4/8/25, 1:00 PM - Committee Hearing: Judiciary, State House Room A-2 and Virtual

Status: Normal
Date/Time: 4/8/25 1:00 PM
Location: State House Room A-2 and Virtual
Committee: Joint Committee on Judiciary (JJU)
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Hearing 1 Chair: Michael S. Day
 

The public is invited to participate in this hearing, which will be livestreamed on the Legislature's website. The Chair will limit testimony to three minutes per individual and reserves the right to call public officials out of turn. To register to testify virtually, you must provide contact information on this linked form by 5:00 p.m. on April 6, 2025. Once registered, you will receive further instructions on how to participate. 

All those wishing to testify in person may sign up on the day of the hearing but are encouraged to sign up ahead of time at the link above. 

Written testimony may be submitted by mailing it to the Judiciary Committee at 24 Beacon Street, Room 136, Boston, MA 02133 or, for House bills, by email to Talia.Quinn@mahouse.gov or for Senate bills to Grace.Giordina@masenate.gov. All written testimony received by the Committee will be made publicly available. At the discretion of the Chairs, limitations and redactions may be made to testimony that includes sensitive personal information or information that may jeopardize the health, wellness or safety of the testifier or others.  

The Committee must report on all matters seeking to amend the Constitution before the Committee by April 30, 2025. The Committee must report on House bills considered during this hearing by June 7, 2025 subject to House Rule 27.  

 

With any questions regarding specific House bills, please contact Talia.Quinn@mahouse.gov. With any questions regarding specific Senate bills, please contact Grace.Giordina@masenate.gov.  


Bill # Title Last Action Status Track
04/08/2025 - Joint Committee on the Judiciary
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Transcript
This transcript is initially posted in unedited form, edited transcript to follow.
SPEAKER143.24 -43.24 Inaugural43.24 judiciary44.28 committee44.77 meeting45.16 for45.41 this45.56 term.45.73 My46.2 name46.36 is46.52 Michael46.68 Day.46.92 I47.32 am,47.41 pleased48.36 to48.68 be48.84 back48.92 as49.16 the49.32 chair,49.47 and50.43 welcome50.67 my51.23 new51.47 co51.79 chair52.03 and52.27 friend,52.43 Senator52.67 Lydia52.99 Edwards,53.31 to53.79 the54.03 co54.19 chair,54.43 House55.55 of55.79 Payne55.87 here.56.19 I'm58.59 very58.83 pleased58.99 to59.31 be59.39 chairing59.47 today's,59.79 hearing.60.75 As61.31 As61.55 you'll61.63 see61.86 as62.02 we62.18 get62.42 going62.59 this62.82 term,63.06 we'll63.86 handle64.1 hearings64.5 a64.83 little64.91 differently,65.14 going66.19 forward,66.42 given66.74 some66.98 of67.14 the67.31 rules67.38 changes67.7 that68.1 have68.27 been68.5 adopted,68.67 and69.55 hopefully69.78 will70.1 be70.34 adopted,70.42 jointly,71.06 but71.55 certainly71.7 by72.1 the72.19 respective72.34 chambers72.83 here.73.8 Let74.6 me74.76 begin74.92 by75.24 making75.4 sure75.56 everyone75.88 in76.12 the76.2 public76.28 knows76.6 who's76.84 with77.08 us77.32 today.77.48 Down78.2 the78.44 far78.6 right78.84 is,79.16 ranking79.64 member,80.04 representative81 Berthiaume.81.56 Beside82.6 him83 is83.16 senator83.32 Miranda.83.8 Beside84.84 senator85.24 Miranda,85.48 senator,85.96 representative86.76 Mendez.87.32 And88.36 we've88.52 got88.67 representative89 Ramos,89.4 representative90.28 Kilcoyne,90.92 Christiana92.2 Golden,92.67 who's93.16 with,93.4 chair93.95 Edward's94.28 office,94.92 myself,95.88 down96.67 my96.92 far97.08 left,97.31 representative97.56 Mokley.98.2 I've99.16 got99.4 representative99.64 Higgins100.12 and100.67 our100.92 vice101.08 chair,101.4 representative101.56 Fluger101.95 Reid.102.36 To102.94 my103.1 left103.26 is,103.5 Judiciary104.22 Committee104.7 General105.1 Counsel105.42 Alex105.9 O'Connell.106.3 I107.02 also107.1 wanna107.34 point107.66 out107.82 down107.98 the108.14 far108.3 end108.54 is108.86 the109.18 research109.26 director109.66 Talia110.22 Quinn.110.62 With112.46 that,112.7 I113.74 wanna113.82 get114.14 into114.3 just114.54 a114.78 a114.94 few115.02 ground115.26 rules115.61 to115.84 make115.92 sure116.01 that116.09 we're116.33 all116.56 remembering,117.37 if118.09 you've118.25 been118.41 here118.56 before,118.73 what119.05 we119.2 do.119.37 To120.65 ensure120.89 everyone121.13 who's,121.37 registered122.56 has122.97 a123.13 chance123.2 to123.53 speak,123.61 we123.92 limit124.09 testimony124.48 today125.37 to125.69 3125.84 minutes126.09 per126.56 individual.126.89 Individuals128.02 are128.34 welcome128.5 to128.82 speak128.9 once129.3 per129.62 hearing.129.86 If130.42 you've130.58 got130.74 more130.98 than131.14 1131.38 bill131.62 to131.94 cover,132.1 you132.42 can132.66 do132.82 so132.98 within133.22 3133.54 minutes.133.78
