SB457 Alabama 2012 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Dick Brewbaker

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2012

Title

Court reporters, contracts for providing court reporting services, further provided for

Summary

SB457 would regulate contracts for court reporting in Alabama to prevent conflicts of interest and ensure fair terms for court reporting services.

What This Bill Does

The bill applies to all court reporters and entities providing court reporting services in Alabama, including remote proceedings. It bans relationships or arrangements where a party or someone with a financial stake could influence the reporting, and requires reporters to check for such conflicts before taking work. It forbids exclusive or outcome-based contracts, giving advantages to one party, or restricting a party’s choice of reporter, and it prohibits using preferred-provider lists or releasing transcripts before delivery. If a violation occurs, transcripts can be voided and the reporters or firms can face penalties and sanctions.

Who It Affects

• Court reporters and court reporting firms: must follow the new rules and could face fines or transcript voiding if they violate the provisions.
• Parties to legal proceedings and government entities: protected from biased reporting and restricted contracts; government entities may use competitive bidding for long-term court reporting services.

Key Provisions

• Section 2: Applies to reporters and reporting services; prohibits reporting in cases where there is a prohibited relationship or financial interest; reporters must make reasonable efforts to discover such arrangements before accepting assignments; defines legal proceedings to include court, depositions, administrative hearings, arbitrations, examinations under oath, and sworn statements.
• Section 3: Prohibits certain practices, including (1) more-than-one-case contracts with parties or those with financial interest, (2) giving advantages to one party without offering to all, (3) compensation based on the case outcome, (4) restrictions on an attorney's choice of reporter, (5) joining reporters to preferred-provider lists after price/terms are set, (6) releasing original transcripts or exhibits before delivery.
• Section 4: Provisions cannot be waived by agreement or disclosure.
• Section 5: Governmental entities may obtain long-term court reporting services through competitive bidding.
• Section 6: Violations can void the transcript; penalties include a minimum $1,500 fine for a first offense and up to an additional $2,500 per subsequent violation, with enforcement by the Alabama Board of Court Reporting.
• Section 7: Effective date is the first day of the third month after passage and governor's approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Court Reporters