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S.B. 123

This document includes Senate Committee Amendments incorporated into the bill on Fri, Jan 30, 2004 at 10:44 AM by rday. -->              1     

COURT REPORTER AMENDMENTS

             2     
2004 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Sponsor: Lyle W. Hillyard

             5     

             6      LONG TITLE
             7      General Description:
             8          This bill amends provisions defining court reporter designations and professional
             9      standards. It clarifies the prohibition against conflict of interest, provides for the
             10      revocation of licensure for noncompliance, and makes technical changes.
             11      Highlighted Provisions:
             12          This bill:
             13          .    changes the designation from "shorthand reporter" to "court reporter";
             14          .    adds new definitions of "voice reporting" and "voice writing";
             15          .    allows for a new designation of "C.V.R." for voice reporters;
             16          .    reiterates the impartiality of court reporters; and
             17          .    makes technical changes.
             18      Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
             19          None
             20      Other Special Clauses:
             21          None
             22      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             23      AMENDS:
             24          58-74-101, as enacted by Chapter 372, Laws of Utah 1997
             25          58-74-102, as enacted by Chapter 372, Laws of Utah 1997
             26          58-74-201, as enacted by Chapter 372, Laws of Utah 1997
             27          58-74-301, as enacted by Chapter 372, Laws of Utah 1997



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             28
         58-74-302, as enacted by Chapter 372, Laws of Utah 1997
             29          58-74-501, as enacted by Chapter 372, Laws of Utah 1997
             30          58-74-502, as enacted by Chapter 372, Laws of Utah 1997
             31          78-56-102, as enacted by Chapter 372, Laws of Utah 1997
             32          78-56-103, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 372, Laws of Utah 1997
             33          78-56-104, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 372, Laws of Utah 1997
             34          78-56-106, as enacted by Chapter 372, Laws of Utah 1997
             35     

             36      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             37          Section 1. Section 58-74-101 is amended to read:
             38     
CHAPTER 74. CERTIFIED COURT REPORTERS LICENSING ACT

             39           58-74-101. Title.
             40          This chapter is known as the "Certified [Shorthand] Court Reporters Licensing Act."
             41          Section 2. Section 58-74-102 is amended to read:
             42           58-74-102. Definitions.
             43          In addition to the definitions in Section 58-1-102 , as used in this chapter:
             44          (1) "Board" means the Certified [Shorthand] Court Reporters Licensing Board created
             45      in Section 58-74-201 .
             46          (2) "Certified Shorthand Reporter" means any person licensed under this chapter who
             47      is engaged in the practice of shorthand reporting.
             48          (3) "Certified court reporter" means any person who engages in the practice of court
             49      reporting who is:
             50          (a) a shorthand reporter certified by the National Court Reporters Association; or
             51          (b) a voice reporter certified by the National Verbatim Reporters Association.
             52          (4) "Certified Voice Reporter" means any person licensed under this chapter who
             53      engages in the practice of voice reporting.
             54          [(3)] (5) "Official court reporter" means a certified shorthand reporter employed by the
             55      courts.
             56          [(4)] (6) "Official court transcriber" means a person certified in accordance with rules
             57      of the Judicial Council as competent to transcribe into written form an audio or video recording
             58      of court proceedings.



