(a) The agency may assess the cost of any transcript to the requesting party. This does not preclude the parties from agreeing to share the costs associated with the preparation of a transcript.(b) A party who appeals a final decision in a contested case will be required to pay all or a part of the cost of preparation of the original or a certified copy of the record of the proceeding that is required to be sent to the reviewing court.(c) A charge imposed under this section is a court cost and may be assessed by the court in accordance with the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure.