An Act
ENROLLED HOUSE
BILL NO. 2689 By: Hasenbeck of the House
and
Taylor of the Senate
An Act relating to courts; amending 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),
which relates to salaries of court reporters;
providing for a one-time stipend for court reporters;
providing an effective date; and declaring an
emergency.
SUBJECT: Courts
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 amended to read as follows:
Section 106.9 A. Each court reporter regularly engaged by the
district court, the Workers' Co mpensation Court of Existing Claims,
or the Corporation Commission shall be paid a salary pursuant to the
salary schedule established by the annual appropriation for the
district courts and Corporation Commission and in accordance with
the job description for the position to which appointed. On October
1, 2021, each court reporter shall receive a one -time stipend of One
Thousand Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($1,250.00).
B. In addition to their base salaries, official court reporters
who are certified or lic ensed 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 ENR. H. B. NO. 2689 Page 2
Workers' Compensatio n Court, the Workers' Compensation Court of
Existing Claims and the Corporation Commission, with a maximum of
twenty (20) years of service only to 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 the 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 base 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 a s
a RPR, an official court reporter shall have a proficiency level in
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 Five 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 reporter shall have a proficiency level in reporting
testimony and proceedings of a speed of not less than two hu ndred
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;
ENR. H. B. NO. 2689 Page 3
3. The sum of One Thousand F ive 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 co ntinuing 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 maximum of Six Thousand Dollars ($6,000.00)
per year over and above the reporter's base salary, payable mon thly.
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 add ition, 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
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 employ ed court reporter
is provided.
SECTION 2. This act shall become effective July 1, 2021.
SECTION 3. It being immediately 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.
ENR. H. B. NO. 2689 Page 4
Passed the House of Representatives the 4th day of May, 2021.
Presiding Officer of the House
of Representatives
Passed the Senate the 22nd 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: _________________________________