MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2000 Regular Session

To: Judiciary

By: Senator(s) Walls, Harden

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 9-13-121, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE GIVING OF EXAMINATION FOR CERTIFICATION AS A COURT REPORTER, NOTICE, THE EFFECT OF NOT PASSING THE EXAMINATION, AND TEMPORARY CERTIFICATES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 9-13-121, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

9-13-121. (1) Any person graduating from an NCRA-approved school with a degree in court reporting after July 2, 1994, whether in Mississippi or out-of-state, shall be given certification without examination.

(2) The Board of Court Reporters shall implement a true Certified Shorthand Reporter's ("CSR") examination wherein all examinees are able to pass each part of said examination in "legs" (one part at a time). The speeds for the CSR examination shall be: Q & A: two hundred (200) words per minute; Jury Charge: one hundred eighty (180) words per minute; and Literary: one hundred sixty (160) words per minute. All temporary permits shall be "stayed" until the board has provided such an examination.

Examinations for certification shall be given not less than each six (6) months, at a time and place designated by the board. Notification of such examinations shall be given each applicant in writing not less than thirty (30) days before each examination date.

If after three (3) consecutive examinations, the applicant holding the temporary certificate has not qualified for certification, the applicant shall be permitted a hearing before the board. If said applicant has passed at least two (2) parts of the examination, the applicant will be given an extension of not more than one (1) year.

Should any official court reporting position become available, said position must be filled only by an actual "tested" applicant, not an applicant who has been grandfathered in.

(3) Those reporters holding temporary certificates must submit their applications, together with the fee, to the board and take the next scheduled examination. If after three (3) consecutive examinations the applicant holding the temporary certificate has not qualified for certification, the applicant shall be deemed unqualified to serve as a reporter until the applicant passes the examination and receives permanent certification.

(4) No photo identification may be required of any applicant prior to the taking of any examination, and then only in preparation for the issuance of a license under this article of Title 9, Chapter 13.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2000.