SRC-AAA S.B. 647 75(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 647
By: Brown
Jurisprudence
2-28-97
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, court reporters are subject to standards of conduct established
to ensure neutrality and equal fairness to all parties to any litigation.
Many court reporting firms are owned by non-court reporters and are not
subject to the standards of conduct established for the profession.   This
bill sets standards upon which contracts between court reporters and
reporting firms may be entered into to protect the record and ensure
neutrality to all parties. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 647 sets standards upon which contracts between court
reporters and reporting firms may be entered into to protect the record
and ensure neutrality to all parties. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 52.029(a), Government Code, to authorize the
Court Reporters Certification Board to revoke a shorthand reporter's
certificate or reprimand a reporter for unprofessional conduct, including
giving directly or indirectly, benefitting from or being employed as a
result of any gift or anything of value to attorneys, except for nominal
items or providing services under a prohibited contract described by
Section 52.034, Government Code. Makes conforming changes. 

SECTION 2. Amends Chapter 52C, Government Code, by adding Section 52.034,
as follows: 

Sec. 52.034. PROHIBITED CONTRACTS. Prohibits a court reporter from
entering into or providing services under any contractual agreement that
has certain characteristics.  Provides that this section does not apply to
a contract for court reporting services for a court, agency, or
instrumentality of the United States or this state.  

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 1997.

SECTION 4. (a) Makes application of this Act prospective. Provides that
this Act applies to a contract entered into before the effective date with
a term that expires more than one year after the effective date of this
act. 

(b)  Provides that this Act does not apply  to  contracts entered into
before the effective date with a term that expires more than one year of
the effective date of this Act. 

SECTION 5. Emergency clause.