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Regular Session, 2010
HOUSE BILL NO. 429
BY REPRESENTATIVE CHANDLER AND SENATOR GUILLORY
COURTS/COURT REPORTERS: Exempts certain court reporters from certification
requirements
AN ACT1
To amend and reenact R.S. 37:2554(B) and (D), 2555(B), and 2556(A), relative to court2
reporters; to provide for qualifications; to provide for definitions; to provide for the3
appointment of court reporters; and to provide for related matters.4
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:5
Section 1. R.S. 37:2554(B) and (D), 2555(B), and 2556(A) are hereby amended and6
reenacted to read as follows: 7
§2554. Qualifications; examinations; certificates 8
* * *9
B. The board may, at its discretion, waive regular examination of any person10
duly holding a comparable C.S.R. certificate from another state and desiring to move11
to Louisiana as a verbatim reporter. Any person duly holding a certification in12
electronic reporting from a recognized authority as defined in R.S. 37:2555(B), or13
any person employed as an official court reporter or deputy official court reporter by14
a court of record utilizing electronic or audio recording as a method of official court15
reporting on or before December 31, 2010, shall be certified as long as they remain16
employed by that court as an official or deputy official court reporter.17
* * *18
D. The board shall in no way restrict the use of electronic equipment to19
certificate holders hereunder in the performance of their duties, but shall exclude the20 HLS 10RS-1329 ENGROSSED
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use of all electronic recording equipment, except stenomask and digital recording1
equipment, to all applicants at the time and place of examination. 2
* * *3
§2555. Definitions 4
* * *5
B. The "practice of court reporting" is defined as the making of a verbatim6
record of any oral court proceeding, sworn statement, public hearing, deposition, or7
related proceeding by the use of written symbols or abbreviations in shorthand or8
machine writing, stenomask voice recording, computer assisted technology,9
electronic or audio recording, or other means. A "certified court reporter" is a person10
certified to engage in the practice of court reporting as provided for in R.S. 37:2554,11
including the practice of shorthand reporting, or certified to engage in the practice12
of electronic reporting by the American Association of Electronic Reporters and13
Transcribers, or any other national or state recognized association or organization14
approved by the board and authorized or licensed to provide education and15
certification for professionals engaged in electronic reporting and transcribing a16
verbatim record of oral court proceedings, and which is approved by the judge or17
court employing the services of the court reporter.18
* * *19
§2556. Appointment of reporter20
A. Official court reporters and deputy official court reporters employed as21
such in a court of record, as defined in R.S. 37:2555(C) and (D), shall be subject to22
the certification requirements of this Chapter, except as provided in R.S. 37:2554(B),23
and shall be subject to the regulatory authority of the board during their employment24
or appointment as court reporters for purposes of either official and general or25
freelance reporting. However, on or before December 31, 1992, the board will26
accept, upon payment of a fee fixed by the board, applications for certification27
without examination from any person furnishing due proof that he or she was28
employed as an official court reporter or deputy official court reporter, as defined in29 HLS 10RS-1329 ENGROSSED
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R.S. 37:2555(C) and (D), as of September 1, 1991. No person employed as an1
official court reporter or deputy official court reporter, as defined in R.S. 37:2555(C)2
and (D), shall engage in the practice of general or freelance reporting, as defined in3
R.S. 37:2555(E), unless certified by the board to engage in such reporting outside of4
the court where such person is employed and on the payroll of the court to act as5
official court reporter or deputy official court reporter.6
* * *7
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Chandler HB No. 429
Abstract: Provides for qualifications of court reporters.
Present law (R.S. 37:2551 et seq.) provides that persons employed as official court reporters
and deputy court reporters of a court of record shall be subject to the certification
requirements applicable to certified court reporters.
Proposed law provides that any person employed as a court reporter or deputy court reporter
on or before Dec. 31, 2010, by a court which uses electronic or audio recording equipment
shall be certified as long as he remains employed by that court in such capacity.
Present law excludes electronic recording equipment, except for stenomasks, for use in the
examination for certification.
Proposed law retains present law and additionally authorizes the use of digital recording
equipment for examination purposes.
Proposed law adds electronic or audio recording, as well as the practice of electronic
reporting, to eligible methods to practice court reporting.
Present law defines "certified court reporter" as a person certified in the practice of court
reporting by the Board of Examiners of Certified Shorthand Reporters.
Proposed law includes in the definition of "certified court reporter" persons certified to
engage in the practice of electronic reporting by the American Association of Electronic
Reporters and Transcribers.
Proposed law provides that no person employed as an official court reporter or deputy court
reporter shall engage in the practice of general or freelance reporting, unless certified to do
so.
(Amends R.S. 37:2554(B) and (D), 2555(B), and 2556(A)) HLS 10RS-1329 ENGROSSED
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Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Judiciary to the original bill.
1. Provided that any person employed as a court reporter or deputy court reporter
on or before Dec. 31, 2010, by a court using electronic or audio recording
equipment shall be certified as long as he remains employed by that court in such
capacity.
2. Authorized the use of digital recording equipment by applicants during the
certification examination.