Bill Text: CA SB671 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Shorthand reporters: continuing education requirements.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Vetoed) 2012-03-01 - Consideration of Governor's veto stricken from file. Veto sustained. [SB671 Detail]
Download: California-2011-SB671-Enrolled.html
BILL NUMBER: SB 671 ENROLLED
BILL TEXT
PASSED THE SENATE MAY 31, 2011
PASSED THE ASSEMBLY AUGUST 25, 2011
AMENDED IN SENATE MAY 18, 2011
AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 14, 2011
INTRODUCED BY Senator Price
FEBRUARY 18, 2011
An act to amend Section 8031 of, and to add Section 8024.8 to, the
Business and Professions Code, relating to shorthand reporters.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 671, Price. Shorthand reporters: continuing education
requirements.
Existing law provides for the certification and regulation of
shorthand reporters by the Court Reporters Board of California in the
Department of Consumer Affairs, and provides for the regulation of
shorthand reporting schools by the board. Existing law provides for
the renewal of a shorthand reporter's certificate if specified
requirements are met. Existing law sets forth specified fees for the
examination for, and the issuance and renewal of, a shorthand
reporter's certificate.
This bill would require the board, on or before July 1, 2012, to
adopt regulations to establish minimum approved continuing education
requirements for renewal of a shorthand reporter's certificate, with
certain exceptions, and would require the board to establish a
procedure for approving providers of continuing education courses, as
specified. The bill would also authorize the board to, by
regulation, establish a fee for approval of a continuing education
provider, in an amount no greater than $40, to cover the reasonable
regulatory cost to the board of approving those providers.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 8024.8 is added to the Business and Professions
Code, to read:
8024.8. (a) On or before July 1, 2012, the board shall adopt
regulations to establish minimum continuing education requirements
for renewal of a certificate issued pursuant to this chapter. No
earlier than six months after the effective date of the regulations,
to renew his or her certificate, a certificate holder shall, in
addition to the requirements of Section 8024, certify to the board,
on a form prescribed by the board, completion of the minimum
continuing education requirements.
(b) The board shall ensure that the continuing education required
by this section is relevant to the practice of shorthand reporting.
(c) The board shall also establish a procedure for approving
providers of continuing education courses, and all providers of
continuing education shall comply with procedures established by the
board. The board may establish a fee for providers of continuing
education courses pursuant to Section 8031. The board may revoke or
deny the right of a provider to offer continuing education coursework
pursuant to this section for failure to comply with the requirements
of this section or any regulation adopted pursuant to this section.
(d) The board may establish exceptions to the continuing education
requirements of this section for a certificate holder who cannot
meet the continuing education requirements for reasons of health,
military service, or undue hardship.
(e) The continuing education requirements of this section shall
comply fully with the guidelines for mandatory continuing education
established by the Department of Consumer Affairs pursuant to Section
166.
(f) The board may adopt regulations as necessary to implement this
section.
SEC. 2. Section 8031 of the Business and Professions Code is
amended to read:
8031. The amount of the fees required by this chapter is that
fixed by the board in accordance with the following schedule:
(a) The fee for filing an application for each examination shall
be no more than forty dollars ($40).
(b) The fee for examination and reexamination for the written or
practical part of the examination shall be in an amount fixed by the
board, which shall be equal to the actual cost of preparing,
administering, grading, and analyzing the examination, but shall not
exceed seventy-five dollars ($75) for each separate part, for each
administration.
(c) The initial certificate fee is an amount equal to the renewal
fee in effect on the last regular renewal date before the date on
which the certificate is issued, except that, if the certificate will
expire less than 180 days after its issuance, then the fee is 50
percent of the renewal fee in effect on the last regular renewal date
before the date on which the certificate is issued, or fifty dollars
($50), whichever is greater. The board may, by appropriate
regulation, provide for the waiver or refund of the initial
certificate fee where the certificate is issued less than 45 days
before the date on which it will expire.
(d) By a resolution adopted by the board, a renewal fee may be
established in such amounts and at such times as the board may deem
appropriate to meet its operational expenses and funding
responsibilities as set forth in this chapter. The renewal fee shall
not be more than one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125) nor less than
ten dollars ($10) annually, with the following exception:
Any person who is employed full time by the State of California as
a hearing reporter and who does not otherwise render shorthand
reporting services for a fee shall be exempt from licensure while in
state employment and shall not be subject to the renewal fee
provisions of this subdivision until 30 days after leaving state
employment. The renewal fee shall, in addition to the amount fixed by
this subdivision, include any unpaid fees required by this section
plus any delinquency fee.
(e) The duplicate certificate fee shall be no greater than ten
dollars ($10).
(f) The penalty for failure to notify the board of a change of
name or address as required by Section 8024.6 shall be no greater
than fifty dollars ($50).
(g) The fee for approval of a continuing education provider shall
be fixed by the board through regulation in an amount to cover the
reasonable regulatory cost to the board of approving continuing
education providers, but shall be no greater than forty dollars
($40).
