An Act
ENROLLED 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 .
SUBJECT: Court reporters
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 standards 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
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 pas sing a ENR. H. B. NO. 1152 Page 2
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 a uthorized
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 tes timony and proceedings at a speed 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 desig ned to test the ability of an applicant 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 Knowledge 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 person who has tested with the
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 during 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 was 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.
ENR. H. B. NO. 1152 Page 3
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. ENR. H. B. NO. 1152 Page 4
Passed the House of Representatives the 1st day of March, 2021.
Presiding Officer of the House
of Representatives
Passed the Senate the 12th day of April, 2021.
Presiding Officer of the Senate
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
Received by the Office of the Governor this ____________________
day of ___________________, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
By: _________________________________
Approved by the Governor of the State of Oklahoma this __ _______
day of ___________________, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
_________________________________
Governor of the State of Oklahoma
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE
Received by the Office of the Secretary of State this __________
day of ___________________, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
By: _________________________________