SB387 Alabama 2019 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Steve LivingstonSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2019

Title

Court Reporting, Board of, freelance, official, and supervising court reporter defined, board staff, investigations and hearings pursuant to APA, temporary licensure, lapsed and expired licenses, and fees, Secs. 34-8B-2, 34-8B-4, 34-8B-5, 34-8B-6, 34-8B-8, 34-8B-10, 34-8B-12, 34-8B-13, 34-8B-15, 34-8B-16, 34-8B-17 am'd.

Summary

SB 387 updates Alabama's Court Reporting regulations by expanding definitions, boosting board staffing and enforcement power, and clarifying licensure, temporary licensure, lapse rules, and fees.

What This Bill Does

It updates how the board defines freelance, official, and supervising reporters. It gives the board authority to hire staff and manage investigations and hearings for violations, including penalties. It refines licensure rules, including temporary licensure and supervision, and adds clear procedures for handling lapsed or expired licenses, renewals, and continuing education, along with associated fees and funding.

Who It Affects

• Official, freelance, and temporary license reporters in Alabama (definitions, licensure, supervision, and practice rules).
• Applicants for licensure and those with lapsed or expired licenses (renewal, reinstatement, and education requirements).
• Employers, courts, and firms that hire court reporters (supervision and licensing standards affecting who can practice).
• The Alabama Board of Court Reporting (new staffing authority and enforcement responsibilities).

Key Provisions

• Redefines terms: freelance court reporter, official court reporter, and supervising court reporter.
• Gives the board authority to hire staff, including executives, attorneys, and investigators, outside or without the state merit system.
• Creates and expands procedures for investigating complaints and holding hearings, with penalties for violations (up to $1,000 per violation, reprimand, probation, or license suspension/revocation).
• Sets licensure qualifications: required examinations (written and skills) or accepted national exams, with licenses valid through September 30 of the issuance year; continuing education requirements for renewal.
• Establishes temporary licensure by graduates, duration of up to 18 months (with possible six-month extensions), supervised by a supervising freelance reporter; temporary licensees cannot be official reporters and must complete remaining exam sections.
• Addresses lapsed/expired licenses: late renewals, reinstatement rules, and prohibition on practicing until requirements are met; disciplinary action for violations.
• Requires license renewal processes, including notification of name/address changes and ongoing education requirements; penalties for practicing with an expired license.
• Implements inactive status for reporters not actively practicing, with associated rules and fees.
• Imposes a funding structure: all funds go into the Board of Court Reporting Fund; allows various fees (application, exam, renewal, reinstatement, late renewal, and administrative fees) to be charged and used per budget rules; excess funds may fund education and training, with a cap to ensure emergencies are covered.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Court Reporting, Board of