136.42 We're136.42 gonna136.66 prioritize136.9 testimony,137.7 of138.5 those138.66 testifying138.9 in139.46 person.139.62 So139.86 those140.1 who140.26 are140.5 here140.58 today,140.82 when141.14 we141.3 call141.38 that141.62 bill,141.78 we'll142.25 be142.41 looking142.56 to142.72 those142.81 who143.13 are143.21 here143.28 in143.53 person143.6 to143.92 testify144.08 first,144.49 and144.72 then144.88 we'll145.04 go145.21 to145.28 the145.44 virtual,145.53 online146.56 folks.146.97 Today,148.25 we're148.49 cover148.64 covering149.04 29149.44 legislative150.16 proposals,150.81 including151.28 constitutional151.76 amendments.152.41 Summaries153.53 for154 each154.16 bill154.41 are154.64 located154.88 on155.44 masslegislature.gov.156 Committee,158.62 is159.34 required159.58 to160.06 report160.22 on160.54 all160.7 matters160.86 seeking161.42 to161.74 amend161.82 the162.06 constitution162.14 by162.62 April162.86 30163.26 of163.66 this163.9 this164.22 year.164.46 On165.66 house165.9 bills,166.14 the166.46 committee166.62 must166.94 report167.18 bills167.66 considered168.06 during168.38 this168.62 hearing168.86 by169.18 June169.34 7,169.75 subject170.62 to171.1 house171.18 rule171.5 27.171.82 We've172.99 got173.22 about173.39 45173.63 individuals174.19 total175.15 signed175.63 up175.87 to176.03 speak176.1 today,176.34 so176.59 I176.75 ask176.82 you176.99 to177.06 take177.15 this177.31 into177.47 consideration177.71 when178.5 it's178.75 your178.99 turn179.22 to179.63 come179.71 up.179.87 We180.26 wanna180.43 be180.67 considerate180.82 so181.22 that181.31 every181.47 person181.63 has181.94 an182.1 opportunity182.19 to182.67 testify182.75 and183.63 share183.87 their184.1 stories184.34 with184.75 us.184.91 We185.48 ask185.64 anyone185.8 watching186.28 or186.6 waiting186.84 to187.16 testify187.24 to187.56 please187.72 be187.96 respectful,188.12 refrain189.24 from189.56 use189.96 of190.28 cell190.6 phones,190.84 and191.96 pages192.28 to192.92 the193.08 extent193.16 that193.48 people193.64 still193.88 have194.12 pages.194.28 Please195.56 silence195.88 those.196.28 We196.6 also196.76 reserve197 the197.24 right197.32 to197.48 remove197.56 anyone197.88 from198.12 the198.28 hearing198.36 room198.6 who's198.76 causing199 disruptions.199.32 This200.87 hearing,201.1 I201.43 don't201.5 expect201.66 too201.91 much201.99 of202.15 it,202.22 but202.47 we202.54 will202.71 have202.87 some203.03 sensitive203.19 hearings203.58 going203.99 forward.204.15 And204.87 so205.19 signs,205.58 and207.03 any207.19 sort207.43 of207.66 disruptions207.82 will208.78 not208.94 be209.1 tolerated.209.26 It's209.75 a209.99 attempt210.22 to210.47 intimidate210.63 others211.19 who211.75 may211.82 not211.99 share212.22 your212.38 point212.54 of212.71 view,212.78 and213.44 we213.6 will213.76 not213.84 be214.32 allowing214.8 that,215.2 here216.16 in216.64 this216.8 committee.217.04 No217.92 person218.08 may218.4 read218.64 testimony218.88 on219.44 behalf219.6 of220.32 somebody220.56 else,220.88 but221.76 the221.92 commit222.08 the222.48 committee222.64 will223.04 accept223.28 written223.76 testimony224.08 for224.88 as225.12 long225.2 as225.36 that225.44 bill225.6 is225.84 before226 the226.32 committee.226.4 Anyone227.5 wishing227.91 to228.31 submit228.47 written228.78 testimony229.1 by229.59 mail229.82 may230.15 do230.38 so230.54 by230.78 sending231.03 a231.58 letter231.82 to232.15 the232.31 joint232.47 committee232.71 on233.03 the233.19 judiciary233.34 at234.31 24234.54 Beacon235.03 Street,235.43 Room235.99 136,236.22 Boston,237.19 Mass237.58 02133.238.06 On239.96 house240.2 bills,240.36 you240.76 may240.92 email241.08 Talia241.56 Quinn241.96 at242.52 talia,242.76 t243.24 a243.48 l243.64 I243.88 a,243.96 dot244.84 q245.16 u245.64 I245.8 n246.12 n246.36 at246.92 m247.08 a247.32 house247.48 dot247.8 gov.247.96 And248.76 on249 senate249.16 bills,249.56 to250.04 Grace250.28 Giordina,250.76 which251.88 is252.12 g252.28 r252.44 a252.68 c252.84 e253.08 dot253.4 g253.96 I254.28 o254.52 r254.76 d255.44 I255.69 n255.76 a256.17 at256.88 mass257.13 senate257.37 dot257.76 gov.258.08 All258.96 written259.21 testimony259.52 received260 by260.25 the260.4 committee260.49 will260.88 be260.96 made261.05 publicly261.21 available,261.69 provided,262.49 however,262.81 the263.21 chairs,263.37 senator263.85 Edwards,264.17 and264.4 I264.49 may264.64 limit264.81 and265.05 redact265.13 testimony265.44 that266.25 includes266.49 sensitive266.96 personal267.44 information267.76 or268.4 information268.64 we269.05 believe269.29 may269.52 jeopardize269.69 the270.25 health,270.32 wellness,270.9 or271.62 safety271.86 of272.34 the272.5 testifier272.66 or273.22 others.273.3 To274.26 that274.42 end,274.66 if274.98 you275.14 are275.38 recording275.46 on276.02 your276.18 own276.34 device,276.5 I276.82 know276.9 that277.06 we're277.22 recording277.46 here277.86 on278.5 malegislature.gov,278.74 please280.58 alert280.82 Talia281.14 Quinn281.46 now.281.78 There282.1 may282.34 be282.5 testimony282.58 that283.14 is283.3 of283.57 a283.74 highly283.81 sensitive283.9 nature,283.98 that285.42 the285.57 chair285.65 and285.9 I285.98 will286.22 not286.3 be286.46 allowed286.54 to286.86 be286.94 recorded287.18 if287.74 the287.9 safety288.06 of,288.3 individuals288.78 are289.34 imperiled289.5 by289.98 that290.13 testimony.290.38 So291.25 if291.42 you291.5 are291.65 recording291.81 on292.22 your292.3 own,292.38 please292.54 let292.86 Talia292.94 Quinn293.25 know.293.57 We'll294.46 be294.69 calling294.86 the,295.57 testifying296.56 based297.28 on297.6 bill297.76 number298 in298.24 your298.48 name298.64 as298.88 written299.04 on299.28 the299.36 registration299.52 form.300.16 If300.72 you300.96 signed301.04 up301.36 for301.52 multiple301.68 bills,302.16 you'll302.96 be303.2 called303.36 on303.6 the303.76 first303.92 bill304.08 you304.32 listed304.48 as305.28 your305.44 primary305.68 bill306.16 on306.56 the306.72 registration306.8 form.307.52 This308.16 will308.4 become308.56 easy309.04 to309.28 understand309.44 as310.08 we310.24 get310.4 into310.56 the310.8 hearing,310.88 and311.89 as312.06 we312.13 have312.3 more312.45 hearings.312.69 But313.01 welcome313.18 everyone,313.5 here.314.62 And315.33 with315.57 that,315.81 we'll316.54 kick316.77 it316.94 off,317.01 with317.81 representative318.13 Kim319.01 Ferguson,319.33 Kimberly319.81 Ferguson,320.21 who's320.86 here321.1 to321.25 testify321.33 on321.81 h321.98 16322.69 86323.42 s324.21 1324.54 2324.86 5325.1 4,325.33 a326.13 resolve326.21 creating326.62 a326.94 commission327.01 to327.33 study327.71 the328.03 int328.21 in328.56 intentional328.91 misrepresentation329.39 of330.35 service330.59 animals.331.07 Welcome,331.95 Adam332.99 Leader.333.23
