House Bill No. by Representative Muscarello proposes a comprehensive revision of court reporter fees in Louisiana, establishing a uniform fee schedule across all judicial districts. The bill amends several sections of the Revised Statutes, specifically R.S. 13:961, 962, 963, and 964, to set new maximum fees for transcripts at six dollars per thirty-two-line page for civil and non-indigent criminal cases, and three dollars and fifty cents per page for indigent criminal cases. Additionally, it allows judges to set fees within the new statutory framework and mandates that fees be reviewed by the Judicial Council every three years. The bill also introduces provisions for expedited transcript requests, allowing higher charges for quicker turnaround times, and clarifies that salaried court reporters cannot charge sitting fees.

Moreover, the bill repeals several outdated acts and provisions that previously established varying fee structures, thereby standardizing the compensation system for court reporters statewide. It specifies that payments to court reporters shall not exceed $1,500 annually per reporter and requires that all judgments related to costs incurred for court reporter services be recorded in the mortgage records of East Baton Rouge Parish. Overall, HB 527 aims to streamline and modernize the fee structure for court reporters, ensuring fair and consistent payment for their services while enhancing the efficiency of court reporting and cost management.

Statutes affected:
HB527 Original: 13:961(C)(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), 13:961(F)(1)