HOUSE . . . . . . . . No. 4835
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, July 10, 2024.
The committee on the Judiciary, to whom were referred the petition
(accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 991) of Anne M. Gobi, Steven George
Xiarhos, Jacob R. Oliveira, John J. Cronin and others for legislation to
furnish transcripts of notes and fees and the petition (accompanied by bill,
House, No. 1453) of Marjorie C. Decker, Alice Hanlon Peisch and others
relative to furnishing transcripts of notes and audio recordings taken at
trials or hearings, reports recommending that the accompanying bill
(House, No. 4835) ought to pass.
For the committee,
MICHAEL S. DAY. 1 of 2
FILED ON: 6/28/2024
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 4835
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act concerning furnishing transcripts of notes and fees.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Chapter 221 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition,
2is hereby amended by striking out section 88 and inserting in place thereof the following
3section:-
4 Section 88. Upon request of the presiding justice or any party, the transcriber shall
5furnish a transcript of their notes or audio recording, or any part thereof, taken at a trial or
6hearing, for which they shall be paid by the party requesting it at the rate of $4.50 per page for
7the original and $1.50 per page for each copy ordered. If requested by a party, the transcriber
8shall furnish an electronic reproduction at an amount not to exceed $7.50 for each electronic
9reproduction requested. All electronic reproductions shall be in an open-source format as
10specified by the office of transcription services. Copies, if so requested by an indigent person or
11counsel for an indigent person, shall be paid at $.15 per page. In the event that a rush copy is
12ordered by the presiding justice or any party, the rate shall be $6.75 per page for the original and
13$2.25 per page for each copy; provided that, if requested by a party, the transcriber shall furnish
14an electronic reproduction at an amount not to exceed $7.50 for each electronic reproduction; 2 of 2
15and provided further, that copies, if so requested by an indigent person or counsel for an indigent
16person, shall be paid at $.15 per page. If a transcript is ordered by the presiding justice or, in a
17criminal case, by the district attorney, payment therefor shall be made at the same rate by the
18administrative office of the trial court upon a voucher approved by the presiding justice and, in a
19criminal case, the charges for transcripts furnished to a justice and to the district attorney shall be
20taxed like other expenses. If the presiding justice orders that a statement given to the police be
21transcribed, all parties shall receive a copy and payment therefor shall be made at the same rate
22by the administrative office of the trial court upon a voucher approved by the presiding justice.