SENATE FLOOR VERSION - HB3812 SFLR Page 1 (Bold face denotes Committe e Amendments) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 SENATE FLOOR VERSION March 29, 2022 ENGROSSED HOUSE BILL NO. 3812 By: Stinson of the House and Stanley of the Senate An Act relating to courts; amending 20 O.S. 202 1, Sections 106.3B and 1503.1, which relate to court reporters; updating references; modifying process for temporary appointment; and removing certain continuing education requirement . BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 20 O.S. 2021, Section 106. 3B, is amended to read as follows: Section 106.3B Only the following persons may act and are eligible for appointment on a fu ll-time or part-time basis as official court reporters for th e courts, including the Workers ' Compensation Court Commission, Workers' Compensation Court of Existing Claims, and the Corporation Commission: a. 1. Persons now certified or hereafter certified by the State Board of Examiners of Certified Shorthand Reporters shall be given primary consideration for appointment; SENATE FLOOR VERSION - HB3812 SFLR Page 2 (Bold face denotes Committe e Amendments) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 b. 2. Persons who, prior to July 1, 1978, were licensed as licensed shorthand reporters by the State Board of Examiners of Certified Shorthand Reporters sh all be given secondary consideration for appointment; c. 3. Persons who, prior to July 1, 1978, were acting s horthand reporters under a certificate issued by the Chief Justice; d. 4. When no person eligible for appointment as an offic ial court reporter, as provided above, is available for appoi ntment, a presiding judge or a district judge may make application to the Chief Justice to appoint a shorthand reporter on a temporary basis. The candidate must file with the State Board of Exam iners of Certified Shorthand Reporters a properly completed a pplication for a temporary certificate, along with any other supporti ng documents or information required by the Board, and shall pay the applicable examination fee as set forth in the fee schedu le issued by the Board which shall be deposited with the Cler k of the Supreme Court. The Board shall advise the Chief Justice if the applicant is recommended for a temporary certificate. The Chief Justice may issue a temporary certificate valid for not m ore than twelve (12) mo nths, upon payment of a fee of Fifty D ollars ($50.00) and a fee of Seventy-five Dollars ($75.00) for the ce rtified shorthand reporter examination which will be deposited with the Clerk of the Supreme Court. The temporary certificate shall be nonrenewable, except in emergency situations as det ermined by the Chief Justice and for no SENATE FLOOR VERSION - HB3812 SFLR Page 3 (Bold face denotes Committe e Amendments) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 longer than ninety (90) addit ional days. Absent good cause shown as determined by the State Board of Examiners of Certified Shorthand Reporters, a tempora ry certificate holder s hall sit for at least one Oklahoma certified shorthand reporter examination administered during the term of the temporary certificate. The holder shall be required to transcribe the examination, and the examination results of such transcription shall be reported to the holder 's supervisory judge; e. 5. The appointment of an official court reporter by a district or presiding judge shall be subject to the approval of the Chief Justice. Before giving his approval to the appointment, t he Chief Justice shall determine, with the aid of the Adminis trative Director of the Courts, that the appointing judge has given p roper consideration to the statutory preference accorded herein to certified and licensed reporters; and f. 6. A temporary court reporter, either wh ile so serving or after the expiration of this appointment, shall be required to transcribe any testimony a nd other proceedings taken by him and to certify that the transcription is true and correct. A transcript certified by a temporary court reporter sh all have the same effect as one certified by a regular court reporter. SECTION 2. AMENDATORY 20 O.S. 2021, Section 1503.1, is amended to read as follows: SENATE FLOOR VERSION - HB3812 SFLR Page 4 (Bold face denotes Committe e Amendments) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Section 1503.1 A. Every certified shorthand reporte r and every court reporter temporarily employed by the distri ct court, Workers' Compensation Court Commission, Workers' Compensati on Court of Existing Claims, or Corporation Commission shall annually complete at least four (4) hours of continuing education approved by the State Board of Examiners of Certified Shorthand Reporters. Included in the four-hour minimum requirement for eve ry official shorthand reporter and every court reporter temporarily employed by the district court, Workers ' Compensation Court, or Corporation Commission at least one (1) hour shall relate to Oklahoma court rules and procedures. All four (4) hours of con tinuing education shall be approved by the State Board of Examiners of Certified Shorthand Reporters. B. A certified shorthan d reporter or court reporter is exempt from the requirements of subsection A of this section if the reporter verifies under oath t o the State Board of Examiners of Certified Shorthand Reporters that he or she: 1. Has attained the age of sixty -five (65) before or during the calendar year for which the reporter seeks an exemption; 2. Is a member of the armed forces Armed Forces on full-time active duty during the entire calendar year for which the reporter seeks an exemption; or 3. Has provided written verification by a licensed physician that a medical condit ion has prevented the court reporter from SENATE FLOOR VERSION - HB3812 SFLR Page 5 (Bold face denotes Committe e Amendments) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 working in such capacity and comp leting continuing education for the calendar year for which the reporter seeks an exemption. COMMITTEE REPORT BY: COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY March 29, 2022 - DO PASS