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.