334.35 SPEAKER2334.35 -334.35 Good334.35 afternoon,334.67 chair337.07 Day337.39 and337.55 chair337.71 Edwards,338.03 and338.43 members338.59 of338.99 the339.15 committee.339.23 It340.24 is340.39 a340.56 pleasure340.71 to341.12 be341.19 here,341.44 back342.15 at342.39 it342.47 and343.27 be343.51 part343.75 of343.91 your344.07 first344.39 committee344.71 hearing.345.19 I345.68 look345.91 that346.15 as346.39 a346.56 very346.71 good346.95 sign.347.19 I348.39 do348.63 have348.79 some348.95 special349.19 guests349.6 with349.83 me350.07 who350.31 you350.47 will350.63 be350.79 hearing350.95 from351.27 later351.6 on.351.91 But,352.97 yes,353.21 I353.37 am353.69 here353.85 to354.09 testify354.25 on354.73 behalf354.89 of355.21 H356.25 1686,357.29 an357.29 act357.61 relative357.85 to358.25 a358.41 commission358.57 to358.97 study359.13 the359.37 intentional359.61 misrepresentation360.09 of361.61 a361.77 service361.93 animal.362.33 A363.05 bill363.21 I363.61 have363.77 filed364.01 again364.33 this364.65 session,364.81 and365.13 I'm365.37 very365.53 happy365.77 to366.17 be366.38 joined366.62 this367.33 session367.5 by,368.06 representative369.33 Kilcoyne369.98 who370.54 has370.69 been370.86 a371.1 long371.18 advocate371.74 and372.3 supporter372.45 of373.42 this373.57 initiative.373.81 So374.38 she374.62 has374.77 co374.94 filed375.18 it375.5 with375.65 me375.81 this375.98 session.376.21 Being377.74 brief,378.13 again,378.87 I'd379.11 like379.27 to379.43 thank379.59 the379.83 members379.91 for380.31 their380.47 past380.71 support.381.03 We381.43 were381.59 very381.91 proud382.23 that383.19 the383.35 bill383.51 passed383.75 unanimously384.15 in384.87 the384.95 house385.11 last385.43 session,385.67 so386.31 we386.39 view386.71 that387.03 as387.27 a387.51 very387.67 positive388.07 step388.63 in389.19 a389.43 much389.59 needed389.99 start390.55 in391.53 getting391.69 a393.06 effective393.13 service394.25 dog394.74 bill395.13 on395.53 the395.69 books395.85 in396.18 Massachusetts396.25 and397.06 signed397.21 into397.45 law.397.85 There398.89 are399.13 many399.29 reasons399.53 why400.01 we400.25 need400.41 this.400.57 We400.89 need401.06 to401.21 join401.38 at401.77 least401.94 27402.18 other402.81 states403.06 who403.95 have404.19 done404.43 this404.59 already,404.91 and406.03 we406.27 just406.43 feel406.67 that406.91 the407.15 time407.31 is407.71 now.408.03 We've408.59 had408.91 enough409.15 examples,409.47 enough410.03 stories.410.43 You'll411.47 hear411.79 testimony.412.11 There413.55 is413.79 also413.87 testimony414.27 being414.91 submitted415.23 by415.79 folks416.03 about416.51 what416.83 this417.07 means417.31 to417.63 them417.79 and417.95 why418.11 it's418.91 so419.07 important.419.43 Lastly,420.15 I'm420.55 just420.79 gonna420.94 share421.11 1421.43 quick421.75 thing421.99 1422.47 quick422.63 story422.94 with423.35 you,423.43 and425.19 it425.43 was425.5 by425.75 pure425.99 coincidence.426.31 Just427.5 this427.75 weekend,427.99 my430.38 husband430.55 and430.87 I431.03 were431.19 at431.59 a432.47 local432.63 establishment433.32 watching433.96 the434.28 men's434.52 basketball434.92 tournament435.96 on436.52 Saturday.436.76 And,437.88 quickly,439.96 I440.36 realized440.6 there441 was441.16 a441.4 a441.8 dog441.96 wearing442.28 a442.6 red442.68 vest,442.92 a443.32 small443.48 dog443.8 that444.04 was444.2 sitting444.36 on444.6 someone's444.76 lap.446.33 This446.74 just447.06 happened447.21 Saturday.447.62 And,448.74 she450.1 was450.33 playing450.5 with450.81 the450.98 dog.451.13 The451.54 dog451.69 had451.94 a452.18 a452.5 poorly452.65 marked453.13 vest453.45 that453.77 did453.94 say454.18 service454.42 dog454.74 on455.06 it.455.21 3456.18 times,456.65 that457.62 dog457.94 aggressed458.33 on458.81 someone459.06 walking459.54 by.460.01 Did460.89 not461.05 make461.29 contact,461.61 did462.17 not462.41 actually462.65 bite.463.13 1464.57 was464.81 a464.97 server465.21 that465.77 bent466.17 down466.41 to466.73 actually466.97 just467.29 refill467.53 the467.93 woman's468.09 water468.49 glass,468.81 and469.85 the470.01 dog470.25 aggressed.471.21 And472.25 the472.73 last472.97 person473.29 that473.69 came473.85 up473.87
473.88 SPEAKER3473.88 -473.88 that473.88 wanted473.9 to473.91 pet473.93 the473.95 dog,473.96 which473.98 we473.99 know474.01 and474.03
474.04 SPEAKER2474.04 -474.04 all474.04 of474.06 you474.07 know474.09 because474.17 pet474.68 the475.26 dog,475.85 which476.44 we477.24 know477.26 and477.29 all477.31 of478.27 you478.68 know478.71
478.75 SPEAKER3478.75 -478.75 because478.75 you've478.79 been478.83 so478.91
479 SPEAKER2479 -479 exposed479 to479.39 service479.79 dogs479.88 here481.31 in481.47 the481.79 building,481.88 you482.27 know,482.68 asking483.24 to483.47 pet483.56 a484.19 dog,484.35 a484.51 service484.6 dog,485.24 is485.31 something485.47 that486.24 we487 must487.03 do487.07 because487.15 they're487.56 supposed487.95 to488.35 be488.44 working488.6 with488.91 their489.07 companion489.31 and490.03 they're490.27 working.490.64 And491.6 a491.92 mother492.08 walked492.48 up492.64 with492.88 her493.04 young493.2 child,493.52 and493.92 the494.08 child494.24 was494.56 at494.8 face495.04 level495.36 with495.84 this496 dog496.24 and497.12 asked497.44 if497.68 she497.84 could498 pet498.16 the498.4 dog.498.56 And498.96 I499.12 was499.28 holding499.44 my499.76 breath,499.92 and501.12 the501.28 person501.44 very501.84 wisely502 said,502.48 no,502.72 please503.04 don't,503.36 and504 picked504.24 up504.31 the504.56 dog504.71 and504.95 showed505.19 her505.35 the505.6 bow505.68 in505.83 the506.07 dog's506.15 hair506.48 and506.71 fluffed506.88 the507.19 dog507.27 and507.51 did507.68 all507.83 this508 other508.07 stuff.508.31 And508.95 it509.19 was509.27 just509.44 very509.68 inappropriate.510 And510.71 the511.04 poor511.12 dog,511.35 I511.75 could511.91 tell,512.08 was512.32 very512.55 stressed.512.88 That513.6 to513.91 me514.08 is514.39 a514.55 perfect514.63 example,515.12 a515.75 timely515.83 example516.32 of517.12 why517.38 we517.62 need517.78 this518.34 commission518.66 and519.22 why519.38 we519.62 need519.7 to519.94 get520.02 a520.26 law520.34 on520.5 the520.66 books.520.74 I'll521.46 wrap521.62 it521.78 up521.86 by522.1 saying522.26 on522.5 my522.66 way522.82 out,522.98 I523.22 did523.38 ask523.7 to523.94 speak524.1 to524.34 a524.5 supervisor524.66 that525.3 was525.46 there,525.62 and526.5 they526.74 said526.98 that527.22 they527.38 were527.54 aware527.7 of528.02 the528.1 problem.528.26 They528.74 were528.9 thankful529.14 the529.54 dog529.7 didn't529.94 bite530.18 anyone,530.5 and530.52 that530.53
530.55 SPEAKER3530.55 -530.55 there530.55 was530.56 nothing530.58 they530.6 could530.61 do.530.63 They530.64 were530.66 afraid530.68 that530.69
530.71 SPEAKER2530.71 -530.71 they'd530.71 end530.72 up530.74 on530.76 Facebook530.77 or530.79 in530.8 social530.82 media.531.07
534.05 Nothing534.05 they534.13 could534.33 do.534.54 They534.75 were534.95 afraid535.16 that535.37 they'd535.47 end535.58 up535.69 on535.8 Facebook535.91 or536.02 in536.13 social536.68 media.536.76 So537.8 again,538.13 thank538.85 you539 so539.17 much.539.49 I540.05 really540.13 appreciate540.37 the540.93 time541.25 and541.57 the541.88 support,542.21 and542.68 I542.85 look542.93 forward543.17 to543.4 a543.57 favorable543.64 report544.29 so544.61 we544.85 can544.93 get545.17 this545.33 bill545.57 onto546.04 the546.36 House546.44 and546.76 Senate.546.92 Thank547.4 you.547.64
548.04 SPEAKER1548.04 -548.04 Thank548.04 you,548.2 representative.548.44 Any549 questions549.32 from,549.88 members550.44 of550.76 the550.84 committee?550.92
553.48 Seeing553.48 none.553.8 Thanks554.04 very554.28 much.554.52 I554.68 also554.76 wanna555 recognize,555.16 representative555.64 Sullivan556.12 Almeida,556.52 has557.16 joined557.32 as557.64 well.557.8 Welcome.558.12
562.48 I562.48 see,562.8 Senator563.51 Lovely564.08 here.564.48 Did565.12 you565.27 wanna565.43 testify565.6 on566 the566.08 bill?566.15
570.88 SPEAKER4570.88 -570.88 Mister570.88 chairman,571.2 madam571.6 chairman,571.92 members572.24 of572.48 the572.63 committee,572.8 thank574.24 you574.48 for574.48 the574.48 opportunity574.49 to574.49 testify.574.5 Thank574.5 you574.5 for574.51 taking574.51 me574.52 out574.52 of574.53 order.574.53 I574.53 will574.54 be574.54 brief.574.55 I'm574.55 here574.55 to575.2 testify.575.89 Thank575.97 you576.13 for576.21 taking576.37 me576.61 out576.77 of576.93 order.577.09 I577.33 will577.41 be577.57 brief.578.21 I'm579.01 here579.17 to579.33 testify579.49 on580.13 behalf580.37 of580.77 senate580.85 number581.25 11581.57 68,581.97 house582.61 number583.01 16583.25 49,583.81 an584.45 act584.53 concerning584.77 furnishing585.25 transcripts585.81 of586.29 notes586.45 and586.77 fees.586.93 It's588.04 regarding588.37 the588.85 court589 transcribers589.4 who590.04 play590.21 an590.45 important590.52 role590.92 in591.09 our591.16 criminal591.49 justice591.96 system.592.37 These593.25 approved593.49 court593.96 transcribers594.37 have595 passed595.16 a595.4 tough595.57 selection595.73 process596.37 confirming596.85 their597.4 education597.57 and598.04 job598.21 experience,598.45 and599 have599.16 shown599.33 their599.57 ability599.73 to600.04 produce600.21 quality600.52 transcripts601 that602.04 accurately602.28 reflect603 the603.4 record603.49 of603.78 the603.94 court.604.02 And605.06 the605.3 reason605.38 why605.62 we605.86 are606.02 here606.1 today606.34 is606.58 because606.82 the607.7 cost608.02 per608.34 page608.58 to608.9 produce,609.06 these610.58 transcripts610.82 is611.38 $3611.54 per612.02 page,612.26 which612.9 was613.14 set613.38 in613.7 1988.613.86 It615.22 has615.46 not615.7 moved616.02 since616.42 that616.82 time.617.14 If,617.86 if618.34 we618.5 had,618.66 applied620.32 the620.63 cost620.8 of620.96 inflation,621.2 it621.51 would621.75 be621.92 $8622.08 a622.56 page622.72 today623.36 in623.75 2025.623.92 But624.96 the625.2 request625.27 is625.68 for625.84 4626 dollars626.24 and626.48 50626.63 cents626.96 per627.27 page.627.43 There628.56 are628.8 some629.04 transcribers629.27 here630 that630.32 will630.48 be630.63 testifying630.8 from631.43 the631.68 district.631.84 I'm632.59 grateful632.83 for633.23 their633.55 work633.79 that634.03 they634.19 continue634.43 to634.83 do634.99 this635.15 at635.31 a635.47 discount635.63 rate.636.03 Also637.07 I637.31 believe637.39 this637.71 is637.95 the638.11 eighth,638.19 session638.99 that639.23 the639.47 bill639.63 has639.87 been640.11 filed,640.75 but640.99 it641.15 just641.31 hasn't641.47 made641.71 it641.95 across642.03 the642.35 finish642.43 line.642.83 I643.23 would643.31 appreciate643.55 the643.95 committee's,644.11 consideration645.07 of645.87 the646.11 bill.646.26 Thank646.59 you.646.75 Happy647.14 to647.47 answer647.54 any647.79 questions.648.02
649.3 SPEAKER1649.3 -649.3 Thank649.3 you,649.47 senator.649.54 Any650.02 questions650.26 from650.66 Yeah.650.9 Of651.07 course.651.23
