Senator Todd D. Weiler proposes the following substitute bill:


1     
INDIGENT DEFENSE TRANSCRIPTS AMENDMENTS

2     
2021 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Todd D. Weiler

5     
House Sponsor: Joel Ferry

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill amends provisions regarding court transcripts.
10     Highlighted Provisions:
11          This bill:
12          ▸     addresses the cost of court transcripts; and
13          ▸     makes technical and conforming changes.
14     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
15          None
16     Other Special Clauses:
17          None
18     Utah Code Sections Affected:
19     AMENDS:
20          78A-2-408, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2019, Chapter 326
21     

22     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
23          Section 1. Section 78A-2-408 is amended to read:
24          78A-2-408. Transcripts and copies -- Fees.
25          (1) The Judicial Council shall by rule provide for a standard page format for transcripts
26     of court hearings.
27          (2) [(a) The] Except as provided in Subsections (2)(c) and (e), the fee for a transcript of
28     a court session, or any part of a court session, [shall be] may not be more than $4.50 per page,
29     which includes the initial preparation of the transcript and one certified copy.
30          (b) The preparer shall:
31          (i) deposit the original text file and printed transcript with the clerk of the court; and
32          (ii) provide the person requesting the transcript with the certified copy.
33          (c) The cost of additional copies of the transcript shall be as provided in Subsection
34     78A-2-301(1).
35          (d) The transcript for an appeal shall be prepared within the time period permitted by
36     [the rules] the Utah Rules of Appellate Procedure. [The fee for a transcript prepared within
37     three business days of the request shall be 1-1/2 times the base rate. The fee for a transcript
38     prepared within one business day of the request shall be double the base rate.]
39          (e) The fee for a transcript prepared:
40          (i) within three business days of the request, shall be 1-1/2 times the base rate; and
41          (ii) within one business day of the request, shall be double the base rate.
42          [(b)] (3) (a) When a transcript is ordered by the court, the fees shall be paid by the
43     parties to the action in equal proportion or as ordered by the court.
44          (b) The fee for a transcript in a criminal case in which the defendant is found to be
45     [indigent shall be paid pursuant to Section 78B-22-302] an indigent individual, as defined in
46     Section 78B-22-102, shall be paid in accordance with Subsection 78B-22-203(3).
47          [(3)] (4) (a) The fee for the preparation of a transcript of a court hearing by an official
48     court transcriber and the fee for the preparation of the transcript by a certified court reporter of
49     a hearing before any court, referee, master, board, or commission of this state shall be [as
50     provided in Subsection (2)(a), and shall be]:
51          (i) in accordance with Subsection (2); and
52          (ii) payable to the person preparing the transcript.
53          (b) Payment for a transcript under this section is the responsibility of the party
54     requesting the transcript.