Oklahoma Cases April 08, 2019: In re Amendments to Rule 3 & Rule 4 of the State Bd. of Examiners of Certified Shorthand Reporters, 20 O.S. 2011, Ch. 20, App. 1

Case Description

Rule 3 and Rule 4 of the State Board of Examiners of Certified Shorthand Reporters, 20 O.S. 2011, ch. 20, app. 1, are hereby amended as shown on the attached Exhibit "A." Rules 3 and 4 with the amended language noted are attached as Exhibit "B". The amended rules shall be effective April 12, 2019.

DONE BY ORDER OF THE SUPREME COURT IN CONFERENCE THIS 8TH DAY OF APRIL, 2019.

/S/CHIEF JUSTICE

ALL JUSTICES CONCUR.

Rules of the State Board of Examiners of Official Shorthand Reporters
Title 20 , Chapter 20 , App. 1
Rule 3. Eligibility.

a) Every candidate who seeks to be examined for enrollment as a certified shorthand reporter shall:

1) Prove to the satisfaction of the Board that he/she is:

i) of legal age;
ii) meets the requisite standards of ethical fitness; and
iii) has at least a high school education, or the equivalent thereof.

This information shall be furnished to the Board by a sworn, notarized affidavit;

2) Prove to the satisfaction of the Board that he/she possesses a minimum level of court reporting proficiency which would allow the applicant to meet the examination requirements established in Section 1503(B)(1) of Title 20. An applicant may satisfy such requirements by obtaining verification through a court reporting school official of the applicant's level of proficiency, as outlined by the test application; by passing a preliminary proficiency examination, which has been approved by the Board; or by proving that the applicant has previously held any state or national shorthand reporting certificate or license;

3) Submit to the Secretary of the Board, or a designee, a properly completed application form provided by the Board, accompanied by such evidence, statements or documents as required by the Board, including an examination fee receipt from the Clerk of the Supreme Court showing payment of the fees required by the Board and approved by the Supreme Court;

4) Declare that he/she is a writer of shorthand by one of the accepted methods set forth in Section 1503(D) of Title 20 of the Oklahoma Statutes; and

5) Provide such additional proof as may be required by the Board to establish that the candidate meets the requirements set forth in Section 1503 of Title 20 of the Oklahoma Statutes.

b) Academic dishonesty during the examination process will result in the applicant's disqualification, and the applicant may not take the examination again for two (2) years from the date of the examination at which the applicant was disqualified.

c) A candidate who has previously failed an examination may be re-examined at any subsequent regular examination upon giving the Board notice via the standard application, and payment of the applicable examination fee as set by the Board and approved by the Supreme Court. The examination fee will be forfeited if the candidate fails to appear for the examination, or fails to complete the examination, unless an exception is granted by the Board.

Rules of the State Board of Examiners of Certified Shorthand Reporters
Title 20 , Chapter 20 , App. 1
Rule 4. Test Requirements.

a) The examination for enrollment as a certified shorthand reporter shall consist of the following:

1) Testimony and Proceedings Skills Examination -- A two-voice question-and-answer dictation of testimony at two hundred (200) words per minute for five (5) minutes. Speaker designations such as "Q" and "A" will not be read nor counted as words, but must be appropriately indicated in the transcript. One (1) hour will be given for the transcription of the question-and-answer dictation.

2) Literary Materials Skills Examination -- A five-minute dictation of literary material at one hundred eighty (180) words per minute. One (1) hour will be given for the transcription of the literary dictation.

3) The Oklahoma Written Knowledge Test -- A written knowledge test of not less than twenty-five (25) multiple choice questions relating to the Oklahoma law and court rules, duties of certified shorthand reporters, and general court procedure. This section of the examination will be administered in forty-five (45) minutes. Applicants will be provided with the study aids from which the test questions will be taken.

b) Candidates may take one or both of the skills examinations at any regularly scheduled examination. A candidate who has successfully completed either of the skills examinations may retain the credit for that portion of the examination for two (2) years from the date passed, and will not be required to retake that portion of the examination during the two (2) year period.

c) Candidates may take the Oklahoma Written Knowledge Test at any regularly scheduled examination. Proof of minimum proficiency shall not be required for candidates taking only the Oklahoma Written Knowledge Test. A candidate who has successfully completed the Oklahoma Written Knowledge portion of the examination may retain the credit for that portion of the examination for two (2) years from the date passed, and will not be required to retake that portion of the examination during the two (2) year period.

d) A candidate who provides proof of passing the Registered Professional Reporter Examination of the National Court Reporters Association, or an equivalent test as authorized by the Supreme Court, is eligible for enrollment without taking the skills examinations described in paragraphs a(1) and a(2) of this Rule. The applicant must, prior to certification, pass the Oklahoma Written Knowledge portion of the examination, and meet all other applicable eligibility requirements.

