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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the regulation of digital reporting by the Judicial |
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Branch Certification Commission. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 52.001(a), Government Code, is amended |
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by adding Subdivision (2) and amending Subdivision (5) to read as |
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follows: |
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(2) "Digital reporting" means the practice of making a |
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draft transcription of an oral court proceeding, deposition, or |
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proceeding before a grand jury or court personnel for use in |
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litigation in the courts of this state through the use of digital |
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technology, including automatic speech recognition, natural |
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language processing, or other digital technology capable of speech |
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recognition and transcription, that following review creates a |
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verbatim record. |
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(5) "Shorthand reporting" and "court reporting" mean |
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the practice of shorthand reporting for use in litigation in the |
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courts of this state by making a verbatim record of an oral court |
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proceeding, deposition, or proceeding before a grand jury, referee, |
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or court commissioner using written symbols in shorthand, machine |
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shorthand, digital reporting, or oral stenography. |
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SECTION 2. Section 154.001(a), Government Code, is amended |
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by adding Subdivision (2-a) and amending Subdivision (5) to read as |
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follows: |
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(2-a) "Digital reporting" means the practice of making |
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a draft transcription of an oral court proceeding, deposition, or |
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|
proceeding before a grand jury or court personnel for use in |
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|
litigation in the courts of this state through the use of digital |
|
|
technology, including automatic speech recognition, natural |
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|
language processing, or other digital technology capable of speech |
|
|
recognition and transcription, that following review creates a |
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|
verbatim record. |
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|
(5) "Shorthand reporting" and "court reporting" mean |
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|
the practice of shorthand reporting for use in litigation in the |
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courts of this state by making a verbatim record of an oral court |
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proceeding, deposition, or proceeding before a grand jury, referee, |
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or court commissioner using written symbols in shorthand, machine |
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shorthand, digital reporting, or oral stenography. |
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SECTION 3. Section 154.101(c), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(c) A certification issued under this section must be for |
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one or more of the following methods of shorthand reporting: |
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(1) written shorthand; |
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(2) machine shorthand; |
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(3) oral stenography; [or] |
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(4) digital reporting; or |
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(5) any other method of shorthand reporting authorized |
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by the supreme court. |
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SECTION 4. Subchapter C, Chapter 154, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 154.1035 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 154.1035. DIGITAL REPORTING DOCUMENTATION. Before |
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issuing a certification for digital reporting under Section |
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154.101, the commission shall require an applicant to provide |
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documentation: |
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(1) demonstrating the applicant is proficient in the |
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use of the digital technology used for digital reporting; and |
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(2) certifying the use of the digital technology for |
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digital reporting poses minimal risk of inaccuracy, algorithmic |
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discrimination, bias, or unlawful dissemination of privileged or |
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personal identifying information. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |