FIRST REGULAR SESSION

HOUSE BILL NO. 630

92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES HOLAND AND DAVIS (122) (Co-sponsors).

         Read 1^st time March 6, 2003, and copies ordered printed.

STEPHEN S. DAVIS, Chief Clerk

2071L.01I

AN ACT

To repeal section 485.040, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof one new section relating to court reporters.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:

            Section A. Section 485.040, RSMo, is repealed and one new section enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as section 485.040, to read as follows:

            485.040. 1. For the purpose of preserving the record in all cases for the information of the court, jury and parties, and for expediting the public business, each circuit judge shall appoint an official court reporter who shall be a certified court reporter as provided by Rule 14 of the supreme court. Such court reporter shall be a sworn officer of the court, and shall hold his or her office during the pleasure of the judge appointing him or her, and on the death, resignation, or retirement of that judge, the reporter shall retain his or her office until the judge's successor is elected, or appointed.

            2. In lieu of a full-time court reporter, a circuit judge who serves as the judge of the probate division may utilize the services of a court reporter on a part-time basis or may preserve the record in the manner provided in section 478.072, RSMo.

            3. A circuit judge may waive the appointment or use of a full- or part-time court reporter in lieu of an electronic recording device.