WE NEED YOUR HELP!
House Bill 4329 (2019) would increase the transcript page rate, which has been unchanged for over 35 years, for Michigan’s court reporters/recorders.
Michigan has the lowest statutory page rate of all 50 states and is not in line with its neighboring Midwest states. Indiana (set county-by-county) ranges $3.50 to $8.00 per page. Ohio (set county-by-county) averages $4.50 per page. Michigan’s page rate, unchanged for over 35 years, is only $1.75 per page for the original and .30 cents per page for a copy.
There is a nationwide shortage of court reporters at this moment. Recruitment is underway, but schooling and certification are difficult at best. We need to attract people to this field and to fill these jobs with educated, skilled workers.
The following court reporters/recorders are asking you to please be in our corner and support court reporters/recorders who are statutorily mandated to do a difficult job, to do an accurate job, and to invest in maintaining the integrity of the court record.
PLEASE HELP US IN SUPPORTING HOUSE BILL 4329!
I urge our legislators to vote yes on HB4329. I have now retired from a 40 year court reporting career, but I am appalled that the per page rate has not passed. This has been an ongoing campaign for an increase in the per page rate during my whole career. It is now way past time to pass an increase.