Bill Text: MS SB2415 | 2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Court reporting; revise definition of.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 2)
Status: (Failed) 2015-02-03 - Died In Committee [SB2415 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2015-SB2415-Introduced.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2015 Regular Session
To: Judiciary, Division A
By: Senator(s) Hopson, Longwitz
Senate Bill 2415
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 9-13-105, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE THE COURT REPORTERS' BOARD TO ISSUE PERMITS TO OUT-OF-STATE COURT-REPORTING FIRMS; TO AMEND SECTION 9-13-109, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO EXTEND STATE STANDARDS TO OUT-OF-STATE COURT-REPORTING FIRMS; TO AMEND SECTION 9-13-123, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO DEFINE COURT-REPORTING FIRM; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 9-13-105, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
9-13-105. The board is charged with the duty and vested with the power and authority:
(a) To determine the content of and administer examinations to be given to applicants for certification as a court reporter.
(b) To determine an applicant's ability to make a verbatim record of proceedings which may be used in any court in this state by any recognized system designated by the board and to pass upon the eligibility of applicants for certification.
(c) To issue certificates and permits to those found qualified as court reporters and court-reporting firms who are in compliance with Section 9-13-109.
(d) To promulgate, amend and revise regulations relevant to its duties as necessary to implement this chapter. Such regulations shall be consistent with the provisions of Sections 9-13-101 through 9-13-121 and shall not be effective until approved by the Supreme Court.
(e) To make studies and, from time to time, recommendations to the Supreme Court concerning matters pertaining to court reporters.
(f) To account to the Supreme Court in all fiscal matters following recognized accounting procedures of the State Auditor.
(g) To exercise jurisdiction over disciplinary matters with regard to certified court reporters, those reporters granted temporary permission as noncertified or nonresident court reporters, those holding themselves out in the State of Mississippi to be court reporters, court-reporting firms doing business in the State of Mississippi, and anyone engaged in the unauthorized practice of court reporting within the State of Mississippi in accordance with rules and regulations adopted by the board.
(h) To enter into contracts, hire staff and do such other things as may be necessary to implement the provisions of Sections 9-13-101 through 9-13-121.
SECTION 2. Section 9-13-109, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
9-13-109. Every applicant for certification shall have reached the age of majority, be of good moral character and be a resident citizen of the State of Mississippi. Further, every applicant shall meet the criteria established by the board for certification or shall meet the requirements of Section 9-13-109. Every court-reporting firm applicant shall meet the criteria established by the board for registration.
SECTION 3. Section 9-13-123, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
9-13-123. As used in Sections 9-13-101 through 9-13-121:
(a) "Courts" includes all courts. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as a limitation upon the power of the Supreme Court or of the trial courts to govern the conduct of, and to discipline, official court reporters, nor shall this chapter be construed as any limitation upon the rights of any individual to seek any remedy afforded by law, nor as any exclusive mode of regulating court reporters.
(b) "Court reporter" means a Certified Shorthand Reporter or a Certified Stenomask Reporter.
(c) "The practice of court reporting" means the making of a verbatim record by means of written symbols or abbreviations in pen shorthand, machine shorthand, or oral stenography, also known as stenomask, of testimony or proceedings relevant to matters under the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Mississippi, all state agencies or the Legislature or any committee or subcommittee thereof, or where appeal to any court of the State of Mississippi is allowable by law.
(d) "The making of a verbatim record" includes the taking of a deposition.
(e) "Court-reporting firm" means any business entity or any court reporter, whether domiciled in Mississippi or outside the state, engaged in the delivery of court-reporting services by the hiring of one or more court reporters to perform the practice of court reporting while maintaining control of the services rendered.
SECTION 4. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2015.