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712.7 SPEAKER11712.7 -712.7 Well,712.7 thank712.86 you.713.1 Thank713.5 you,713.74 mister713.9 chairman,714.3 chairman715.5 Day,715.9 and716.22 and716.7 chair716.94 Edwards.717.26 Pleasure718.78 to719.18 be719.34 with719.5 you719.66 today.719.9 This721.74 is721.98 a722.06 bill722.22 that722.46 I722.62 filed722.78 previously723.1 and723.74 and,724.46
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907.81 SPEAKER1907.81 -907.81 Terrific.907.81 Hang908.05 on908.21 1908.37 sec.908.53 Yeah.908.77 Thank908.93 you.909.17 Oh,909.29 yes.909.41 Any910.05 questions910.29 from910.69 members911.01 of911.33 the911.49 panel?911.57 Seeing913.89 none?914.21 Thanks,914.61 Rep.915.01
915.33 SPEAKER11915.33 -915.33 Thank915.33 you.915.57 Appreciate915.81 it.916.13 Thank916.21 you916.37 for916.53 your916.69 time.916.77
918.21 SPEAKER1918.21 -918.21 See,918.21 senator918.61 Olivera919.01 here919.41 to919.57 testify.919.73 He920.05 signed920.29 up920.45 on920.74 s921.06 1921.38 2921.62 3921.86 7,922.18 an922.58 act922.82 relative923.06 to923.54 wagering923.7 on924.18 political924.34 outcomes.924.89 Welcome,926.42 senator.926.82
929.13 SPEAKER12929.13 -929.13 Thank929.13 you,929.38 chair930.34 Edwards,930.74 chair931.22 Dave,931.54 distinguished931.94 members932.34 of932.65 the932.82 committee.932.98 I'm933.5 here933.74 to933.9 testify934.06 on934.46 a934.62 new934.7 bill934.94 that935.1 I935.26 filed935.42 this935.74 session,935.98 something936.38 that936.7 we937.02 work937.18 very937.42 closely937.66 with938.54 senate938.86 counsel939.26 on,939.66 and939.9 it's940.14 a940.26 bill940.38 regarding940.7 wagering941.82 on942.38 political942.54 outcomes.943.1 In943.98 the944.14 20944.46 24944.78 elections,945.34 3400000000.0946.62 dollars948.62 were949.49 wagered949.73 on950.37 the950.61 outcome950.76 of951.16 the951.33 20951.49 24951.88 presidential952.68 election.953.4 We954.45 are954.61 seeing954.85 wagering955.8 on956.76 races,956.92 not957.64 just957.88 for958.13 president,958.29 but959.16 for959.4 Congress,959.57 for960.29 the960.52 US960.68 Senate,960.92 for961.57 gubernatorial962.04 elections,962.76 and963.48 yes,963.72 colleagues,964.6 even965.64 our965.96 elections966.28 are966.92 subject967.08 to967.8 gaming968.04 and968.6 wagering.968.84 Several969.96 states970.36 have970.76 already971 put971.24 in971.4 place971.48 legislation,971.88 including972.44 our972.92 neighbor973.08 in973.4 Connecticut,973.64 to974.28 prohibit974.44 political975 wagering975.5 within,975.89 the977.25 Nutmeg977.5 State977.98 in978.21 Connecticut.978.46 I979.34 know979.41 that,979.65 federally,979.89 2981.17 members981.34 of981.65 Congress981.82 have982.21 filed982.38 legislation982.7 to983.41 ban983.65 the984.21 practice984.46 of985.1 wagering985.25 on985.82 political985.98 outcomes986.53 at987.25 the987.41 federal987.5 level,987.89 1988.21 filed988.53 on988.86 the989.01 senate989.1 side989.92 by990 senator990.4 Merkley990.8 from991.28 Oregon991.6 and992.56 also992.72 by993.12 representative993.44 Raskin994.08 from,994.48 Maryland.995.12 Both996.08 of996.32 those996.48 bills996.8 would997.12 supersede997.28 anything997.92 that998.24 we998.4 pass998.56 here998.8 in999.04 the999.12 Commonwealth.999.28 However,1000.16 for1000.88 sports1001.28 betting1001.68 purposes,1002.4 we1003.33 are1003.49 seeing1003.73 on1004.28 the1004.52 rise1004.68 betting1005.16 on1005.73 all1006.04 sorts1006.28 of1006.52 outcomes,1006.76 especially1007.96 with1008.52 foreign1008.92 interference1009.33 and1010.37 questioning1011.4 election1012.21 results1012.76 and1013.33 political1013.49 outcomes.1014.04 I1014.76 think1014.92 it's1015.09 important1015.25 that1015.64 Massachusetts1015.73 continue1016.76 to1017.25 lead1017.33 the1017.57 way1017.73 and1018.46 prohibit1018.62 betting1019.34 on1019.82 our1020.06 democratic1020.22 institutions.1020.86 You1021.98 know,1022.14 if1022.46 we're1023.1 running1024.06 for1024.38 election1024.86 ourselves,1025.42 and1026.22 we1026.38 are1026.54 throwing1026.78 off1027.18 the1027.34 outcomes1027.58 of1027.98 even1028.14 our1028.46 elections1028.62 or1029.02 other1029.26 elections1029.5 on1029.98 there,1030.22 we1030.54 could1030.78 find1030.94 ourselves1031.1 in1031.5 a1031.66 Pete1031.82 Rose1031.98 situation1032.38 for1033.14 members1033.3 of1033.54 the1033.87 legislature.1034.02 That1035.14 even1035.46 extends1035.87 beyond1036.35 elections1037.07 in1037.63 general,1037.78 and1038.35 could1038.5 actually1038.74 extend1039.22 into1039.7 nearly1040.26 7,0001040.74 bills1041.46 we1041.87 file1042.11 each1042.42 session,1042.66 where1043.3 people1043.63 begin1044.02 to1044.35 bet1044.5 on1045.14 the1045.3 outcomes1045.46 of1046.18 legislation1046.34 that1047.06 we1047.3 file,1047.54 and1048.1 people1048.34 working1048.9 within1049.22 this1049.54 building1049.78 and1050.1 members1050.34 themselves1050.66 could1051.46 have1051.7 a1051.86 vested1051.94 interest1052.34 to1053.38 actually1054.26 wager1054.74 on1055.38 bills1055.54 that1055.94 are1056.1 before1056.18 this1056.58 legislature.1056.9 So1057.78 I1058.11 am1058.18 happy1058.42 to1058.66 work1058.74 with,1059.07 the1059.79 committee1059.95 staff1060.35 on1060.74 both1060.98 senator1061.22 Edwards1061.63 and1061.95 representative1062.18 Zay's1062.9 side1063.14 to1063.63 refine1063.87 this1064.18 legislation,1064.42 work1065.14 with1065.38 you,1065.63 and1065.87 work1066.03 with1066.27 your1066.42 staff1066.59 so1067.07 we1067.22 can1067.38 ensure1067.55 that1067.87 here1068.11 in1068.27 the1068.35 Commonwealth1068.51 of1068.98 Massachusetts,1069.22 we1070.16 don't1070.32 have1070.56 people1071.04 betting1071.52 on1072.16 our1072.4 democratic1072.64 institutions.1073.36 And1074.4 I'd1074.56 be1074.72 happy1074.88 at1075.44 your1075.6 discretion,1075.76 mister1076.24 chair,1076.48 to1076.8 take1076.96 any1077.12 questions.1077.36
