(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.
Notes
Amended by
Pennsylvania
Bulletin, Vol 46, No. 35. August 27, 2016, effective
8/27/2016
Amended by
Pennsylvania
Bulletin, Vol 46, No. 52. December 24, 2016, effective
12/24/2016
Amended by
Pennsylvania
Bulletin, Vol 48, No. 23. June 9, 2018, effective
6/9/2018
Amended by
Pennsylvania
Bulletin, Vol 49, No. 52. December 28, 2019, effective
12/28/2019
