Court reporters; duties and salaries; remote availability; transcripts; certifications; continuing education; shorthand reporter examinations; methods; effective date; emergency.
HB3970 revises Oklahoma law governing court reporters, including how proceedings may be recorded, how transcripts are ordered and produced, and how court reporters are compensated and certified. The bill expands the acceptable methods of court reporting to include additional Supreme Court-authorized methods and allows proceedings to be electronically recorded when no court reporter is available, with transcripts then prepared by an official court reporter or, if approved by the judge and stipulated by the parties, by a freelance reporter. It also clarifies that official transcripts are required for later use in subsequent proceedings or appeals, and it preserves Supreme Court authority over transcript format and related procedures.
The bill increases the annual base salary for court reporters from $53,000 to $65,000 beginning in fiscal year 2023 and thereafter, and it maintains longevity pay and equipment allowances while expanding the certification-based bonus structure. It provides up to $2,000 per year for several recognized certifications, allows multiple certification bonuses up to a total of $8,000 annually above base salary, and suspends certification-based compensation if a reporter’s credential lapses. The bill also updates examination provisions for shorthand reporter certification, including allowable reporting methods, written knowledge testing, and continuing education requirements, and it authorizes temporary reporters to receive mileage reimbursement under specified conditions.
HB3970 amends multiple sections of Title 20 affecting court reporter duties, compensation, certification, and examination standards. It changes the statutory framework for recording court proceedings by authorizing electronic recording when no reporter is available and by permitting freelance reporters in limited, judge-approved circumstances, while preserving the role of official court reporters for transcripts used in later proceedings or appeals. It also raises state-paid salaries and certification-based supplements for court reporters employed by district courts, the Workers’ Compensation Court of Existing Claims, and the Corporation Commission, which has fiscal implications for court funds and appropriations.
The available voting history shows strong bipartisan support and no recorded opposition at each stage, with unanimous committee votes and large floor majorities in both chambers. The committee and floor transcripts provided show little to no debate at the final stages, suggesting the measure was broadly accepted as a technical and compensation-related update to court reporting law. Overall sentiment appears favorable and largely noncontroversial.
The main policy questions in the bill concern modernization of court reporting and the use of nontraditional or remote methods versus reliance on official court reporters. The bill allows electronic recording when no reporter is available and permits freelance reporters by stipulation and judicial approval, which could raise concerns about transcript reliability, consistency, and who may prepare official records. Another possible point of contention is the significant salary increase and expanded certification bonuses, though the vote history provided does not show organized opposition to those changes.