Rules of the State Board of Examiners of Official Shorthand Reporters
Title 20 , Chapter 20 , App. 1
Rule 3. Eligibility.

a) Every candidate who seeks to be examined for enrollment as a certified shorthand reporter shall:

1) Prove to the satisfaction of the Board that he/she is:

i) of legal age;

ii) meets the requisite standards of ethical fitness; and
iii) has at least a high school education, or the equivalent thereof.

This information shall be furnished to the Board by a sworn, notarized affidavit;

2) Prove to the satisfaction of the Board that he/she possesses a minimum level of court reporting proficiency which would allow the applicant to meet the examination requirements established in Section 1503(B)(1) of Title 20. An applicant may satisfy such requirements by obtaining verification through a court reporting school official of the applicant's level of proficiency, as outlined by the test application; by passing a preliminary proficiency examination, which has been approved by the Board; or by proving that the applicant has previously held any state or national shorthand reporting certificate or license;

3) Submit to the Secretary of the Board, or a designee, a properly completed application form provided by the Board, accompanied by such evidence, statements or documents as required by the Board, including an examination fee receipt from the Clerk of the Supreme Court showing payment of the fees required by the Board and approved by the Supreme Court;

4) Declare that he/she is a writer of shorthand by one of the accepted methods set forth in Section 1503 (D) of Title 20 of the Oklahoma Statutes; and

5) Provide such additional proof as may be required by the Board to establish that the candidate meets the requirements set forth in Section 1503 of Title 20 of the Oklahoma Statutes.

b) Academic dishonesty during the examination process will result in the applicant's disqualification, and the applicant may not take the examination again for two (2) years from the date of the examination at which the applicant was disqualified.

c) A candidate who has previously failed an examination may be re-examined at any subsequent regular examination upon giving the Board notice via the standard application, and payment in full of the applicable examination fee as set by the Board and approved by the Supreme Court. The examination fee must be paid for each examination taken by a candidate, regardless of the candidate's failure to pass a prior examination or any portion thereof . The examination fee will be forfeited if the candidate fails to appear for the examination, or fails to complete the examination, unless an exception is granted by the Board.

Rules of the State Board of Examiners of Certified Shorthand Reporters
Title 20 , Chapter 20 , App. 1
Rule 4. Test Requirements.

a) The examination for enrollment as a certified shorthand reporter shall consist of the following:

1) Testimony and Proceedings Skills Examination -- A two-voice question-and-answer dictation of testimony at two hundred (200) words per minute for five (5) minutes. Speaker designations such as "Q" and "A" will not be read nor counted as words, but must be appropriately indicated in the transcript. One (1) hour will be given for the transcription of the question-and-answer dictation.

2) Literary Materials Skills Examination -- A five-minute dictation of literary material at one hundred eighty (180) words per minute. One (1) hour will be given for the transcription of the literary dictation.

3) The Oklahoma Written Knowledge Test -- A written knowledge test of not less than twenty-five (25) multiple choice questions relating to the Oklahoma law and court rules, duties of certified shorthand reporters, and general court procedure. This section of the examination will be administered in forty-five (45) minutes. Applicants will be provided with the study aids from which the test questions will be taken.

b) Candidates may take one or both of the skills examinations at any regularly scheduled examination. A candidate who has successfully completed either of the skills examinations may retain the credit for that portion of the examination for two (2) years from the date passed, and will not be required to retake that portion of the examination during the two (2) year period. There will be no reduction in examination fee for any applicant retaining credit for either skills portion of the examination.

c) Candidates may take the Oklahoma Written Knowledge Test at any regularly scheduled examination. Proof of minimum proficiency shall not be required for candidates taking only the Oklahoma Written Knowledge Test . A candidate who has successfully completed the Oklahoma Written Knowledge portion of the examination may retain the credit for that portion of the examination for two (2) years from the date passed, and will not be required to retake that portion of the examination during the two (2) year period. There will be no reduction in examination fee for any applicant retaining credit for the written knowledge portion of the examination.

d) A candidate who provides proof of passing the Registered Professional Reporter Examination of the National Court Reporters Association, or an equivalent test as authorized by the Supreme Court, is eligible for enrollment without taking the skills examinations described in paragraphs a(1) and a(2) of this Rule. The applicant must, prior to certification, pass the Oklahoma Written Knowledge portion of the examination, and meet all other applicable eligibility requirements.