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             59
         (7) "Practice of court reporting" means the making of a verbatim record of any trial,
             60      legislative public hearing, state agency public hearing, deposition, examination before trial,
             61      hearing or proceeding before any grand jury, referee, board, commission, master or arbitrator,
             62      or other sworn testimony given under oath.
             63          [(5)] (8) "Practice of shorthand reporting" means the practice of making a verbatim
             64      record, using symbols or abbreviations[, of any trial, proceeding, or hearing before any court, or
             65      before any referee, master, board, or commission of this state or its political subdivisions].
             66          [(6) "Registered Professional Reporter" means any person who has successfully
             67      completed and passed the Registered Professional Reporter Examination of the National Court
             68      Reporters Association and holds a certificate from that organization to that effect.]
             69          (9) "Practice of voice reporting" means the practice of making a verbatim record, using
             70      voice writing.
             71          (10) "Voice writing" means the making of a verbatim record of the spoken word by
             72      means of repeating the words of the speaker into a device capable of either digital translation
             73      into English text or creation of a tape or digital recording.
             74          [(7)] (11) "Unlawful conduct" is as defined in Sections 58-1-501 and 58-74-501 .
             75          [(8)] (12) "Unprofessional conduct" is as defined in Sections 58-1-501 and 58-74-502
             76      and as may be further defined by rule.
             77          Section 3. Section 58-74-201 is amended to read:
             78           58-74-201. Board.
             79          (1) There is created the Certified [Shorthand] Court Reporters Licensing Board
             80      consisting of four persons licensed in accordance with this chapter and engaged as [shorthand]
             81      court reporters within this state continuously for at least five years previous to appointment and
             82      one member of the general public.
             83          (2) The board shall be appointed and serve in accordance with Section 58-1-201 .
             84          (3) The duties and responsibilities of the board shall be in accordance with Sections
             85      58-1-202 and 58-1-203 . In addition, the board shall designate one of its members on a
             86      permanent or rotating basis to:
             87          (a) assist the division in reviewing complaints concerning the unlawful or
             88      unprofessional conduct of a licensee; and
             89          (b) advise the division in its investigation of these complaints.



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             90
         (4) A board member who has, under Subsection (3), reviewed a complaint or advised
             91      in its investigation may be disqualified from participating with the board when the board serves
             92      as a presiding officer of an administrative proceeding concerning the complaint.
             93          Section 4. Section 58-74-301 is amended to read:
             94           58-74-301. Licensure required.
             95          (1) A license is required to engage in the practice of [shorthand] court reporting.
             96          (2) The division shall issue to any person who qualifies under this chapter a license to
             97      practice [shorthand reporting] as a certified court reporter.
             98          Section 5. Section 58-74-302 is amended to read:
             99           58-74-302. Qualifications for licensure.
             100          (1) Each applicant for licensure as a certified [shorthand] court reporter under this
             101      chapter shall:
             102          (a) be at least 18 years of age;
             103          (b) be a citizen of the United States;
             104          (c) submit an application in a form prescribed by the division;
             105          (d) pay a fee determined by the department under Subsection 63-38-3 (2);
             106          (e) possess a high degree of skill and ability in the art of [shorthand] court reporting;
             107          (f) produce satisfactory evidence of good moral character; and
             108          (g) submit evidence that they have completed and passed the Registered Professional
             109      Reporter Examination of the National Court Reporters Association or the Certified Verbatim
             110      Reporter Examination of the National Verbatim Reporters Association.
             111          (2) Any person granted a certificate to practice as a certified shorthand reporter [shall
             112      be known as a certified shorthand reporter and] may use the abbreviation[,] "C.S.R."[,] as long
             113      as [their] the person's certificate is current and valid.
             114          (3) Any person granted a certificate to practice as a certified voice reporter may use the
             115      abbreviation "C.V.R." as long as the person's certificate is current and valid.
             116          Section 6. Section 58-74-501 is amended to read:
             117           58-74-501. Unlawful conduct.
             118          (1) It is unlawful for any person not licensed in accordance with this chapter to assume
             119      the title or use the abbreviation C.S.R. or C.V.R. or any other similar words, letters, figures, or
             120      abbreviation to indicate that the person using [them] that title or abbreviation is a certified