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1097.87 SPEAKER71097.87 -1097.87 Chair1097.87 Day,1098.11 chair1098.51 Edwards,1098.83 honorable1099.46 members1099.94 of1100.35 the1100.51 committee,1100.66 thank1101.46 you1101.77 for1101.93 having1102.09 me.1102.73 I1103.37 am1103.53 here1103.77 to1103.93 support1104.17 h1104.81 66,1105.37 a1106.73 proposal1106.97 for1107.53 a1107.77 legislative1107.85 amendment1108.57 to1109.05 the1109.21 constitution1109.37 relative1110.73 to1111.21 oaths1111.45 of1111.77 office.1111.93 This1112.97 amendment1113.21 would1114.09 change1114.33 the1114.81 oath1114.97 of1115.29 office1115.45 for1116.18 elective1116.35 and1117.07 appointed1117.3 civil1118.42 and1118.83 military1119.07 office1119.87 by1120.74 removing1120.98 the1121.55 required1121.79 phrase,1122.42 so1123.38 help1123.63 me1123.87 god,1124.11 and1124.98 using1125.22 the1125.55 words1125.79 swear1126.51 or1126.9 affirm.1127.22 Whether1128.66 or1128.98 not1129.22 11129.55 believes1129.94 in1130.14 god,1130.34 multiple1131.54 gods,1132.02 or1132.9 no1133.14 god1133.38 should1134.18 not1134.42 be1134.74 a1134.98 barrier1135.06 to1135.78 affirming1136.02 one's1136.66 commitment1136.98 to1137.94 serve1138.18 their1138.5 community1138.74 and1139.62 to1139.86 uphold1140.1 the1140.5 constitution1140.74 of1141.54 the1141.62 Commonwealth.1141.78 The1143.22 requirement1143.38 to1144.02 swear1144.26 an1144.5 oath1144.82 under1145.14 God1146.39 is1146.55 inconsistent1146.95 with1148.15 the1148.32 separation1148.55 of1149.12 church1149.28 and1149.6 state.1149.84 While1151.19 there1151.43 is1151.76 an1151.91 exemption1152.15 to1153.19 the1153.36 phrasing1153.52 for1154.55 those1154.79 identifying1155.12 as1155.91 members1156.15 of1156.55 the1156.63 Quaker1156.79 denomination,1157.28 no1158.63 other1158.88 form1159.28 of1160.15 the1160.32 oath1160.47 is1160.79 available1161.22 to1161.54 other1161.86 religions1162.74 or1163.7 non1163.94 religious1164.18 individuals.1165.06 There1166.74 have1166.98 been1167.14 suggestions1167.38 allowing1168.26 a1168.74 choice1168.9 for1169.54 people1169.7 to1170.1 either1170.34 swear1170.74 or1171.3 affirm.1171.7 This1172.66 would1172.9 inherently1173.14 require1173.86 a1174.42 public1174.5 statement1174.98 about1176.11 one's1176.27 religious1176.66 beliefs1177.31 or1177.94 lack1178.18 thereof.1178.42 Under1179.87 this1180.18 proposal,1180.51 the1181.22 constitution1181.46 would1183.07 under1184.03 this1184.35 proposal,1184.59 the1185.14 language1185.38 in1185.79 the1185.94 constitution1186.11 would1186.98 be,1187.22 I1187.87 do1188.03 solemnly1188.27 swear1188.98 or1189.55 affirm1189.79 that1190.68 I1190.76 will1191 bear1191.24 truth,1192.2 faith,1192.6 and1192.84 allegiance1193.08 to1193.64 the1193.8 Commonwealth1194.04 of1194.52 Massachusetts1194.84 and1196.2 will1196.44 support1196.68 the1197.08 constitution1197.4 thereof.1198.2 When1199.32 appropriate,1199.56 the1200.28 oath1200.44 would1200.68 include1200.84 under1201.56 the1201.8 penalties1202.04 of1202.6 perjury.1202.76
1202.78 SPEAKER31202.78 -1202.78 Article1202.78 61202.8 of1202.82 the1202.85 US1202.87 constitution1202.89 states,1202.91 no1202.93 religious1202.95 test1202.97 shall1202.99
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3786.46 SPEAKER263786.46 -3786.46 What3786.46 did3786.7 we3786.86 do3787.02 wrong3787.26 in3787.58
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3827.14 SPEAKER13827.14 -3827.14 Thank3827.14 you3827.38 for3827.45 your3827.53 testimony.3827.69 Any3828.57 questions3828.82 from3829.21 members3829.78 of3830.18 the3830.26 panel3830.34 at3830.66 this3830.73 time?3830.89
3833.14 SPEAKER103833.14 -3833.14 Seeing3833.14 none,3833.45 thank3833.78 you3833.93 all.3834.09
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3858.63 SPEAKER13858.63 -3858.63 Welcome.3858.63
3859.91 SPEAKER283859.91 -3859.91 Good3859.91 afternoon,3860.07 Chair3860.55 Day.3860.78 Good3861.18 afternoon,3861.34 Chair3861.82 Ewigz,3861.98 members3863.03 of3863.34 the3863.51 committee.3863.66 My3864.63 name3864.78 is3864.95 Linda3865.16 Wesson,3865.48 and3865.8 I3865.96 live3866.04 on3866.28 Cape3866.52 Cod.3866.76 I've3867.8 been3867.96 an3868.2 approved3868.28 court3868.68 transcriber3869 since3869.48 1996.3869.72 I3871 am3871.16 here3871.32 today3871.56 to3871.8 speak3871.88 on3872.2 behalf3872.36 of3872.68 the3872.76 other3872.92 court3873.16 transcriptionists3873.4 that3874.12 cannot3874.28 be3874.6 here3874.76 today.3875 At3876.04 the3876.2 October3876.44 20233877.44 hearing,3878.44 this3878.92 room3879.08 was3879.32 packed3879.56 with3879.8 transcriptionists3880.12 who3881.05 made3881.21 the3881.34 effort3881.45 to3881.86 attend3882.01 in3882.26 person3882.49 despite3882.89 the3883.3 financial3883.53 sacrifice3884.01 of3884.57 losing3884.73 a3885.21 day's3885.3 pay.3885.61 Their3886.49 strong3886.82 presence3887.05 at3887.45 that3887.61 hearing3887.78 highlighted3888.18 how3888.57 deeply3888.82 this3889.21 issue3889.38 is3889.61 affecting3889.86 us.3890.34 The3891.69 role3891.93 of3892.18 the3892.26 court3892.34 reporter3892.66 extends3893.14 far3893.61 beyond3893.86 just3894.26 typing3894.49 words3894.82 from3895.14 audio.3895.38 It3896.09 is3896.45 a3896.53 physically3896.77 taxing3897.25 job3897.57 sitting3897.89 in3898.21 13898.37 position3898.53 all3899.01 day.3899.25 The3900.37 process3900.53 demands3900.93 precise3901.41 listening3901.97 skills,3902.37 editing,3902.93 proofreading,3903.81 and3904.45 tons3904.61 of3904.93 research3905.09 for3905.41 accuracy,3905.65 