SB135 Alabama 2012 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: George M. “Marc” Keahey
Democrat
Session: Regular Session 2012
Title: Court Reporting, Board of, members, compensation eliminated, requirement for annual report to Governor and Secretary of State eliminated, written knowledge exam, entities that may administer added, education requirements changed, grandfathering deadline added, temporary license further provided for, certain fees authorized, Secs. 34-8B-4, 34-8B-5, 34-8B-10, 34-8B-14, 34-8B-15, 34-8B-17 am'd.
Summary: SB135 updates Alabama's Court Reporting Board rules by eliminating board member compensation, expanding exam administration, updating education and grandfathering rules, extending temporary licenses to 18 months from issuance, and adding new processing and information-change fees.
What This Bill Does
The bill removes compensation for board members and drops the requirement for an annual report to the Governor and Secretary of State. It allows the Written Knowledge Examination to be administered by the board or by external organizations such as ACRA, NCRA, or NVRA. It changes the education requirement from a high school diploma to completion of a court reporting program and creates a grandfathering path with a set deadline. It extends the temporary license to 18 months from the issuance date and authorizes new fees, including a change-of-information fee and various processing fees.

Who It Affects
Aspiring and current Alabama court reporters who must meet the new education requirement, may use grandfathering provisions, and may obtain temporary licenses under the extended 18-month period.
Board members, exam administering organizations (ACRA/NCRA/NVRA), and license applicants who will encounter changes in compensation, governance, exam administration, and new fees.

Key Provisions
Eliminate board member compensation for the Alabama Board of Court Reporting.
Eliminate the requirement that the board make an annual report to the Governor and Secretary of State.
Authorize additional entities (ACRA, NCRA, NVRA) to administer the Written Knowledge Examination, or allow the board to administer it.
Change the education requirement for court reporters from a high school diploma to completion of a court reporting program.
Establish a grandfathering provision with a deadline of December 31, 2012, for preexisting reporters; certain past ACRA members may be automatically licensed, while others must take the board's exam.
Provide that a temporary graduate license is valid for 18 months from the date of issuance (not from graduation).
Authorize a change-of-information fee and establish reasonable processing fees; create a Board of Court Reporting Fund to handle these monies.
Require the board to adopt continuing education requirements by Oct. 1, 2007, with implementation by Jan. 1, 2008, including courses approved for CLE by the Alabama State Bar; maintain public registers of licensed and temporarily licensed reporters.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Court Reporting, Board of