House Bill No. 308, introduced by Representative Muscarello, seeks to standardize and revise the fee structures for court reporters across Louisiana by amending several sections of the Louisiana Revised Statutes, specifically R.S. 13:961 through R.S. 13:980. The bill establishes new maximum fees for civil and non-indigent criminal cases at five dollars per thirty-two-line page transcript and two dollars per page for certified copies. For indigent criminal cases, the maximum fees are set at three dollars and fifty cents per thirty-two-line page transcript and one dollar per page for certified copies. The legislation also allows for expedited transcription fees based on the requested turnaround time, with specific rates for different timeframes.

In addition to establishing these new fee structures, the bill repeals previous acts and provisions that created varying fee caps by judicial district, thus allowing judges to set fees within the new statutory limits. It also removes a provision that prohibited the assessment of fees when an electronic copy of a transcript is provided, while mandating that an electronic copy must be furnished with a certified copy upon request. The bill aims to create a more uniform and equitable compensation system for court reporters throughout the state, ensuring consistency in fees and services offered.

Statutes affected:
HB155 Original: 13:961(F)(1), 13:962(H), 13:963(I)(1), 13:964(H), 13:1(B), 13:966(A), 13:967(C)(1), 13:969(G), 13:970(L), 13:971(B)(1), 13:972(D)(1), 13:975(B), 13:976(C), 13:978(H)(1), 13:979(H), 13:980(D)(1), 13:970(K)
HB155 Engrossed: 13:961(F)(1), 13:962(H), 13:963(I)(1), 13:964(H), 13:1(B), 13:966(A), 13:967(C)(1), 13:969(G), 13:970(L), 13:971(B)(1), 13:972(D)(1), 13:975(B), 13:976(C), 13:978(H)(1), 13:979(H), 13:980(D)(1), 13:970(K)
HB155 Reengrossed: 13:961(F)(1), 13:962(H), 13:963(I)(1), 13:964(H), 13:1(B), 13:966(A), 13:967(C)(1), 13:969(G), 13:970(L), 13:971(B)(1), 13:972(D)(1), 13:975(B), 13:976(C), 13:978(H)(1), 13:979(H), 13:980(D)(1), 13:970(K)