which3907.41 is3907.57 not3907.81 reflected3908.05 in3908.53 our3908.69 current3908.77 page3909.09 rate.3909.41 Transcriptionists3910.32 are3910.95 responsible3911.2 for3911.68 absorbing3911.99 all3912.72 our3912.95 technology,3915.03 software,3915.91 hardware3916.39 maintenance.3916.88 We're3917.52 responsible3917.76 for3918.39 those.3919.36 This3920.32 statute3920.64 has3921.03 remained3921.2 unchanged3921.59 for3922.39 373922.47 years3922.95 and3923.27 fails3923.43 to3923.75 account3923.91 for3924.23 today's3924.55 economic3925.67 realities.3926.31 All3927.35 of3927.59 us3927.67 have3927.83 been3927.99 impacted3928.23 by3928.71 the3928.87 rising3929.03 costs3929.43 in3929.75 nearly3929.91 every3930.39 aspect3930.63 of3931.03 daily3931.19 life.3931.59 By3932.39 increasing3932.63 this3932.95 page3933.19 rate3933.43 to3933.67 43933.83 50,3934.07 it3934.71 will3934.87 help3935.11 acknowledge3935.43 the3935.95 labor,3936.11 time,3936.59 and3936.91 personal3937.07 costs3937.55 involved3937.86 in3938.18 this3938.34 job.3938.51 In3939.3 closing,3939.55 we3940.03 deeply3940.18 appreciate3940.59 your3940.99 valuable3941.22 time.3941.78 We3942.74 urge3942.99 you3943.22 to3943.39 support3943.47 and3943.86 follow3944.03 through3944.34 with3944.59 house3944.74 bill3945.07 163945.3 493945.78 and3946.34 report3946.59 this3946.91 bill3947.14 out3947.39 favorably3947.55 again3948.18 like3948.59 you3948.74 did3948.82 last3949.07 session.3949.3 Thank3949.98 you3950.14 for3950.22 your3950.46 time.3950.62
3950.94 SPEAKER13950.94 -3950.94 Thank3950.94 you,3951.1 miss3951.26 Ross.3951.42 Any3951.66 any3951.9 questions?3952.06 Seeing3953.9 none?3954.22 Thank3954.38 you.3954.62 Next,3956.22 welcome3956.46 up,3956.78 Barbara3957.26 Reardon3957.66 and3958.3 Jennifer3958.62 Witas3959.18 Witasvic.3959.82 Did3961.02 I3961.18 get3961.26 that3961.42 right?3961.58
3978.18 SPEAKER93978.18 -3978.18 This3978.18 feels3978.42 like3978.74 deja3979.06 vu.3979.46 We3980.34 were3980.5 here3980.66 not3980.98 too3981.22 long3981.3 ago.3981.62
3982.1 SPEAKER13982.1 -3982.1 Welcome3982.1 back.3982.42
3986.26 SPEAKER93986.26 -3986.26 Thank3986.26 you,3986.5 Chair3988.98 Eldridge3989.54 and3990.1 Chair3990.42 Edwards3990.74 and3991.22 members3991.46 of3991.72 the3991.81 committee3991.89 for3993.01 letting3993.24 me3993.57 speak.3993.81 My3994.68 name's3994.93 Barbara3995.24 Reardon.3995.72 I3996.2 live3996.36 in3996.61 Westbrookfield.3996.77 I've3998.05 been3998.29 a3998.61 digital3998.77 a3999.24 legal3999.33 transcriber3999.97 for4000.61 424000.85 years4001.41 and4002.29 on4002.45 the4002.61 approved4002.77 transcriber4003.24 list4003.97 since4004.2 02/2008.4004.61 I4006.29 gave4006.53 testimony4007.13 to4007.49 you4007.85 to4008.41 this4008.57 committee4008.81 during4009.29 the4009.61 last4009.69 session.4010.09 Chair4011.13 Day,4011.45 you4011.77 probably4012.01 don't4012.41 remember,4012.81 but4013.53 in4013.77 my4014.01 remarks,4014.25 I4014.73 accused4014.97 many4015.45 attorneys4015.69 of4016.25 wandering4016.41 around4016.89 the4017.21 courtroom,4017.29 and4018.81 you4019.05 confessed4019.21 that4019.61 you4019.85 were4019.93 14020.17 of4020.41 them.4020.57 I4021.78 trust4021.94 that4022.34 you4022.51 now4022.74 know4022.98 the4023.14 importance4023.39 of4023.86 microphones.4024.18 I'm4026.18 also4026.34 sure4026.66 that4026.98 you4027.14 recognize4027.39 the4028.43 importance4028.66 of4029.14 the4029.3 work4029.46 that4029.7 we4029.86 do.4030.03 I4031.63 would4031.86 like4032.03 to4032.26 start4032.43 off4032.74 with4032.98 the4033.14 most4033.3 compelling4033.55 reason4034.26 for4034.82 this4034.98 committee4035.22 to4035.86 report4036.33 age4038.01 164038.33 494038.81 out4039.37 favorably.4039.61 It4040.65 is4040.89 simply4041.05 the4041.53 right4041.69 thing4041.93 to4042.25 do.4042.33 When4043.45 I4043.69 last4043.85 appeared4044.17 before4044.65 you,4045.05 it4045.37 had4045.53 been4045.77 354046.09 years4046.73 without4047.05 an4047.37 increase.4047.53 It4048.57 has4048.81 now4048.97 been4049.29 374049.53 years4050.36 without4050.59 an4050.91 increase.4051.16 Please4052.11 don't4052.59 make4052.91 us4053.08 come4053.32 back4053.56 when4054.28 it's4054.52 394054.91 years.4056.36 A4057.64 very4057.8 personal4058.28 appeal,4058.91 given4059.64 that4060.04 I'm4060.28 probably4060.43 the4060.91 oldest4061.08 act4061.72 on4062.52 the4062.68 list.4062.84 We4065.3 know4065.54 that4065.7 amending4066.02 a4066.34 statue4066.5 is4067.22 a4068.26 tremendous4069.86 amount4070.9 of4071.3 work,4071.54 so4073.22 I4073.46 won't4073.62 go4073.78 into4073.94 that4074.18 because4074.5 you've4075.06 heard4075.7 most4076.1 of4076.34 this4076.5 before.4076.82 But4077.62 I4077.94 wanna4078.02 say4078.42 that,4078.66 raising4080.39 our4080.8 rate4080.95 to4081.2 44081.43 504081.68 would4082.95 bring4084.32 more4084.72 talented,4085.28
4088.16 additional4088.16 talented4088.88 and4089.68 professional4089.91 transcribers4090.64 to4091.43 the4091.68 office,4091.84 which4093.37 would4093.53 lighten4093.77 our4094.17 load.4094.33 We4094.73 are4095.05 so4096.65 overworked4097.05 that4098.41 we're4098.65 putting4098.97 in4100.17 hours,4100.41 you4101.05 know,4101.21 at4101.45 night,4101.69 on4102.09 the4102.25 weekends,4102.41 when4103.61 when4103.93 a4104.25 holiday4104.41 dinner4104.89 is4105.29 over4105.45 and4105.69 everyone's4105.93 gone,4106.49 we're4106.73 back4106.97 to4107.21 our4107.45 computers.4107.61 So4108.81 it's,4109.2 raising4111.13 the4111.45 rate4111.6 would4111.85 attract4112.16 more4112.65 people,4112.89 and4113.2 it4113.45 would4113.52 move4114.01 the4114.32 cases,4114.41