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             121
     [shorthand] court reporter.
             122          (2) Violation of this provision is a class A misdemeanor.
             123          Section 7. Section 58-74-502 is amended to read:
             124           58-74-502. Unprofessional conduct.
             125          "Unprofessional conduct" includes:
             126          (1) conduct unbecoming a person licensed as a certified [shorthand] court reporter or
             127      which is detrimental to the interests of the public;
             128          (2) willful or negligent betrayal or disclosure of confidential information about which
             129      the licensee becomes knowledgeable as a result of or incidental to his practice as a licensee;
             130          (3) false or deceptive representation of a licensee's skills, competence, capability, or
             131      resources as a certified [shorthand] court reporter;
             132          (4) offering, undertaking, or agreeing to undertake an assignment as a certified
             133      [shorthand] court reporter for which the licensee is not qualified, for which the licensee cannot
             134      complete the assignment in a timely manner, or for which the licensee does not have the
             135      resources to complete the assignment as agreed in a professional manner;
             136          (5) the use of any chemical, drug, or alcohol in any unlawful manner or in any manner
             137      which negatively affects the ability of the licensee to competently practice as a certified
             138      [shorthand] court reporter;
             139          (6) willfully and intentionally making any false or fraudulent record in the performance
             140      of his duties as a certified [shorthand] court reporter;
             141          (7) any conduct contrary to the recognized standards and ethics of the profession of a
             142      certified [shorthand] court reporter;
             143          (8) gross incompetence in practice as a certified [shorthand] court reporter;
             144          (9) violation of any provision of this chapter, Section 78-56-104 , or rules promulgated
             145      to regulate the practice of [shorthand] court reporters;
             146          (10) conviction of a felony or any other crime which is considered by the board to
             147      represent activity detrimental to the public interest as that interest is reflected in the licensee
             148      continuing to practice as a certified [shorthand] court reporter; or
             149          (11) attesting to or "signing off" on the transcript of any recorded proceeding unless
             150      that proceeding was recorded by that person while physically present at the proceeding or was
             151      personally transcribed by that person from an electronically recorded process.



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             152
         Section 8. Section 78-56-102 is amended to read:
             153           78-56-102. Definitions.
             154          As used in this chapter:
             155          (1) "Certified [Shorthand] court reporter" has the same meaning as in Title 58, Chapter
             156      74, Certified [Shorthand] Court Reporters Licensing Act.
             157          (2) "Folio" means 100 words. A number expressed as a numeral counts as one word;
             158      however, any portion of the last folio is not counted.
             159          (3) "Official court reporter" means a certified [shorthand] court reporter employed by
             160      the courts.
             161          (4) "Official court transcriber" means a person certified in accordance with rules of the
             162      Judicial Council as competent to transcribe into written form an audio or video recording of
             163      court proceedings.
             164          Section 9. Section 78-56-103 is amended to read:
             165           78-56-103. Appointment of reporters -- Eligibility -- Oath -- Bond -- Action on
             166      bond.
             167          (1) A person may not be appointed to the position of court reporter nor act in the
             168      capacity of a court reporter in any court of record of this state, or before any referee, master,
             169      board, or commission of this state without a currently valid license from the Division of
             170      Occupational and Professional Licensing as provided in Title 58, Chapter 74, Certified
             171      [Shorthand] Court Reporters Licensing Act.
             172          (2) Before any court reporter begins his duties, he shall:
             173          (a) take, subscribe, and file the constitutional oath; and
             174          (b) give a bond with sufficient surety, conditioned for the faithful performance of his
             175      duties, in the sum of $2,500, or larger sum if ordered by the judge.
             176          (3) The bond shall run to the state of Utah, but an action on it may be maintained by
             177      any person whose rights are affected by the failure of the reporter to perform his official duties.
             178          Section 10. Section 78-56-104 is amended to read:
             179           78-56-104. Court reporters -- Contract restrictions.
             180          (1) Any contract for court reporting services, not related to a particular case or
             181      reporting incident, is prohibited between a court reporter or any other person with whom a
             182      court reporter has a principal and agency relationship and any attorney, party to an action, or



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Senate Committee Amendments 1-30-2004 rd/ecm
             183
     party having a financial interest in an action. Negotiating or bidding reasonable fees, equal to
             184      all the parties, on a case-by-case basis may not be prohibited.
             185          (2) A S CERTIFIED s court reporter is an officer of the court whose impartiality shall remain
             185a      beyond
             186      question.
             187          [(2)] (3) This section does not apply to the courts or the administrative tribunals of this
             188      state.
             189          [(3)] (4) Violation of this section shall be considered unprofessional conduct as
             190      provided in Sections 58-74-102 and 58-74-502 , and shall be grounds for revocation of
             191      licensure only.
             192          Section 11. Section 78-56-106 is amended to read:
             193           78-56-106. Substitute reporters.
             194          A certified [shorthand] court reporter other than an official court reporter may be
             195      assigned temporarily to the duties of an official court reporter in accordance with rules of the
             196      Judicial Council.





Legislative Review Note
    as of 1-21-04 10:53 AM


A limited legal review of this legislation raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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