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 a National Court Reporting Association, accredited court reporting program or court reporting school, whether in the State of Mississippi or out-of-state, shall be given certification without examination. Any person graduating from a court reporting school approved by the State of Mississippi or some other state shall be given a temporary certification but shall make application for and pass a Certified Shorthand Reporter's (CSR) examination as is provided for in this section.

(2) The Board of Court Reporters shall implement a true CSR examination wherein all examinees are given the opportunity to pass each part of the said examination in "legs" (one part at a time). All temporary certifications or permits shall be automatically extended until the board has prepared, developed and implemented such an examination and each applicant has the opportunity to take the examination for three (3) consecutive times. Any such extension of a temporary certification or permit shall be granted for not less than eighteen (18) months immediately after the implementation of the true CSR for existing temporary certifications or permits. Any applicant granted a temporary certification or permit after implementation of the true CSR examination shall be allowed not less than eighteen (18) months after being granted the temporary certification or permit to pass the examination.

Examinations for certification shall be given not less than every 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.

(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 or has been granted an extension according to subsection (2).

(4) Photo identification may be required of any applicant prior to the taking of an examination for security reasons only but shall not be used for discrimination against applicants on the basis of race, gender, age, creed or national origin.

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