4117.36 faster4117.36 out4117.85 of4118.01 CPCS.4119.36 They're4120.53 they're4120.77 have4121.25 terrible4121.81 backlog4122.29 of4122.93 cases,4123.17 and4124.13 these4124.37 are4124.53 people4124.77 waiting4125.49 indigent4125.97 people4126.45 waiting4126.77 for4127.17 transcripts4127.41 for4128.29 months.4128.53
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4139.53 SPEAKER14139.53 -4139.53 Thank4139.53 you,4139.77 Ms.4139.94 Reardon.4140.09 Just4140.65 for4140.81 your4140.98 education,4141.14 they've4141.45 belted4141.77 me4142.02 into4142.18 my4142.34 chair,4142.49 so4142.73 I4142.9 had4142.98 to4143.14 stay4143.22 down4143.45 the4143.61 microphone.4143.69
4147.05 SPEAKER294147.05 -4147.05 Good4147.05 afternoon.4147.3 My4147.77 name4147.85 is4148.02 Jennifer4148.26 Witasik.4148.73 I4149.89 am4150.21 an4150.53 approved4150.61 court4151.01 transcriber.4151.25 This4151.97 is4152.29 actually4152.53 my4152.93 mother.4153.09 I4153.49 know4153.89 everything4154.21 about4155.09 transcribing.4155.57 I4156.21 learned4156.29 from4156.53 her.4156.85 And4157.41 you've4157.57 heard4157.89 everything4159.01 that4159.49 I4159.65 wanted4159.81 to4160.13 say.4160.29 I'm4160.69 not4160.85 gonna4161.01 repeat4161.25 repeat4161.4 any4161.56 of4161.65 that,4161.72 but4161.89 I4162.05 wanted4162.13 to4162.36 focus4162.6 on4162.93 the4163.09 accuracy4163.24 of4163.72 transcripts.4163.97 When4166.13 I4166.28 was4166.44 an4166.6 official4166.76 court4167.09 reporter,4167.32 a4168.2 few4168.28 years4168.52 after4168.76 I4169.09 started,4169.24 there4169.56 was4169.72 a4169.97 detective4170.05 who4170.68 was4171.32 mentioned4171.56 in4172.28 a4172.52 change4172.84 of4173.16 plea4173.24 hearing4173.58 that4173.9 I4173.98 was4174.14 asked4174.3 to4174.62 transcribe.4174.86 So4175.42 I4176.46 transcribed4176.62 it4177.26 and4177.42 the4177.66 detective's4178.06 name4178.54 was4178.78 Cook.4179.02 So4179.42 I4179.58 thought4179.74 it's4180.06 either4180.3 c4180.7 o4180.86 04181.1 k,4181.26 c4181.74 o4181.98 04182.14 k4182.3 e,4182.62 who4183.1 knows.4183.34 So4184.06 I4184.22 went4184.3 without4184.54 the4184.86 e.4185.18 I4185.98 transcribed4186.44 it,4186.84 and4187.07 a4187.4 couple4187.48 months4187.88 later,4188.11 there4188.52 was4188.76 a4189.4 motion4189.48 to4189.88 suppress4190.03 hearing,4190.44 and4190.76 Detective4190.99 Cook4191.4 was4191.8 the4192.19 witness4192.35 on4192.76 the4192.91 stand.4193.07 And4193.4 when4193.55 the4193.8 prosecutor4193.88 said,4194.52 Detective,4195.31 could4195.88 you4196.03 please4196.11 state4196.35 your4196.59 name4196.76 and4196.91 spell4197.07 your4197.31 name?4197.48 And4198.27 I4198.44 forget4198.59 his4198.91 first4199.15 name,4199.4 but4199.64 he4199.88 said,4199.95 Kuck,4201.36 K4201.52 U4201.6 C4201.76 K.4202 I4202.56 almost4203.44 fell4204 on4204.24 the4204.4 floor.4205.2 So4206.48 we4207.04 look4207.28 everything4207.52 up,4208 and4208.24 it4208.48 takes4208.72 an4209.84 enormous4210.08 amount4210.64 of4210.8 time4210.96 to4211.2 produce4211.28 a4211.6 transcript.4211.84 It4213.04 may4213.2 seem4213.36 like4213.68 it's4214 just4214.08 typing4214.49 how4214.9 hard4215.06 could4215.3 it4215.45 be,4215.53 but4215.77 it4215.94 is,4216.26 it's4216.81 truly4217.22 so4218.02 time4218.26 consuming.4218.49 And4219.14 this4219.3 rate4219.53 is,4220.57 it's4223.06 way4223.3 too4223.53 low4223.69 for4224.1 the4224.49 amount4224.66 of4224.98 time4225.06 that4225.3 we4225.45 spend4225.53 making4225.85 sure4225.98 our4226.09 transcripts4226.22 are4226.34 perfect.4226.41
4231.3 SPEAKER14231.3 -4231.3 Testimony4231.3 and4231.7 and,4231.94 persistence4232.5 as4232.98 well.4233.14 Any4233.38 questions4233.62 from4234.02 the4234.26 committee?4234.5 Representative4235.06 Berthiaume?4235.54 Just4236.1 just4236.42 a4236.58 quick4236.66 question.4236.9
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4246.47 SPEAKER304246.47 -4246.47 an4246.47 hour?4246.63 Just,4246.94 I4247.34 mean,4247.51 and4247.9 I4248.06 guess4248.15 it4248.39 varies,4248.55 but4248.94 I4249.19 mean,4249.26 just4249.51 on4249.74 average.4249.9
4250.23 SPEAKER34250.23 -4250.23 I'm4250.23 just4250.39
4250.55 SPEAKER294250.55 -4250.55 curious.4250.55 It4250.86 definitely4251.1 varies.4251.66 The,4253.59 It's4254.94 about4255.26 14256.86 hour,4257.18 takes4257.82 about4258.14 34258.54 hours4258.78 to4259.18 type,4259.42 and4259.82 then4260.06 on4260.3 top4260.38 of4260.62 that4260.78 is4261.1 the4261.34 research,4261.58 the4262.14 formatting,4262.46 putting4263.5 an4263.82 index4263.98 in.4264.54 So4265.58 depending4267.35 if4267.76 it's4267.91 an4268.15 expert4268.31 testimony,4268.72 it4269.35 could4269.52 take4269.76 much4270.07 more4270.4 time.4270.64 If4270.88 it's4271.11 a4271.27 simple,4271.44 motion4272.8 to4273.11 suppress4273.27 where4273.68 a4273.99 police4274.15 officer4274.48 stops4274.88 a4275.27 vehicle,4275.44 that4276.72 could4276.8 go4277.03 pretty4277.27 quickly.4277.52 So4278.23
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4279.76 SPEAKER114279.76 -4279.76 Okay,4279.76 all4280.23 right.4280.4 Thank4280.75 you.4280.91
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4283.63 SPEAKER54283.63 -4283.63 And4283.63 just4283.79 to4283.95 follow-up4284.11 on4284.35 his4284.51 question,4284.75 all4286.59 that4286.83 time4286.91 is4287.23 uncompensated.4287.55 You're4288.35 only4288.67 paid4288.91 for4289.07 the4289.31 pages4289.39 you4289.79 produce?4289.95
4290.43 SPEAKER294290.43 -4290.43 Yes,4290.43 we4290.67 are4290.83 not4290.99 paid4291.23 for4291.47 our4291.63 time,4291.79 just4292.03 the4292.35 pages4292.51 that4292.91 we4293.15 produce.4293.39
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