Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 44, November 2, 2024
(A)
Costs
(1) The costs payable
by a requesting party, other than the Commonwealth or a subdivision thereof,
for an original transcript in an electronic format shall not exceed:
(a) for a transcript for which an accelerated
delivery is not requested, $2.50 per page;
(b) for an expedited transcript, $3.50 per
page;
(c) for a daily transcript,
$4.50 per page; and
(d) for same
day delivery, $6.50 per page.
(2) When the transcript is prepared in bound
paper format, the costs shall be in accordance with paragraph (1) relating to
electronic format plus a surcharge of $0.25 per page.
(B)
Economic hardship-minimum
standards
(1) Transcript costs for
ordinary transcripts in matters under appeal or where the transcript is
necessary to advance the litigation shall be waived for a party who has been
permitted by the court to proceed in forma pauperis or whose
income is less than 125 percent of the poverty line as defined by the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) poverty guidelines for the
current year.
(2) Transcript costs
for ordinary transcripts in matters under appeal or where the transcript is
necessary to advance the litigation shall be reduced by one-half for a party
whose income is less than 200 percent of the poverty line as defined by the HHS
poverty guidelines for the current year.
(3) Transcript costs for ordinary transcripts in matters that are
not subject to an appeal, where the transcript is not necessary to advance the
litigation, or for expedited, daily, or same day transcripts may be waived at
the court's discretion for parties who qualify for economic hardship under
subdivision (B)(1) or (B)(2) and upon good cause shown.
(4) The application to waive all or a
portion of costs for ordinary transcripts shall be supported by an affidavit
substantially in the form required by Rule 240(h) of the Pennsylvania Rules of
Civil Procedure.
(C)
Assignment and allocation of transcript costs
(1)
Assignment of costs.
The requesting party or the party required by general rule to file a transcript
shall be responsible for the cost of the original transcript. Costs shall not
be assessed against any party for transcripts prepared at the initiation of the
court.
(2)
Allocation of
costs. When more than one party is to receive the transcript, or is
required by general rule to file the transcript, the cost of the original
transcript shall be divided equitably among the parties, taking into account
any reduced fee or free transcripts.
(D)
Copies of transcript
(1) A request for a copy of any transcript
previously ordered, transcribed and filed of record shall not exceed:
(a) $0.75 per page bound, paper format;
and,
(b) $0.50 per page electronic
copy.
(2) A request for a
copy of an expedited transcript shall not exceed:
(a) $1.00 per page bound, paper format; and,
(b) $0.75 per page electronic
copy.
(3) A request for a
copy of a daily transcript shall not exceed:
(a) $1.25 per page bound, paper format; and,
(b) $1.00 per page electronic
copy.
(4) A request for a
copy of a same day transcript shall not exceed:
(a) $1.50 per page bound, paper format; and,
(b) $1.25 per page electronic
copy.
(E)
Additional Costs
No transcript or related costs may be charged to the parties
or the public other than those listed in subdivisions (A), (B) and (D) without
the written approval of the Court Administrator, except that a judicial
district may enact a local rule that permits a trial judge to impose a
reasonable surcharge in cases such as mass tort, medical malpractice or other
unusually complex litigation, where there is a need for a court reporter to
significantly expand his/her dictionary.
(F)
Requests for Rate
Increases
The president judge of a judicial district may request an
increase in the rates prescribed in subdivision (A) or (D) by submitting a
written request to the Court Administrator. Prior to submission, notice of the
proposed increase shall be published for public comment for at least thirty
days. Any comments received must be forwarded to the Court Administrator with
the request. The request shall only be approved where it is established that
the judicial district faces an economic hardship caused by the current rates
and that the requested rates are reasonable. If the Court Administrator
determines that the increase is necessary, the request shall be forwarded to
the Supreme Court.
