Purpose: Amend chapter 308-14 WAC, regulating court reporters, the purpose of rule revision is to provide further written clarification and to increase the requirements for examination transcription to meet the national standard of two hundred twenty-five words per minute.

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 308-14-085 Examination, 308-14-090 Application, 308-14-130 Standards of professional practice and 308-14-135 Transcript preparation format; and new sections WAC 308-14-010 Definitions, 308-14-115 Wall certificates, and 308-14-190 Exemptions -- Court appointed.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 18.145.050, 43.24.023.

      Adopted under notice filed as WSR 04-14-073 on July 2, 2004.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 3, Amended 4, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 3, Amended 4, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 3, Amended 4, Repealed 0.

     Date Adopted: August 13, 2004.

Trudie Touchette

Administrator

OTS-7335.1

NEW SECTION
WAC 308-14-010   Definitions.   "Character" is a letter, numeral, punctuation mark, control character, blank, or other such symbol.

     "Standard line" is a line that can be determined by looking at a full line of text and counting from the first letter, including punctuation and spaces, to the last letter of that line. The standard line does not include a "Q" or "A," or the numbers on the left side of the page.

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     (2) Recognition of an examination as the Washington certification examination is conditioned upon the examination meeting the following requirements:

     (a) Be a timed tape with content, speed, and quality approved by the department with the advice of the board, prior to use;

     (b) The examination requires the applicant be able to report and transcribe at least two hundred twenty-five words per minute of two-voice testimony for five consecutive minutes;

     (c) At least ninety-five percent accuracy is needed to pass the examination;

     (d) Be offered at least twice a year;

     (e) The pass/fail scores of the state certification applicants are provided to the department within four weeks of the date of the examination to include a complete list of all the applicants;

     (f) Examinations statistics are supplied following each examination: The number scheduled, passed, failed, and failed to appear;

     (g) The procedures for security and confidentiality of the examination and applicants must meet the requirements of the department of licensing; and

     (h) The department will be supplied with the examination tape and all the individual examination papers with grading marks and comments on them for review. The department reserves the final authority for examination results. The department may retain the examination papers for thirty days after final determination regarding scores to allow appeals and review of papers. Sixty days after the examination results are released all examination papers will be destroyed, except those under appeal, which will be held until final disposition.

     (3) ((The Washington state statutory examinations which were held April 1990, October 1990, and April 1991, are recognized as the qualifying examinations for state certification as a shorthand or court reporter.

     (4))) State applicants who have previously passed the Washington state department of licensing recognized examination within three years of application may be issued certification without additional examination if certified documentation of the passed examination is provided.

     (((5))) (4) Applicants who have failed the examination may apply by submission of a reexamination application and the required fee.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.145.050 and 43.24.020. 91-20-002 and 91-20-044, § 308-14-085, filed 9/19/91 and 9/24/91, effective 10/20/91 and 10/25/91. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.145.050. 90-20-008, § 308-14-085, filed 9/20/90, effective 10/21/90.]

     (((a))) (1) Name and address

     (((b) Business name and address

     (c))) (2) Birth ((place and)) date

     (((d))) (3) Social Security number

     (((e) Educational background

     (f) Previous work experience in court reporting

     (g) List of references (references must have personal knowledge that the applicant has at least two years of court reporting experience)

     (h))) (4) Professional licensure/certification, including any action taken against the license or certificate

     (((i))) (5) Personal affidavit

     (((j) Copies of school transcripts and/or graduation certificate (if required).

     (2) An applicant holding a temporary certificate must submit a complete updated application and fee for permanent certification. The application must be received at least eight weeks prior to the examination date.))

[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.145.050 and 43.24.020. 91-20-002 and 91-20-044, § 308-14-090, filed 9/19/91 and 9/24/91, effective 10/20/91 and 10/25/91. Statutory Authority: Chapter 18.145 RCW and RCW 43.24.086. 90-10-009, § 308-14-090, filed 4/20/90, effective 5/21/90.]

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     (1) Offer arrangements on a case concerning court reporting services or fees to all parties on equal terms.

     (2) Include on all transcripts, business cards, and advertisements their ((CSR)) CCR reference number.

     (((2))) (3) Prepare transcripts in accordance with the transcript preparation guidelines established by WAC 308-14-135 or court.

     (((3))) (4) Preserve and file ((their)) shorthand notes in a manner retrievable. Transcribed notes shall be retained for no less than three years((.)) and untranscribed notes shall be retained for ((no)) not less than ten years, or as required by statute, whichever is longer.

     (((4) Meet promised delivery dates.)) (5) Provide transcripts on agreed delivery date, and give notification of any delays.

     (((5))) (6) Prepare accurate transcripts.

     (((6))) (7) Disclose conflicts, potential conflicts, or appearance of conflicts to all involved parties.

     (((7))) (8) Be truthful and accurate in advertising qualifications and/or services provided.

     (((8))) (9) Preserve the confidentiality of all information ((in their possession)) obtained during a proceeding and take all steps necessary to ((insure)) ensure its security ((and privacy)).

     (((9))) (10) Notify all involved parties when transcripts are ordered.

     (((10) Notify all involved parties,)) (11) All parties shall be notified when a transcript is ordered by a person not involved in the case((, before a copy of the transcript is furnished)). If any party objects, the transcript ((is not)) cannot be provided without a court order.

     (((11))) (12) Supply certified copies of transcripts to any involved party, upon appropriate request.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.145.050 and 43.24.020. 91-20-002 and 91-20-044, § 308-14-130, filed 9/19/91 and 9/24/91, effective 10/20/91 and 10/25/91. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.145.050. 90-20-008, § 308-14-130, filed 9/20/90, effective 10/21/90.]

     (1) ((No fewer than)) Twenty-five typed lines ((on a standard)) per 8 1/2 x 11 inch standard page of paper.

     (2) No fewer than nine and no more than ten characters ((to the typed)) per inch of text.

     (3) No fewer than fifty-four and no more than sixty characters per standard line of text.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.145.050 and 43.24.020. 91-20-002 and 91-20-044, § 308-14-135, filed 9/19/91 and 9/24/91, effective 10/20/91 and 10/25/91.]

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