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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES - FLOOR VERSION
STATE OF OKLAHOMA
1st Session of the 58th Legislature (2021)
HOUSE BILL 2689 By: Hasenbeck of the House
and
Taylor of the Senate
AS INTRODUCED
[ courts - one-time stipend for court reporters -
effective date –
emergency ]
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 20 O.S. 2011, Section 106.9, as
amended by Section 1, Chapter 31, O.S.L. 2019 (20 O.S. Supp. 2020,
Section 106.9), is amende d to read as follows:
Section 106.9 A. Each court reporter regularly engaged by the
district court, the Workers' Compensation Court of Existing Claims,
or the Corporation Commission shall be paid a salary pursuant to the
salary schedule established by th e annual appropriation for the
district courts and Corporation Commission and in accordance with
the job description for the position to which appointed. On October
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1, 2021, each court reporter shall receive a one -time stipend of Two
Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00).
B. In addition to their base salaries, official court reporters
who are certified or licensed shorthand reporters and those acting
shorthand reporters pursuant to paragraph c of Section 106.3B of
this title shall be paid annually the sum of Four Hundred Dollars
($400.00) for each year of service to the district court, the
Workers' Compensation Court, the Workers' Compensation Court of
Existing Claims and the Corporation Commission, with a maximum of
twenty (20) years of service only t o be used for the purpose of
longevity, not to exceed Eight Thousand Dollars ($8,000.00) per
year, payable monthly. For the purpose of payment for longevity,
"years of service" is defined as all years served as a certified or
licensed court reporter in th e district court, the Workers'
Compensation Court and the Corporation Commission after June 30,
1978. Such longevity payments shall begin on July 1 of each year
following completion of one (1) year's service as defined herein.
C. In addition to their bas e salaries, official court reporters
who are certified shorthand reporters shall be paid the following:
1. The sum of One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($1,500.00) per
year, payable monthly, to any official court reporter who is a
Registered Professional Reporter (RPR), as recognized by the State
Board of Examiners of Certified Shorthand Reporters. To qualify as
a RPR, an official court reporter shall have a proficiency level in
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reporting testimony and proceedings of a speed of not less than two
hundred twenty-five (225) words per minute in taking a question -and-
answer-type dictation, two hundred (200) words per minute in taking
a jury charge and one hundred eighty (180) words per minute in
taking literary material, shall pass a Written Knowledge Test with a
score of at least seventy percent (70%), all as determined by an
examination recognized by the Board, and shall complete thirty (30)
hours of continuing education per three -year cycle commencing at the
date of recognition;
2. The sum of One Thousand Fi ve Hundred Dollars ($1,500.00) per
year, payable monthly, to any official court reporter who is a
Registered Merit Reporter (RMR), as recognized by the State Board of
Examiners of Certified Shorthand Reporters. To qualify as a RMR, an
official court repor ter shall have a proficiency level in reporting
testimony and proceedings of a speed of not less than two hundred
sixty (260) words per minute in taking a question -and-answer-type
dictation, two hundred forty (240) words per minute in taking a jury
charge and two hundred (200) words per minute in taking literary
material, shall pass a Written Knowledge Test with a score of at
least seventy percent (70%), all as determined by an examination
recognized by the Board, and shall complete thirty (30) hours of
continuing education per three -year cycle commencing at the date of
recognition;
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3. The sum of One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($1,500.00) per
year, payable monthly, to any official court reporter who is a
Registered Diplomat Reporter (RDR), as recognized by the State Board
of Examiners of Certified Shorthand Reporters, and who completes
thirty (30) hours of continuing education per three -year cycle
commencing at the date of recognition;
4. The sum of One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($1,500.00) per
year, payable monthly, to any official court reporter who is a
Certified Realtime Reporter (CRR), as recognized by the State Board
of Examiners of Certified Shorthand Reporters, and who completes
thirty (30) hours of continuing education per three -year cycle
commencing at the date of recognition; or
5. Any official court reporter who is the holder of more than
one certification shall be compensated in the additional amounts
specified in paragraphs 1 through 4 of this subsection for each
certification up to a ma ximum of Six Thousand Dollars ($6,000.00)
per year over and above the reporter's base salary, payable monthly.
D. Court reporters temporarily employed by the district court,
Workers' Compensation Court of Existing Claims, or Corporation
Commission shall be compensated by the court fund of the court which
they serve at a rate to be set by such court. In addition, court
reporters temporarily employed pursuant to this subsection who are
required by the terms of their employment to travel outside their
county of residence, shall receive reimbursement for mileage
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actually and necessarily traveled to and from the place of
attendance at a rate not to exceed the rate of reimbursement
specified in the State Travel Reimbursement Act for state employees.
Any travel reimbursement shall be paid from the court fund of the
court where the service of the temporarily employed court reporter
is provided.
SECTION 2. This act shall become effective July 1, 2021.
SECTION 3. It being immediatel y necessary for the preservation
of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby
declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and
be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
COMMITTEE REPORT BY: COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS AND BUDGET , dated
02/25/2021 - DO PASS, As Amended and Coauthored.