Bill
SD 1575
Standardizes transcript fees for trials and hearings, with AOTC funding and CPI-based price increases every five years starting 2030; indigent discounts apply.
status and origin
- Bill number: SD 1575 (Senate docket No. 1575)
- Title: An Act concerning furnishing transcripts of notes and fees
- Purpose: Establish standardized rates and procedures for furnishing transcripts of notes and audio recordings taken at trials or hearings, and set ongoing adjustments tied to the Consumer Price Index (CPI)
- Introduced: February 27, 2025
- Current status: House concurred
- Legislative path: Referred to The Judiciary (2/27/2025); similar matter previously filed (House No. 4835, 2023-2024 session)
Overview
The bill would amend Chapter 221 of the General Laws by replacing current Section 88 with a new provision that governs how transcripts of notes or audio recordings are produced, priced, and paid for. The change applies to transcripts created for trials or hearings, including police statements transcribed at the order of a presiding justice.
Key provisions
- Rates for transcripts
- Original transcript: $4.50 per page
- Each copy: $1.50 per page
- Indigent assistance: copies for indigent individuals or their counsel at $0.15 per page
- Rush transcripts
- Original rush transcript: $6.75 per page
- Each rush copy: $2.25 per page
- Indigent rush copies: $0.23 per page
- Payment and ordering
- If ordered by the presiding justice or, in criminal cases, by the district attorney, payment is made by the Administrative Office of the Trial Court (AOTC) via a voucher approved by the presiding justice.
- In criminal cases, charges for transcripts furnished to a justice and to the district attorney are treated as taxable expenses.
- If a police statement is transcribed, all parties receive a copy and payment is made at the same rate by the AOTC via an approved voucher.
- CPI-based rate adjustments
- Starting July 1, 2030, and every fifth July thereafter, rates are increased to reflect the cumulative annual percentage change in the Consumer Price Index.
- Adjustments are to be published as the new amounts, with directives issued by the Office of Transcription Services or by the presiding justice or AOTC to implement the changes.
Who is affected
- Parties and counsel requesting transcripts (originals and copies)
- Indigent individuals and their counsel, who receive discounted copy rates
- Presiding justices, district attorneys (in criminal cases), and the Administrative Office of the Trial Court (AOTC), which administers payments
- Transcribers and the Office of Transcription Services responsible for implementation
Procedural/timeline notes
- The bill specifies a future CPI-based adjustment schedule beginning July 1, 2030, with subsequent adjustments every five years on July 1.
- Implementation directives are to be issued by the relevant office (Office of Transcription Services or presiding justice/AOTC).
Impact considerations
- Standardizes and clarifies transcript pricing across courts
- Ensures funding mechanisms for transcript costs, with explicit roles for司法 authorities
- Introduces long-term, inflation-adjusted pricing tied to CPI
- Affects indigent access through set discounts on copy fees
This summary captures the bill’s substantive changes to transcript fees, payment mechanics, and the inflation-adjustment framework, as well as who is affected and key timing provisions.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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