HCS#2 SCS SB 163 -- BASIC CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES FUND

SPONSOR:  Mayer (Pratt)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Judiciary
by a vote of 8 to 4.

This substitute disallows any state legal service programs from
using state funds to sue the state, its agencies, or its
officials.  The expiration date for the Basic Civil Legal
Services Fund Program is extended to December 31, 2012.

The cost for preparing an original copy of a court transcript by
a court reporter is increased from $1.50 to $2.00 per page.
Uncertified court reporters will be allowed to prepare
depositions for use in any court under the following conditions:

(1)  All parties consent in writing to using the uncertified
court reporter prior to the deposition;

(2)  All parties certify by signature that the deposition to be
used in court is a true and correct copy of the testimony;

(3)  The uncertified court reporter must state on the record that
he or she is an uncertified court reporter appearing by consent
of the parties;

(4)  A voice recording must be kept and provided to any party
upon written request within 14 days;

(5)  The uncertified court reporter must have made application
for the court reporter exam;

(6)  The notice of deposition must contain a statement that an
uncertified court reporter will be used; and

(7)  The uncertified court reporter preparing depositions
operates under temporary certification.

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Cost on General Revenue Fund of $71,842
in FY 2008, $86,210 in FY 2009, and $86,210 in FY 2010.
Estimated Cost on Other State Funds of $1,500,000 in FY 2008,
$3,000,000 in FY 2009, and $3,000,000 in FY 2010.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill provides technical
changes for the Basic Civil Legal Services Fund and extends the
expiration of the fund which is scheduled to end this year.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Pratt for Senator
Mayer; Legal Services of Eastern Missouri; Legal Services of
Southern Missouri; Legal Aid of Western Missouri; Harvey
Tettlebaum, Board of Governors of the Missouri Bar Association;
Patrick McLarney, Missouri Institute of Justice; Missouri Bar;
and Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Missouri House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated July 25, 2007 at 11:21 am