HBA-KMH H.B. 2709 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2709
By: Thompson
Judicial Affairs
4/22/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Court reporters are certified by the Texas Supreme Court after their
reporting proficiency has been tested and approved by the Court Reporters
Certification Board (board).  Compliance with standards of conduct and
professionalism is thereafter subject to board enforcement. 

Court reporting firms operating in Texas that are owned by out-of-state
interests or non-court reporters, however, are not subject to the state
standards and board sanctions applicable to Certified Shorthand Reporters. 

H.B. 2709 requires court reporting firms to be subject to the same
standards and disciplinary actions as Certified Shorthand Reporters. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Sections 52.021(b), (h), and (i), Government Code, as
follows: 

(b) Subjects this subsection to the provisions of Subsection (d).  Provides
further requirements for a person to engage in  shorthand reporting in this
state.  Makes conforming and nonsubstantive changes. 

(h) Requires a court reporting firm to pay a reasonable registration fee
set by the board. Makes conforming and nonsubstantive changes. 

(i) Authorizes the board to enforce rules applicable to a court reporting
firm by assessing a fee not to exceed $5,000, rather than a reasonable fee,
against a court reporting firm. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.