CA AB1189

Creates two new professional certifications under the Court Reporters Board of California: "digital reporters" who can swear in witnesses and capture electronic recordings of legal proceedings, and "legal transcriptionists" who can transcribe and certify those recordings for use in court

Requires digital reporter applicants to hold a valid California notary license and obtain certification from the American Association of Electronic Reporters and Transcribers (or equivalent state license), while legal transcriptionists need a high school education and AAERT certificate

Prohibits California courts from terminating certified shorthand reporters to replace them with digital reporters or legal transcriptionists, creating a presumption of violation if termination occurs within a specified timeframe (number of days left blank in bill) before or after hiring the new position

Amends the Civil Discovery Act to allow depositions to be recorded by certified digital reporters in addition to traditional certified shorthand reporters

Adds an exception to the hearsay rule in the Evidence Code allowing admission of digitally captured transcripts if supervised by a certified digital reporter and transcribed by either a digital reporter or legal transcriptionist