be allowed by the court; and, in case the transcript is used in subsequent proceedings in

the cause, the cost of the transcript may be allowed as part of the costs. In the case of electronic

court recordings the person making the recordings or another person so designated by the court

may be requested or ordered, in lieu of making a transcript, to reproduce the recording and certify

its authenticity, and in such case each party requesting the reproduction shall pay to the court the

sum of ten dollars ($10.00) per cassette.

     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- COURTS -- COURT SECRETARIES,

COURT REPORTERS, AND ELECTRONIC COURT REPORTERS

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     This act would increase the per page transcription fees for court reporters in court

proceedings.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC001187

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