ENGR. H. B. NO. 1152 Page 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 ENGROSSED HOUSE BILL NO. 1152 By: Osburn of the House and Garvin of the Senate An Act relating to court reporters; amending 20 O.S. 2011, Section 1503, which relates to examination for enrollment of certified shorthand reporters; removing certain preliminary proficiency requirements; and providing an effective date . BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 20 O.S. 2011, Section 1503, is amended to read as follows: Section 1503. A. Every applicant who seeks to be examined for enrollment as a certified shorthand reporter shall prove to the satisfaction of the State Board of Examiners of Certified Shorthand Reporters that he or she: 1. Is of legal age; 2. Meets the requisite st andards of ethical fitness; and 3. Has at least a high school education or its equivalent ; and 4. Possesses a minimum level of court reporting proficiency which would allow the applicant to meet the examination requirements established in paragraph 1 of subsection B of this section. An ENGR. H. B. NO. 1152 Page 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 applicant may satisfy such requirements by obtaining verification through a court reporting school official of the applicant 's level of proficiency, as outlined by the test application; by passing a preliminary proficiency examination, which has been approved by the Board; or by proving that the applicant has previously held any state or national shorthand reporting certificate or license . B. The examination for certification in one or more authorized methods of shorthand reporting consists of two parts, designated Part 1 and Part 2 as follows: 1. Part 1 consists of the test as authorized by the Supreme Court consisting of the following requirements: demonstrated proficiency in reporting testimony and proceedings at a spee d of not more than two hundred (200) words per minute in taking a question - and-answer type dictation and at a speed of not more than one hundred eighty (180) words per minute in taking literary materials which shall be designed to test the ability of an ap plicant to accurately prepare a transcript of testimony and proceedings that is reasonably free from spelling errors. The Board may not increase or decrease such minimum speed requirement, by rule or otherwise; and 2. Part 2 is the Oklahoma Written Knowl edge test which consists of not less than twenty -five multiple choice questions relating to Oklahoma law and court rules, duties of certified shorthand reporters, and general court procedure. The examination shall be approved by the Supreme Court. A pers on who has tested with the ENGR. H. B. NO. 1152 Page 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Board and successfully completed the written knowledge portion of the examination shall be allowed to retain the credit for that portion for two (2) years from the date passed, and shall not be required to retake that portion dur ing the two-year period. C. An applicant who is academically dishonest when taking any authorized examination is disqualified and may not take the examination again until two (2) years have elapsed from the date of the examination at which the applicant w as disqualified. D. A certification issued under this section must be for one or more of the following methods of shorthand reporting: 1. Written shorthand; 2. Machine shorthand; or 3. Any other method of shorthand reporting authorized by the Supreme Court. E. No person may engage in shorthand reporting in this state unless the person is a licensed or certified shorthand reporter or otherwise authorized by law or the Supreme Court. SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 2021. ENGR. H. B. NO. 1152 Page 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Passed the House of Representatives the 1st day of March, 2021. Presiding Officer of the House of Representatives Passed the Senate the ___ day of __________, 2021. Presiding Officer of the Senate