House Bill No. 179, introduced by Representative Muscarello, amends existing laws regarding the retention and ownership of notes and recordings made by court reporters in both criminal and civil cases. The bill stipulates that court reporters must retain all audio recordings of criminal cases indefinitely, unless the trial record is fully transcribed, in which case the recordings must be kept for at least two years post-transcription. In civil cases, the retention period for notes and recordings is set at a minimum of five years after the trial's conclusion, with a similar two-year retention requirement for fully transcribed records. The bill also clarifies that the ownership of these recordings and notes remains with the court, and if a court reporter leaves their position, all records must remain under the court's custody and control.

Additionally, the bill modifies the language surrounding the responsibilities of court reporters, removing previous obligations to maintain recordings while emphasizing that the court retains ownership. It ensures that the destruction of any notes and recordings can only occur under the order of a competent court. The amendments aim to streamline the retention process and clarify the legal framework governing the management of court reporters' records, thereby enhancing the integrity and accessibility of court documentation.

Statutes affected:
HB179 Original:
HB179 Engrossed: