Sec. 52.055.  EXPENSES OF DISTRICT COURT REPORTERS.  (a)  Each official or deputy court reporter of a district court in a district composed of more than one county is entitled to reimbursement in the amount prescribed by Subsections (b) and (d) for actual and necessary expenses incurred while engaged in official duties in any county of the state other than the county of the reporter's residence.  This reimbursement is in addition to the reporter's regular salary.
(b)  Travel expenses reimbursed under this section may not exceed the reasonable mileage rate set by the commissioners court of the respective county of the judicial district for which the expenses were incurred for the use of private conveyances, traveling the shortest practical route.
(c)  The expenses shall be reimbursed after the completion of each court term by the respective counties of the judicial district for which the expenses were incurred, each county paying the expenses incidental to its own regular or special term.  The commissioners court of each county shall pay the expenses for which the county is responsible from the county general fund.
(d)  The expenses reimbursed under this section are subject to annual limitations based on the size of the judicial district.  Except as provided by Subsection (d-1), a court reporter may not receive more than the maximum reimbursement amount set for the reporter's judicial district in any one year.  The maximum reimbursement amount is as follows:
(1)  if the judicial district contains two counties, the maximum reimbursement amount is $400 or a greater amount set by the commissioners court of the county for which the expenses were incurred;
(2)  if the judicial district contains three counties, the maximum reimbursement amount is $800 or a greater amount set by the commissioners court of the county for which the expenses were incurred;
(3)  if the judicial district contains four counties, the maximum reimbursement amount is $1,400 or a greater amount set by the commissioners court of the county for which the expenses were incurred; and
(4)  if the judicial district contains five or more counties, the maximum reimbursement amount is $2,000 or a greater amount set by the commissioners court of the county for which the expenses were incurred.
(d-1)  For expenses that exceed the annual maximum reimbursement amount set for a court reporter's judicial district under Subsection (d), the reporter may receive reimbursement from the county for which the expenses were incurred on approval of the commissioners court of the county.
(e)  To receive reimbursement under this section, a court reporter must prepare in duplicate a sworn statement of expenses that is approved by the district judge.  The reporter must file a copy of the statement with the clerk of the district court of the county in which the district judge resides.
(f)  This section applies to any additional official or deputy court reporter whose services are required when a district court convenes in a special term.  The county in which the special term is convened shall pay the expenses.  These expenses are in addition to the expenses provided for the official or deputy court reporter of the district.
Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 480, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1985.  Amended by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 367, Sec. 2, eff. Aug. 28, 1989.
Amended by: 
Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1025 (H.B. 1306), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2015.
Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 286 (H.B. 4032), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2017.
Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 861 (H.B. 3474), Sec. 9.002, eff. September 1, 2023.