Shorthand reporters: Transcript Reimbursement Fund.

Existing law provides for the certification of shorthand reporters by the Court Reporters Board of California. Existing law requires certain fees and revenues collected by the board to be deposited into the Transcript Reimbursement Fund, to be available to provide reimbursement for the cost of providing shorthand reporting services to low-income litigants in civil cases. Existing law provides that persons appearing pro se to represent themselves at any stage of a case are not eligible to apply for funds from the Transcript Reimbursement Fund. Existing law requires all unencumbered funds remaining in the Transcript Reimbursement Fund as of January 1, 2011, to be transferred to the Court Reporters' Fund, and repeals these provisions on January 1, 2011. This bill would, until January 1, 2013, authorize low-income persons appearing pro se to apply for funds from the Transcript Reimbursement Fund, subject to specified requirements and limitations. The bill would require the board, by March 1, 2012, to submit a report to specified committees of the Legislature that includes a summary of the expenditures and claims from the Transcript Reimbursement Fund. The bill would require unencumbered funds remaining in the Transcript Reimbursement Fund as of January 1, 2013, to be transferred to the Court Reporters' Fund, would repeal these provisions on January 1, 2013, and would make related changes. By expanding the recipients of funds and extending the operation of the Transcript Reimbursement Fund, which is a continuously appropriated fund, the bill would make an appropriation. The bill would also declare findings of the Legislature and require the board to publicize the availability of the fund to prospective applicants.