Print
House Study Bill 78 - IntroducedA Bill ForAn Act 1relating to court reporters, including the reporting
2of adoption hearings and uncertified shorthand reporter
3appointments.
4BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. Section 600.12, subsection 1, Code 2021, is
2amended to read as follows:
31. An adoption hearing shall be conducted informally
4as a hearing in equity. The hearing shall be reported or
5electronically recorded.
6 Sec. 2. Section 602.6603, subsection 4, Code 2021, is
7amended to read as follows:
84. If a regularly appointed court reporter becomes
9disabled, or if a vacancy occurs in a regularly appointed
10court reporter position, the judge may appoint a competent
11uncertified shorthand reporter for a period of time of up to
12six months one year, upon verification by the chief judge
13that a diligent but unsuccessful search has been conducted to
14appoint a certified shorthand reporter to the position and, in
15a disability case, that the regularly appointed court reporter
16is disabled. An uncertified shorthand reporter shall not be
17reappointed to the position unless the reporter becomes a
18certified shorthand reporter within the period of appointment
19under this subsection.
20EXPLANATION
21The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
22the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
23This bill changes current law to allow adoption hearings to
24be electronically recorded in lieu of being reported by a court
25reporter.
26The bill also increases the amount of time a judge may
27appoint a competent uncertified shorthand reporter, if the
28regularly appointed court reporter becomes disabled or a
29vacancy occurs, from up to six months to up to a year.
-1-cm/jh
2of adoption hearings and uncertified shorthand reporter
3appointments.
4BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. Section 600.12, subsection 1, Code 2021, is
2amended to read as follows:
31. An adoption hearing shall be conducted informally
4as a hearing in equity. The hearing shall be reported or
5electronically recorded.
6 Sec. 2. Section 602.6603, subsection 4, Code 2021, is
7amended to read as follows:
84. If a regularly appointed court reporter becomes
9disabled, or if a vacancy occurs in a regularly appointed
10court reporter position, the judge may appoint a competent
11uncertified shorthand reporter for a period of time of up to
12six months one year, upon verification by the chief judge
13that a diligent but unsuccessful search has been conducted to
14appoint a certified shorthand reporter to the position and, in
15a disability case, that the regularly appointed court reporter
16is disabled. An uncertified shorthand reporter shall not be
17reappointed to the position unless the reporter becomes a
18certified shorthand reporter within the period of appointment
19under this subsection.
20EXPLANATION
21The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
22the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
23This bill changes current law to allow adoption hearings to
24be electronically recorded in lieu of being reported by a court
25reporter.
26The bill also increases the amount of time a judge may
27appoint a competent uncertified shorthand reporter, if the
28regularly appointed court reporter becomes disabled or a
29vacancy occurs, from up to six months to up to a year.
-1-cm/jh