Bill Text: CA SB662 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Courts: court reporters.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2024-02-01 - Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56. [SB662 Detail]
Download: California-2023-SB662-Amended.html
Amended
IN
Senate
April 27, 2023 |
Amended
IN
Senate
March 20, 2023 |
Introduced by Senator Rubio |
February 16, 2023 |
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
This bill would authorize the board to issue a provisional certificate, that would be valid for 3 years, to an individual who has passed the Registered Professional Reporter examination administered by the National Court Reporters Association or who is eligible to take the examination to become a certified shorthand reporter approved by the
board, as specified. By expanding the scope of a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program:Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(a)The board may issue a provisional certificate to perform the duties of a certified shorthand reporter in a court in this state to an individual who meets either of the following:
(1)The individual has passed the Registered Professional Reporter examination administered by the National Court Reporters Association.
(2)The individual is eligible to take the examination approved by the board pursuant to Section 8020.
(b)A provisional certificate issued under this section shall terminate three years from the date of issuance and may not be renewed.
SEC. 2.
Section 8023.3 is added to the Business and Professions Code, to read:8023.3.
(a) The board, in consultation with the Office of Professional Examination Services of the Department of Consumer Affairs, shall conduct a review of the examination required for licensure, including all three parts required under Section 2420 of Title 16 of the California Code of Regulations to evaluate the necessity of requiring applicants who have passed either the National Court Reporters Association’s or the National Verbatim Reporters Association’s certification examination to demonstrate competency as a certified shorthand reporter.SEC. 3.
Section 69957 of the Government Code is amended to read:69957.
(a) If an official reporter or an official reporter pro tempore is unavailable to report an action or proceeding in a court, subject to the availability of approved equipment and equipment monitors, the court may order that, in any civil case, or a misdemeanor or infraction case, the action or proceeding be electronically recorded, including all the testimony, the objections made, the ruling of the court, the exceptions taken, all arraignments, pleas, and sentences of defendants in criminal cases, the arguments of the attorneys to the jury, and all statements and remarks made and oral instructions given by the judge. A transcript derived from an electronic recording may be utilized whenever a transcript of court proceedings is required. Transcripts derived from electronic recordings shall include a designation of “inaudible” or “unintelligible” for those portions of the recording that contain no audible sound or are not discernible. The electronic recording device and appurtenant equipment shall be of a type approved by the Judicial Council for courtroom use and shall only be purchased for use as provided by this section. A court shall not expend funds for or use electronic recording technology or equipment to make an unofficial record of an action or proceeding, including for purposes of judicial notetaking, or to make the official record of an action or proceeding in circumstances not authorized by this section.SEC. 4.
Section 69957.5 is added to the Government Code, to read:69957.5.
(a) The Judicial Council shall collect information from courts regarding how they are utilizing funds appropriated to recruit and hire court reporters. Courts shall include whether the court reporters they have hired are court reporters that are returning to court reporting after having left the profession, coming from another court, coming from the private market, or are new to the profession in California.No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.