Shorthand reporting services.

Existing law provides for the certification and regulation of shorthand reporters and for the regulation of shorthand reporting corporations by the Court Reporters Board of California within the Department of Consumer Affairs. Under existing law, a shorthand reporting corporation is a corporation authorized to render professional services, as defined, as long as that corporation and all of its shareholders, officers, directors, and employees rendering professional services who are certified shorthand reporters are in compliance with specified provisions of law. Existing law also provides for the formation or registration of various legal entities transacting business in this state. This bill would authorize the Court Reporters Board of California to seek injunctive relief or issue citations, fines, and other penalties in accordance with existing law against corporations, persons, or entities, whether foreign or domestic, that for a fee or other financial consideration, offer, offer to arrange for, render, or provide the services of a certified shorthand reporter, for violations of provisions governing oral depositions inside this state imposed by the Civil Discovery Act, Moscone-Knox Professional Corporation Act, and laws governing the practice of shorthand reporting. The bill also would describe activities that this bill would not be construed to authorize, prohibit, or regulate, as provided.