HLS 201ES-57 REENGROSSED 2020 First Extraordinary Session HOUSE BILL NO. 27 BY REPRESENTATIVE ZERINGUE COURTS/COURT REPORTERS: Provides relative to the creation of the certified shorthand reporters fund (Items #10 and #11) 1 AN ACT 2To amend and reenact R.S. 37:2553(D) and 2558(A), to enact R.S. 37:2551.1, and to repeal 3 R.S. 37:2551.1, relative to the board of examiners of certified shorthand reporters; 4 to create the Board of Examiners of Certified Shorthand Reporters Fund; to provide 5 relative to the disbursement of funds; to provide relative to fees collected from 6 applicants; and to provide for related matters. 7Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana: 8 Section 1. R.S. 37:2553(D) is hereby amended and reenacted and R.S. 37:2551.1 is 9hereby enacted to read as follows: 10 §2551.1. Board of Examiners of Certified Shorthand Reporters Fund 11 There is hereby created in the state treasury, as a special custodial fund, the 12 Board of Examiners of Certified Shorthand Reporters Fund, hereinafter referred to 13 as the "fund". All monies received by the board pursuant to R.S. 37:2558 shall be 14 deposited into the fund. Monies in the fund shall be used exclusively for the 15 expenses of the members of the board and the expenses of the board that are 16 necessary to carry out the provisions of this Chapter, and disbursements from the 17 fund shall be authorized only by a majority of members of the board. The chairman 18 shall join with the secretary-treasurer of the board in signing a warrant to have the 19 net deposits paid to the board. Monies in the fund shall be invested in the same 20 manner as monies in the state general fund. Interest earned on investment of monies Page 1 of 5 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. HLS 201ES-57 REENGROSSED HB NO. 27 1 in the fund shall be credited to the fund. Unexpended and unencumbered monies in 2 the fund at the end of the fiscal year shall remain in the fund. 3 * * * 4 §2553. Duties of the board of examiners; officers; records 5 * * * 6 D. The expenses of the members of the board and the expenses of the board 7 that are necessary to carry out the provisions of this Chapter shall be paid from the 8 fees collected by the board under the provisions of R.S. 37:2558 Board of Examiners 9 of Certified Shorthand Reporters Fund. Within sixty days following the end of the 10 state's fiscal year, the board shall prepare an accounting of expenses incurred and 11 funds received during the prior fiscal year. 12 Section 2. R.S. 37:2558(A) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows: 13 §2558. Fees 14 A. The board shall collect fees from each applicant for a certificate as 15 hereinafter provided by this Section. The board shall have power to require a 16 reinstatement fee for suspended or revoked delinquent certificates, a reciprocal fee 17 for certification without examination, and an annual renewal fee for all certificates 18 and to collect therefor a fee of such amount as may be fixed by the board according 19 to the following schedule: 20 (1) The fee for reinstatement of a suspended or revoked certificate shall not 21 exceed twenty-five one hundred dollars for a certificate delinquent for a period of up 22 to one year, one two hundred dollars for a certificate delinquent for a period of up 23 to two years, or two hundred fifty dollars for a certificate delinquent for a period of 24 two or more years and shall be in addition to the payment of all delinquent renewal 25 fees. 26 (2) The fee for issuance of a reciprocal certificate without examination shall 27 not exceed one hundred twenty-five two hundred fifty dollars. 28 (3) The fee for annual renewal of a certificate shall not exceed one hundred 29 twenty-five one hundred seventy-five dollars. Page 2 of 5 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. HLS 201ES-57 REENGROSSED HB NO. 27 1 (4) The fee for issuance of a new certificate to a reporter admitted to practice 2 as a certified court reporter, or C.C.R., shall not exceed one hundred twenty-five two 3 hundred fifty dollars. 4 * * * 5 Section 3. R.S. 37:2553(D) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows: 6 §2553. Duties of the board of examiners; officers; records 7 * * * 8 D. The expenses of the members of the board and the expenses of the board 9 that are necessary to carry out the provisions of this Chapter shall be paid from the 10 Board of Examiners of Certified Shorthand Reporters Fund fees collected by the 11 board under the provisions of R.S. 37:2558. Within sixty days following the end of 12 the state's fiscal year, the board shall prepare an accounting of expenses incurred and 13 funds received during the prior fiscal year. 14 Section 4. R.S. 37:2551.1 is hereby repealed in its entirety. 