Sen. Don Harmon

Amends the Illinois Certified Shorthand Reporters Act of 1984. Provides that the practice of shorthand reporting includes the making of a verbatim record by the use of closed microphone voice dictation silencer and pen shorthand writing. Removes the requirement that certified shorthand reporters serving the Certified Shorthand Reporters Board must have actively engaged in the practice of shorthand reporting in this State for 10 years. Provides that the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation may certify an applicant who is a certified verbatim reporter or registered professional reporter of another jurisdiction as a certified shorthand reporter. Makes provisions of the Act gender neutral. Makes other changes. Effective immediately. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 225 ILCS 415/27 Adds reference to: 5 ILCS 80/4.34 5 ILCS 255/1 from Ch. 101, par. 1 5 ILCS 255/2 from Ch. 101, par. 2 20 ILCS 2105/2105-115 was 20 ILCS 2105/60f 210 ILCS 50/3.40 225 ILCS 45/3b from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 73.103b 225 ILCS 45/3d from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 73.103d 225 ILCS 60/39 from Ch. 111, par. 4400-39 225 ILCS 210/5004 from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 1-5004 225 ILCS 415/1 from Ch. 111, par. 6201 225 ILCS 415/2 from Ch. 111, par. 6202 225 ILCS 415/3 from Ch. 111, par. 6203 225 ILCS 415/3.5 225 ILCS 415/5 from Ch. 111, par. 6205 225 ILCS 415/11 from Ch. 111, par. 6211 225 ILCS 415/13 from Ch. 111, par. 6213 225 ILCS 415/23.1 from Ch. 111, par. 6224 225 ILCS 415/23.3 from Ch. 111, par. 6226 225 ILCS 415/23.4 from Ch. 111, par. 6227 225 ILCS 415/23.13 from Ch. 111, par. 6236 225 ILCS 415/25 from Ch. 111, par. 6241 225 ILCS 415/26 from Ch. 111, par. 6242 225 ILCS 415/28 225 ILCS 450/20.2 from Ch. 111, par. 5523 225 ILCS 458/15-15 225 ILCS 605/15 from Ch. 8, par. 315 235 ILCS 5/7-9 from Ch. 43, par. 153 240 ILCS 30/10 from Ch. 114, par. 410 730 ILCS 5/5-5-5 from Ch. 38, par. 1005-5-5 735 ILCS 5/2-1003 from Ch. 110, par. 2-1003 815 ILCS 390/9 from Ch. 21, par. 209 815 ILCS 390/11 from Ch. 21, par. 211 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Illinois Certified Shorthand Reports Act of 1984. Changes the short title of the Act to the Illinois Certified Shorthand Reporters and Voice Writer Reporters Act. Allows for certification of voice writer reporters. Changes the name of the Certified Shorthand Reporters Board to the Certified Shorthand Reporters and Voice Writer Reporters Board and increases the Board to 9 members (rather than 7) with the addition of 2 certified voice writer reporters. Makes conforming changes throughout the Act and various other Acts. Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that unless a verbatim record of the testimony or deposition is prepared and certified by an individual certified under the Illinois Certified Shorthand Reporters and Voice Writer Reporters Act, no testimony taken by deposition shall be offered in any court and no testimony offered in the record of administrative proceedings shall be offered. Provides that testimony taken outside of the State shall be deemed to be in conformity with the provisions if the testimony was prepared and certified by a court reporter authorized to prepare and certify deposition testimony in the jurisdiction in which the testimony was taken. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Adds reference to: 705 ILCS 70/5 from Ch. 37, par. 655 In provisions amending the Illinois Certified Shorthand Reporters Act of 1984 (changed to the Illinois Certified Shorthand Reporters and Voice Writer Reporters Act in the engrossed bill), changes the definition of "practice of voice writer reporting". Makes changes to provisions concerning the use of titles for certified shorthand reporters and certified voice writer reporters. Restores the number of members of the Certified Shorthand Reporters Board (changed to the Certified Shorthand Reporters and Voice Writer Reporters Board in the engrossed bill) to 7. Provides that one member of the Board may be a certified voice writer reporter (rather than 2 must be certified voice writer reporters) with specified requirements. Provides that members of the Board shall have no liability in any action based upon any disciplinary proceeding or other activity performed in good faith as members of the Board. Amends the Court Reporters Act. Includes voice writer reporting as a means by which a court reporter shall make a full reporting of the evidence and proceedings in trials and judicial proceedings. Makes related changes to provisions amending the Code of Civil Procedure.

Mourns the death of William John "Bill" Harris.

Mourns the death of Daniel William Escalona of Oak Park.

Mourns the death of Luigi Cardone.

Mourns the death of Reverend William "Bud" Ipema.

Mourns the death of Diane Grace Zimmer Fascione of Oak Park.

Mourns the death of Ernie A. Smith.

Mourns the death of Michael Gardner Crowell.

Mourns the death of Albert Leon Mampre.

Mourns the death of Geraldine M. "Jerre" McPartlin.