SB2795 - Relating to the regulation of digital reporting by the Judicial Branch Certification Commission.

  89R16462 BCH-F     By: Eckhardt S.B. No. 2795       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the regulation of digital reporting by the Judicial   Branch Certification Commission.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 52.001(a), Government Code, is amended   by adding Subdivision (2) and amending Subdivision (5) to read as   follows:                 (2)     "Digital reporting" means the practice of making a   draft transcription of an oral court proceeding, deposition, or   proceeding before a grand jury or court personnel for use in   litigation in the courts of this state through the use of digital   technology, including automatic speech recognition, natural   language processing, or other digital technology capable of speech   recognition and transcription, that following review creates a   verbatim record.                (5)  "Shorthand reporting" and "court reporting" mean   the practice of shorthand reporting for use in litigation in the   courts of this state by making a verbatim record of an oral court   proceeding, deposition, or proceeding before a grand jury, referee,   or court commissioner using written symbols in shorthand, machine   shorthand, digital reporting, or oral stenography.          SECTION 2.  Section 154.001(a), Government Code, is amended   by adding Subdivision (2-a) and amending Subdivision (5) to read as   follows:                 (2-a)     "Digital reporting" means the practice of making   a draft transcription of an oral court proceeding, deposition, or   proceeding before a grand jury or court personnel for use in   litigation in the courts of this state through the use of digital   technology, including automatic speech recognition, natural   language processing, or other digital technology capable of speech   recognition and transcription, that following review creates a   verbatim record.                (5)  "Shorthand reporting" and "court reporting" mean   the practice of shorthand reporting for use in litigation in the   courts of this state by making a verbatim record of an oral court   proceeding, deposition, or proceeding before a grand jury, referee,   or court commissioner using written symbols in shorthand, machine   shorthand, digital reporting, or oral stenography.          SECTION 3.  Section 154.101(c), Government Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (c)  A certification issued under this section must be for   one or more of the following methods of shorthand reporting:                (1)  written shorthand;                (2)  machine shorthand;                (3)  oral stenography; [ or ]                (4)   digital reporting; or                 (5)   any other method of shorthand reporting authorized   by the supreme court.          SECTION 4.  Subchapter C, Chapter 154, Government Code, is   amended by adding Section 154.1035 to read as follows:           Sec.   154.1035.     DIGITAL REPORTING DOCUMENTATION. Before   issuing a certification for digital reporting under Section   154.101, the commission shall require an applicant to provide   documentation:                 (1)     demonstrating the applicant is proficient in the   use of the digital technology used for digital reporting; and                 (2)     certifying the use of the digital technology for   digital reporting poses minimal risk of inaccuracy, algorithmic   discrimination, bias, or unlawful dissemination of privileged or   personal identifying information.          SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.