15 Section 5. The state treasurer is hereby authorized and directed to immediately 16transfer any monies remaining in the Board of Examiners of Certified Shorthand Reporters 17Fund on January 1, 2021, directly to the Board of Examiners of Certified Shorthand 18Reporters. 19 Section 6.(A) The provisions of this Section and Sections 1 and 2 of this Act shall 20become effective July 1, 2020. 21 (B) The provisions of Sections 3, 4, and 5 of this Act shall become effective January 221, 2021. Page 3 of 5 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. HLS 201ES-57 REENGROSSED HB NO. 27 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)] HB 27 Reengrossed 2020 First Extraordinary Session Zeringue Abstract: Creates the Board of Examiners of Certified Shorthand Reporters Fund, provides relative to the disbursement of funds, and changes the maximum amount of fees that the Board of Examiners for Shorthand Reporters may charge applicants. Present law provides that the Board of Examiners for Shorthand Reporters shall collect fees from each applicant. Present law authorizes the board of examiners to require a reinstatement fee for suspended or revoked delinquent certificates, a reciprocal fee for certification without examination, and an annual renewal fee for all certificates and to collect a fee of such amount as may be fixed by the board according to the following schedule: (1)The fee for reinstatement of a suspended or revoked certificate shall not exceed $25 for a certificate delinquent for a period of up to one year, $100 for a certificate delinquent for a period of up to two years, or $200 for a certificate delinquent for a period of two or more years and shall be in addition to the payment of all delinquent renewal fees. (2)The fee for issuance of a reciprocal certificate without examination shall not exceed $125. (3)The fee for annual renewal of a certificate shall not exceed $125. (4)The fee for issuance of a new certificate to a reporter admitted to practice as a certified court reporter, or C.C.R., shall not exceed $125. Proposed law retains present law and changes the maximum amount of fees to be charged as follows: (1)For a certificate delinquent for a period of up to one year, the fee for reinstatement of a suspended or revoked certificate changes from not exceeding $25 to not exceeding $100. For a certificate delinquent for a period of up to two years, the fee for reinstatement of a suspended or revoked certificate changes from not exceeding $100 to not exceeding $200. For a certificate delinquent for a period of two years or more, the fee for reinstatement of a suspended or revoked certificate changes from not exceeding $200 to not exceeding $250 in addition to the payment of all delinquent renewal fees. (2)The fee for issuance of a reciprocal certificate without examination changes from not exceeding $125 to not exceeding $250. (3)The fee for annual renewal of a certificate changes from not exceeding $125 to not exceeding $175. (4)The fee for issuance of a new certificate to a reporter admitted to practice as a certified court reporter, or C.C.R., changes from not exceeding $125 to not exceeding $250. Page 4 of 5 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. HLS 201ES-57 REENGROSSED HB NO. 27 Proposed law creates the Board of Examiners of Certified Shorthand Reporters Fund, which shall be a custodial fund in the State Treasury. Proposed law requires disbursements from the fund to be authorized by a majority of the board as the board deems necessary for the expenses of the members of the board and the expenses of the board that are necessary to carry out the provisions of present law. Proposed law requires that the chairman and secretary-treasurer sign a warrant to have the net deposits paid to the board. Proposed law provides that the fund and fee changes will become effective on July 1, 2020, and the fund will cease to be effective on Jan. 1, 2021, and present law will go back into effect. (Amends R.S. 37:2553(D) and 2558(A); Adds R.S. 37:2551.1; Repeals R.S. 37:2551.1) Summary of Amendments Adopted by House The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Appropriations to the original bill: 1. Creates a custodial fund for the Board of Examiners of Shorthand Reporters Fund within the State Treasury and deletes the requirement that the fund flow through the Bond Security and Redemption Fund. 2. Adds the requirement that the chairman and secretary-treasurer of the board will sign a warrant to have the net deposits paid to the board. 3. Changes the effective date of Sections 1 and 2 from the sixtieth day after adjournment of the session to July 1, 2020. Page 5 of 5 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions.