HB265 Alabama 2020 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Shane StringerRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2020

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

HB265 updates Alabama's Court Reporting rules by redefining reporter roles, boosting board authority, and tightening licensure, temporary licensure, discipline, and fees.

What This Bill Does

It clarifies the definitions of freelance, official, and supervising court reporters. It expands the Alabama Board of Court Reporting’s power to hire staff and to investigate and hold hearings on complaints under the Administrative Procedure Act, with penalties for violations. It updates licensure requirements, adds a temporary license pathway with supervision, and tightens rules for lapsed/expired licenses and renewals. It creates a funding and fee framework for the board to operate and to discipline reporters.

Who It Affects

• Court reporters and licensure applicants (freelance, official, and supervising) who would see updated definitions, clearer licensure paths, a temporary license option under supervision, continuing education requirements, and renewal/ reinstatement processes.
• Employers and institutions that hire reporters (e.g., law firms, courts) and the regulatory ecosystem (board staff, exam providers) who must ensure reporters are licensed, comply with supervision rules for temporary licensees, and may be subject to board-imposed penalties and new fees.

Key Provisions

• Defines freelance court reporter, official court reporter, and supervising court reporter, standardizing terminology for the chapter.
• Gives the Board of Court Reporting authority to hire staff (executive director, attorneys, investigators, etc.) to implement and administer the chapter.
• Sets procedures for investigating complaints and holding hearings under the Administrative Procedure Act; allows penalties up to $1,000 per violation and other disciplinary actions.
• Establishes licensure qualifications, requiring citizenship or legal presence and passing specified examinations or accepted alternative examinations (NCRA/NVRA).
• Creates a temporary license pathway for graduates, valid up to 18 months (with possible six-month extension); temporary licensees must work under the supervision of a freelance court reporter and cannot be official reporters; full licensure to be pursued after passing all sections.
• Outlines procedures for handling lapsed/expired licenses, renewal requirements, late renewals, reinstatement, and prohibition on practicing with an expired license until requirements are met.
• Requires continuing education for license renewal and maintains public license and disciplinary records; establishes an inactive status for reporters not actively practicing.
• Creates the Board of Court Reporting Fund; deposits all money into the fund and sets fees (application, examination, renewal, reinstatement, late renewal penalties, change of information, admin costs) to be used for board operations and education/training when funds allow.
• Effective date: the act becomes law on the first day of the third month after passage.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Court Reporting, Board of