Table of Contents Sec. 20-650. Definitions. As used in sections 20-650 to 20-656, inclusive, unless
the context otherwise requires: Sec. 20-651. State Board of Examiners of Shorthand Reporters. (a) There is
established within the Department of Consumer Protection the State Board of Examiners
of Shorthand Reporters. The board shall be composed of six members as follows: (1)
One attorney admitted to practice law in this state and in good standing to be appointed
by the Governor from a list submitted by the Executive Board of the Connecticut Bar
Association; (2) two members of the public to be appointed by the Governor; and (3)
three shorthand reporters to be appointed by the Governor from a list submitted by the
Connecticut Court Reporters Association, provided, all persons appointed under this
subdivision after the expiration of the terms of the initial members selected shall be
licensed shorthand reporters. Sec. 20-652. License required for use of title and practice of shorthand reporting. Exception. On and after January 1, 1999, no person shall use the title "shorthand reporter", "court reporter" or similar designation, or display or use any words,
letters, figures, title, advertisement or other device to indicate that such person is a
shorthand reporter, or engage in the practice of shorthand reporting for compensation
in this state, unless such person is licensed in accordance with the provisions of sections
20-650 to 20-656, inclusive, except as provided in section 20-655. Sec. 20-653. Application for licensure. Fees. (a) Any person seeking a license
under the provisions of sections 20-650 to 20-656, inclusive, shall apply to the board
in writing on a form provided by the board. Such application shall include the applicant's
name, residence address, business address and such other information as the Commissioner of Consumer Protection may require by regulation adopted in accordance with
chapter 54 upon the recommendation of the board. Sec. 20-654. Examination. Licenses. Renewal. Continuing education. Regulations. (a) No person shall receive a license under the provisions of sections 20-650 to 20-
656, inclusive, until such person has passed an examination which shall be substantially
similar to the examination of the National Court Reporters Association, or demonstrates
to the satisfaction of the board that such person has actively engaged in the practice of
shorthand reporting in this state before October 1, 1997, or has submitted evidence
satisfactory to the board that such person is a Registered Professional Reporter of the
National Court Reporters Association or its equivalent. Sec. 20-655. Exemptions. The provisions of sections 20-650 to 20-656, inclusive,
do not apply to: (1) Any person who is employed by this state as a court reporter or
shorthand reporter, whether compensated on a salary or a per diem basis, but only to
the extent such person performs such court reporting or shorthand reporting in the course
of such person's employment with the state; and (2) any person who is employed by
the United States as a court reporter for the federal courts located in this state.
Sec. 20-650. Definitions.
Sec. 20-651. State Board of Examiners of Shorthand Reporters.
Sec. 20-652. License required for use of title and practice of shorthand reporting. Exception.
Sec. 20-653. Application for licensure. Fees.
Sec. 20-654. Examination. Licenses. Renewal. Continuing education. Regulations.
Sec. 20-655. Exemptions.
Sec. 20-656. Suspension or revocation of licenses.
(1) "Board" means the State Board of Examiners of Shorthand Reporters appointed
under the provisions of section 20-651;
(2) "Licensed shorthand reporter" means any person who holds a license to practice
shorthand reporting in this state under the authority of sections 20-650 to 20-656, inclusive; and
(3) "Shorthand reporting" means making a verbatim record of the spoken word by
the use of written symbols, either manually or by the use of a stenotype machine or
computer aided stenotype transcription machine, for the purpose of reporting arbitration
proceedings, administrative hearings, depositions, or other proceedings or matters for
the use of the courts of this state.
(P.A. 97-166, S. 1.)
See Sec. 51-74 re definitions of "shorthand notes", "stenographic notes" and "official notes".
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(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (c) of section 4-9a, the members
of the board shall hold office for staggered terms. The initial members selected shall
serve as follows: (1) The attorney appointed from the list submitted by the Executive
Board of the Connecticut Bar Association shall hold office for one year; (2) each public
member shall hold office for three years; and (3) one shorthand reporter shall hold office
for one year and the other two shorthand reporters shall hold office for two years, as
designated by the Governor. Following the expiration of such initial terms, each subsequent appointee shall hold office for a term of three years. Any vacancy shall be filled
by the appointing authority for the unexpired portion of the term of the member replaced.
Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of section 4-9a, the board shall elect
one member as chairperson and one member as secretary. The board shall keep a true
and complete record of all proceedings.
(c) The board shall supervise the examination, licensing and conduct of licensed
shorthand reporters engaged in reporting proceedings or matters for the use of the courts
of this state. In the event of a conflict between the provisions of sections 20-650 to 20-
656, inclusive, or any regulation adopted pursuant to subsection (d) of section 20-654,
and the provisions of chapter 874, the provisions of chapter 874 shall govern.
(P.A. 97-166, S. 2.)
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(P.A. 97-166, S. 3.)
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(b) Each application for a license under the provisions of sections 20-650 to 20-
656, inclusive, shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable application fee of fifty dollars
and a license fee of one hundred fifty dollars. The fee for the renewal of any license
issued under the provisions of sections 20-650 to 20-656, inclusive, shall be one hundred
fifty dollars.
(P.A. 97-166, S. 4.)
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(b) If the applicant satisfies the requirements of this section, upon payment of the
fee required by section 20-653, the board shall authorize the Department of Consumer
Protection to issue a license to the applicant, showing that the person named in such
license is entitled to engage in the practice of shorthand reporting in this state in accordance with the provisions of sections 20-650 to 20-656, inclusive. Notwithstanding the
provisions of subsection (b) of section 21a-10, any such license shall be valid for a
period of three years.
(c) Any license issued under the provisions of sections 20-650 to 20-656, inclusive,
upon payment of the fee required by section 20-653, may be renewed for a period of
three years. As a condition of any such renewal, the licensee shall furnish evidence
satisfactory to the board that the licensee has completed not less than thirty continuing
education credits since receipt of the initial license or the previous license renewal. The
Commissioner of Consumer Protection shall, by regulation adopted in accordance with
chapter 54 and upon the recommendation of the board, establish requirements for (1)
the continuing education of licensed shorthand reporters; (2) the form and content of
the examination shorthand reporters are required to pass to satisfy the licensure requirements set forth in subsection (a) of section 20-654; and (3) such other matters as the
commissioner deems necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter.
(P.A. 97-166, S. 5; P.A. 99-194, S. 2.)
History: P.A. 99-194 amended Subsec. (c) to require commissioner to adopt regulations re form and content of shorthand
reporter examination in new Subdiv. (2) and re any other matter commissioner deems necessary in new Subdiv. (3).
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(P.A. 97-166, S. 6; P.A. 99-194, S. 3.)
History: P.A. 99-194 expanded exemption to include shorthand reporters employed with the state and added provision
limiting exemption to the extent the person performs court reporting or shorthand reporting in the course of employment
with the state.
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