OK SB1386

Supreme Court required to establish a pilot project for audio and video recording equipment in courtrooms to produce transcripts where court reporters are unavailable, implemented in a minimum of 12 courtrooms with preference given to those without a court reporter.

"Verified court reporter shortage" defined as a budgeted position vacant for more than 90 days or with projected retirement within 12 months with no identified successor.

Administrative Office of the Courts must promulgate rules covering technical specifications, storage standards, judicial restrictions on recording, and prohibitions on recording jurors, minors, protected victims/witnesses, and vulnerable adults.

Annual statewide assessment required evaluating court reporter shortages by district, projected retirements within 5 years, transcript preparation times, equipment reliability, and access to justice impacts, with a comprehensive 5-year report due 60 days before the legislative session following the fifth anniversary.

If verified court reporter shortages exceed 12 courtrooms, the Supreme Court may expand the pilot project to additional courtrooms equal to documented shortages, subject to legislative appropriation; effective date November 1, 2026.