Bill > AB882

This bill addresses electronic court reporting by modifying existing law to provide temporary solutions for courts experiencing a shortage of court reporters. Specifically, the bill authorizes courts to use electronic recording technology in civil proceedings under certain circumstances, primarily when a low-income litigant cannot afford a private court reporter and requests a verbatim record of the proceeding. The bill prohibits the use of electronic recording in juvenile dependency and most criminal proceedings. Courts using electronic recording must follow strict requirements, including publicly advertising for official court reporter positions, making reasonable efforts to hire certified shorthand reporters, and ensuring that transcripts include designations for inaudible or unintelligible portions of recordings. The bill prevents courts from purchasing electronic recording equipment specifically for making verbatim records and requires courts to prioritize hiring official court reporters. These provisions are temporary and will expire on January 1, 2028, reflecting the legislation's intent to address an immediate shortage of court reporters while encouraging courts to actively recruit and hire qualified reporters. The bill is classified as an urgency statute, meaning it goes into immediate effect to address the current crisis in court reporting staffing.

Budget and Finance, Justice

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB882