The fee rate that may be charged and collected by a court reporter for transcripts is four dollars ($4.00) per page. If the defendant prays and is granted an appeal and is determined by the trial judge to be without sufficient funds to pay for the preparation of the transcript of the proceedings, the trial judge shall direct the court reporter to furnish the defendant a complete transcript of the proceedings, the fee for which shall be paid by this state out of money appropriated for that purpose. The reporter may require any party requesting a transcript to pay the estimated fee in advance except as to transcripts which are to be paid for by this state.
T.C.A. § 40-14-312