By: Paxton, Estes S.B. No. 677
(In the Senate - Filed February 20, 2013; February 25, 2013,
read first time and referred to Committee on Jurisprudence;
March 11, 2013, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 5,
Nays 0; March 11, 2013, sent to printer.)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the electronic recording of proceedings in a statutory
probate court in Collin County.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 25.0453, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (g) to read as follows:
(g) The judge of a statutory probate court may, unless a
party objects, provide that a proceeding be recorded by a good
quality electronic recording device instead of by a court reporter.
A stenographic record of an electronically recorded proceeding is
not required except on order of the judge. If a recording device is
used, the court reporter is not required to be present to certify
the record. The judge may designate one or more persons to act as
the court recorder and shall assign to a court recorder the duties
and responsibilities necessary to act in that capacity.
SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only
to a proceeding commenced on or after the effective date of this
Act. A proceeding commenced before the effective date of this Act
is covered by the law in effect immediately before the effective
date of this Act, and the former law is continued in effect for that
purpose.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.
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