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.