Union-sponsored bill would raise court reporter fees by nearly a third

A union-sponsored Senate bill introduced this week would raise the going rate for court reporters by nearly a third.

SB 991, introduced Wednesday by Sen. Lena Gonzalez, D-Long Beach, would increase the cost of a transcript from85 cents to $1.13 for each 100 words starting July 1, 2021. The rate for additional copies purchased at the same time would jump from 15 cents to 20 cents.

The bill would also remove the word "civil" from a provision allowing reporters "to charge an additional 50% for special daily service for transcription in civil cases," allowing them to also charge that rate in all cases. Finally, SB 991 would direct the Judicial Council, on or before Jan. 1, 2023 to report to the Legislature "recommendations to increase uniformity in transcription rate expenditures in California."

A spokesperson for Gonzalez's office said the bill is sponsored by an arm of the Service Employees International Union, which includes court reporters among its members.

Battles over the court reporting field have occurred regularly in the Capitol in recent years. A nearly identical bill to raise court reporter fees, AB 1385, stalled in the committee process last year.

Another pending bill, AB 1469, would allow out-of-state firms to provide court reporting services in California if they register with the Court Reporters Board of California and meet certain conditions.

Another bill signed last year, AB 1520, made several changes to the Court Reporters Board, including giving the Legislature control of its funding.

-- Malcolm Maclachlan