Bill Text: TX HB1737 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating to the reporting of depositions by court reporters and the deposition transcripts.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-04-20 - Committee report sent to Calendars [HB1737 Detail]

Download: Texas-2021-HB1737-Introduced.html
  87R3273 ANG-F
 
  By: Moody H.B. No. 1737
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the reporting of depositions by court reporters and the
  deposition transcripts.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 52.001(a), Government Code, is amended
  by adding Subdivision (3-b) to read as follows:
               (3-b)  "Secure digital copy" means a digital copy in a
  readable format that cannot be altered or printed.
         SECTION 2.  Chapter 52, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Subchapter C to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER C. DUTIES RELATING TO DEPOSITIONS
         Sec. 52.021.  DEPOSITION TRANSCRIPTS. (a) A deponent and
  the attorneys of record and parties to a case in which a deposition
  is taken are entitled to obtain a copy of the deposition transcript
  from the court reporter or court reporting firm.  The court reporter
  or court reporting firm may impose and require payment of a
  reasonable fee before providing the transcript.
         (b)  On request of a deponent or the deponent's attorney, a
  court reporter or court reporting firm shall notify the deponent or
  attorney when the deposition transcript is available for review and
  allow the deponent a period of at least 20 days to:
               (1)  review a secure digital copy of the transcript;
  and
               (2)  provide a separate document signed by the deponent
  listing any changes in form or substance the deponent desires to
  make to the transcript and the reasons for those changes.
         (c)  During the review period under Subsection (b), the court
  reporter or court reporting firm shall retain possession of the
  original deposition transcript.
         (d)  On the earlier of the expiration of the review period or
  receipt of the signed document under Subsection (b), the court
  reporter or court reporting firm shall promptly deliver the
  original deposition transcript to the custodial attorney
  responsible for protecting the integrity of the transcript.
         SECTION 3.  Section 52.059(a), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  Except as provided by Subsection (c), an attorney who
  takes a deposition and the attorney's firm are jointly and
  severally liable for a shorthand reporter's charges for:
               (1)  the shorthand reporting of the deposition;
               (2)  transcribing the deposition; [and]
               (3)  the original deposition transcript and first copy
  of the transcript; and
               (4)  each additional copy of the deposition transcript
  requested by the attorney.
         SECTION 4.  Section 154.112(b), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (b)  A noncertified shorthand reporter may report an oral
  deposition only if:
               (1)  the noncertified shorthand reporter delivers an
  affidavit to the parties or to their counsel present at the
  deposition stating that a certified shorthand reporter is not
  available to report the deposition in person or through remote
  technology; or
               (2)  the parties or their counsel stipulate on the
  record at the beginning of the deposition that a certified
  shorthand reporter is not available to report the deposition in
  person or through remote technology.
         SECTION 5.  The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
  a deposition taken on or after the effective date of this Act. A
  deposition taken before that date is governed by the law in effect
  on the date the deposition was taken, and the former law is
  continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 6.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
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