An Act To Ensure Ethical Standards for Court Reporters
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 1469
Committee Amendment CA_A_S176 (Senate)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A" to S.P. 543, L.D. 1469, Bill, "An Act To 
Ensure Ethical Standards for Court Reporters" 
Amend the bill in section 1 in §771 in subsection 1 in the last line (page 1, line lOin 
L.D.) by inserting after the following: "transcript." the following: "'Court reporter" does 
not include an employee of the Judicial Branch or a person transcribing legal proceedings 
for the Judicial Branch.' 
Amend the bill in section 1 in § 772 in subsection 1 in paragraph A in the last line 
(page 1, line 32 in L.D.) by inserting after the following: "PM!Y" the following: " other 
than a contract to provide court n:porting, litigation and trial support services' 
Amend the bill in section 1 in § 772 in subsection 1 by striking out all of paragraph B 
(page 2, lines 1 and 2 in L.D.) 
Amend the bill in section 1 i.n §772 in subsection 1 by relettering the paragraphs to 
read consecutively. 
Amend the bill in section I in § 773 by striking out all of subsection 1 (page 2, lines 
to 17 in L.D.) and inserting the following: 
'I. Contract. Enter into an oral or written contractual agreement with an attorney, 
party to an action, insurance company or 3rd-party administrator or any other person or 
entity that has a financial interest in the case, action or legal proceeding, other than a 
contract to provide court reporting, litigation and trial support services;' 
'. 
Amend the bill in section 1 in §773 by striking out all of subsection 5 (page 2, lines 
to 35 in L.D.) 
Amend the bill in section 1 in §773 by striking out all of subsection 7 (page 3, lines 1 
to 3 in L.D.) and inserting the foLowing: 
'7. Interference with services. Enter into a contract for court reporting services that 
allows an attorney, party to an action, insurance company or 3rd-party administrator or 
any other person or entity to interfere with a court reporter's right to deal directly with all 
parties to a proceeding, including any provision in a contract that restricts the right of the 
COMMI7·TEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to S.P. 543, L.D. 1469 
court reporter to contract with the other parties in a legal proceeding to provide transcripts 
to those parties.' 
Amend the bill in section 1 in §773 by renumbering the subsections to read 
consecutively. 
Amend the bill in section 1 by striking out all of §778 and inserting the following: 
'§778. Remedies 
1. Motion. A party may file a motion alleging a violation of this subchapter with the 
administrative body, court or administrative tribunal in which the action upon which the 
motion is based is pending or scheduled to be heard. A person need not commence a 
separate action to allege a violation of this subchapter. 
2. 
Sanction. 
In addition to remedies that are otherwise available by law, an 
administrative body, court or administrative tribunal that receives a motion filed pursuant 
to this section and determines that a person violated this subchapter may refuse to admit 
the contested transcript and may bar the person from providing services in matters before 
that administrative body, court or administrative tribunal.' 
Amend the bill in section 1 in § 779 by adding at the end the following: 
'2. 
Application to Judicial Branch. 
This subchapter does not apply to court 
reporting services performed by employees of the Judicial Branch or persons transcribing 
legal proceedings for the Judicial Branch.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment: 
1. Clarifies that the legislation does not apply to the Judicial Branch; 
2. Allows contracts for more than one case; 
3. Deletes restrictions on preferred provider lists; 
4. Provides that only a party may file a motion in a pending action; 
5. Clarifies that this legislation does not limit authority of courts; 
6. Eliminates the requirement of periodic reports; and 
7. Eliminates the private cause of action. 
FISCAL .\OTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
'" 
Approved: 05/30/13 
Mac:.-
LD 1469 
LR 1035(02) 
An Act To Ensure Ethical Standards for Court Reporters 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ''ft((s -/1(0 \ 
Committee: Judiciary 
') 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Correctional and Judicial Impact Statements 
Insignificant increase in caseload with no effect on fines or fees 
LRI035(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1