1. (a) A court reporter or shorthand reporting firm may not enter into or provide services under any contractual agreement, written or oral, exclusive or nonexclusive, that:

   1. (1) undermines the impartiality of the court reporter;
   2. (2) requires a court reporter to relinquish control of an original deposition transcript and copies of the transcript before it is certified and delivered to the custodial attorney;
   3. (3) requires a court reporter to provide any service not made available to all parties to an action;
   4. (4) gives or appears to give an exclusive advantage to any party; or
   5. (5) restricts an attorney's choice in the selection of a court reporter or shorthand reporting firm.

2. (b) Subsections (a)(2) and (3) do not apply to a contract for court reporting services for a court, agency, or instrumentality of the United States or this state.

   Transferred, redesignated and amended from Government Code, Subchapter C, Chapter 52 by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 42 (S.B. 966), Sec. 1.04, eff. September 1, 2014.

   Redesignated from Government Code, Subtitle K, Title 2 by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1236 (S.B. 1296), Sec. 21.001(21), eff. September 1, 2015.

Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 729, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.

Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 606 (S.B. 891), Sec. 7.18, eff. September 1, 2019.