SRC-AXB C.S.S.B. 1366 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 1366
76R11342  DB-DBy: Harris
Jurisprudence
4/14/1999
Committee Report (Substituted)


DIGEST 

Currently, court reporting firms owned by out-of-state interests or
non-court reporters are not subject to Texas' standards and Court Reporters
Certification Board sanctions.  C.S.S.B. 1366 expands the application of
laws and sets forth eligibility qualifications regulating court reporting
firms. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, C.S.S.B. 1366 sets forth eligibility qualifications for
shorthand reporters and court reporting firms, and creates a registration
and enforcement fee. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 52.021, Government Code, by amending the heading
and Subsections (b), (h), and (i), and adding Subsection (j), as follows: 

Sec.  52.021.  New heading:  CERTIFICATION; ENFORCEMENT.  Provides an
exception as provided in Subsection (d).  Prohibits shorthand reporting
unless a person is an official court reporter or deputy reporter of a court
in Texas, a self-employed freelance shorthand reporter, or an independent
contractor for or employed by a court reporting firm.  Requires a court
reporting firm to register with the Court Reporters Certification Board
(board) by paying a reasonable fee.  Authorizes the board to assess a
maximum $5,000 fee against a court reporter or a court reporting firm to
enforce this chapter.  Makes conforming changes. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date:  September 1, 1999.

SECTION 3.  Makes application of this Act prospective.

SECTION 4.  Emergency clause.


SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

Relating clause.

Amends the relating clause to clarify that this Act relates to court
reporting, rather than court reporting firms. 

SECTION 1.

Amends Section 52.021, Government Code, to create a new heading, add text
regarding a deputy court reporter, and make nonsubstantive and conforming
changes. 
SECTIONS 3-4.  

Redesignates existing SECTION 3 as SECTION 4, and makes application of this
Act prospective.