Shorthand court reporters: sunset: certification.

Existing law, until January 1, 2025, establishes the Court Reporters Board of California within the Department of Consumer Affairs and charges the board with the executive functions necessary for effectuating the licensure and regulation of shorthand reporters. Existing law, on and after July 1, 2022, and until January 1, 2025, authorizes an entity that is not a shorthand reporting corporation to engage in specified acts if the entity is approved for registration by the board, as specified. This bill would extend the operation of the above provisions to January 1, 2029. The bill would require a certified shorthand reporter, whether appearing in person or through the use of remote technology, to state on the record their full name and license number, as provided, at the beginning of a proceeding, as specified. The bill would require an applicant or renewing certificate holder who has a valid email address to provide that email address to the board at the time of application or renewal and to notify the board within 30 days of any change to their email address on file. The bill would require the board to take reasonable actions to encourage applicants and certificate holders to maintain a valid email address, as provided. Existing law entitles a person to obtain a certificate as a certified shorthand reporter if certain requirements are met, including passing a specified exam. Existing law requires a person to present specified evidence of qualifications for admission to the examination, including evidence that the applicant has obtained a certificate from a recognized court reporting school, as specified. This bill would require the California state licensing examination to consist of three divisible parts, including English, Professional Practice, and Dictation/Transcription (Machine/Skill) and would set forth requirements for the passing grades for these parts. The bill would require the board to notify each examinee electronically or in writing of their examination results, as specified. The bill would require an applicant to take and pass all three parts of the examination within 3 consecutive years, as specified, to have passed the examination. The bill would authorize an applicant to repeat any part of the examination, as specified. The bill would require an applicant who passes a part of the examination to receive conditional credit for passing that part and authorize an applicant to retake the remaining parts. Existing law, until January 1, 2025, requires funds generated by fees received by the board, pursuant to specified provisions, in excess of funds needed to support the board's operating budget for the fiscal year, to be transferred from the Court Reporters' Fund and used by the board for the purpose of establishing and maintaining a Transcript Reimbursement Fund, which is continuously appropriated, to provide shorthand reporting services to low-income litigants in civil cases who are unable to otherwise afford those services. Under existing law, documentation accompanying an invoice is sufficient to establish entitlement for reimbursement from the Transcript Reimbursement Fund if it is filed with the executive officer on an application form prescribed by the board, as specified. This bill would continue the operation of provisions that provide for funds to be transferred into the Transcript Reimbursement Fund until January 1, 2029, and make other conforming changes. By continuing the transfer of funds into a continuously appropriated fund, the bill would make an appropriation. Existing law states that a natural person holding a valid certificate as a shorthand reporter is known as a "certified shorthand reporter." Existing law prohibits any other person, firm, or corporation from assuming or using the title "certified shorthand reporter" or use any words or symbols indicating or tending to indicate that the person, firm, or corporation is certified under these provisions. Existing law specifies that the use of the words "stenographer," "reporter," or the phrases "court reporter" or "deposition reporter" in combination with words or phrases related to the practice of shorthand reporting indicates or tends to indicate certification. Existing law makes a violation of the provisions of law governing shorthand reporters a misdemeanor. This bill would add the phrase "voice writer" to the above-described list of words and phrases. By expanding the scope of the above-described prohibition, the violation of which is a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.