§51-7-8. Transcripts to be furnished indigent persons in juvenile delinquency and child abuse and neglect proceedings upon timely request; payment therefor.

In any proceeding held pursuant to §49-4-601 through §49-4-725 of this code in which an indigent respondent or his or her counsel has filed a written request, in the manner prescribed by the Supreme Court of Appeals, evidencing an intent to appeal a decision of a circuit court in the proceeding, the court, upon presentation of a written request, presented within 30 days after the entry of the order sought to be appealed, shall authorize and direct the court reporter to furnish a transcript of the testimony of the proceeding or the part or parts of the transcript that have specifically been requested.

The court, after being sufficiently satisfied of the reasonableness of a voucher or claim submitted for payment of the cost of preparing the transcript, shall certify the cost to the State Auditor, who shall, in a timely manner, pay the court reporter’s fee from appropriations to the Supreme Court of Appeals.