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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1575 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1168
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Joan B. Lovely
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act concerning furnishing transcripts of notes and fees.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Joan B. LovelySecond EssexPeter J. DurantWorcester and Hampshire2/13/2025Todd M. Smola1st Hampden2/25/2025David T. Vieira3rd Barnstable2/25/2025John F. KeenanNorfolk and Plymouth3/3/2025Steven George Xiarhos5th Barnstable3/4/2025Sal N. DiDomenicoMiddlesex and Suffolk3/6/2025 1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1575 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1168
By Ms. Lovely, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1168) of Joan B. Lovely, Peter J.
Durant, Todd M. Smola, David T. Vieira and other members of the General Court for legislation
to set rates for transcripts of notes and fees taken at a trial or hearing by a transcriber. The
Judiciary.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 4835 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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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 Chapter 221 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby
2amended by striking out section 88 and inserting in place thereof the following section:-
3 Section 88. Upon request of the presiding justice or any party, the transcriber shall
4furnish a transcript of their notes or audio recording, or any part thereof, taken at a trial or
5hearing, for which they shall be paid by the party requesting it at the rate of $4.50 per page for
6the original and $1.50 per page for each copy ordered. Copies, if so requested by an indigent
7person or counsel for an indigent person, shall be paid at $.15 per page. In the event that a rush
8transcript is ordered by the presiding justice or any party, the rate shall be $6.75 per page for the
9original and $2.25 per page for each copy; and provided further, that copies, if so requested by an 2 of 2
10indigent person or counsel for an indigent person, shall be paid at $.23 per page. If a transcript is
11ordered by the presiding justice or, in a criminal case, by the district attorney, payment therefor
12shall be made at the same rate by the administrative office of the trial court upon a voucher
13approved by the presiding justice and, in a criminal case, the charges for transcripts furnished to
14a justice and to the district attorney shall be taxed like other expenses. If the presiding justice
15orders that a statement given to the police be transcribed, all parties shall receive a copy and
16payment therefor shall be made at the same rate by the administrative office of the trial court
17upon a voucher approved by the presiding justice.
18 Beginning on the first day of July 2030, and on the first day of each fifth July thereafter,
19the rates and fees set forth in section 88 shall be increased to reflect the cumulative annual
20percentage change in the Consumer Price Index and published as the adjusted amounts as used in
21this section. The (1) office of transcription services or (2) the presiding justice of the
22administrative office of the trial court shall issue directives to implement the purposes of this
23section.