This section sets up the Court Reporters Certification Advisory Board and lays out who appoints its members, how long they serve, quorum rules, vacancy filling, notice requirements, and reimbursement.
Sec. 154.051. ORGANIZATION. (a) The Court Reporters Certification Advisory Board is established as an advisory board to the commission. The advisory board is composed of at least nine members appointed by the supreme court as follows: (1) one active district judge presiding over a court that employs an official court reporter; (2) one active attorney licensed in this state who has been a practicing member of the State Bar for more than the five years immediately preceding the attorney's appointment to the advisory board; (3) two certified shorthand reporters actively engaged in the practice of official court reporting in this state for more than the five years immediately preceding their appointment to the advisory board; (4) two certified shorthand reporters actively engaged in the practice of shorthand reporting on a freelance basis for more than the five years immediately preceding their appointment to the advisory board; (5) one certified shorthand reporter actively engaged in practice as a captioner in this state for more than the five years immediately preceding the captioner's appointment to the advisory board; and (6) two certified shorthand reporters who: (A) own a shorthand reporting firm in this state; and (B) have owned and operated a shorthand reporting firm in this state for more than the five years immediately preceding their appointment to the advisory board. (b) Appointments to the advisory board shall be made without regard to the race, color, disability, sex, religion, age, or national origin of the appointees. (c) The advisory board member appointed under Subsection (a)(1) serves as presiding officer of the advisory board. (d) A majority of the advisory board constitutes a quorum. (e) Advisory board members serve staggered six-year terms of office as ordered by the supreme court. (f) If a vacancy occurs on the advisory board, the supreme court shall appoint a similarly qualified person to serve the remainder of the term. (f-1) Not later than the 90th day before the expiration of an advisory board member's term, the commission: (1) shall post on the commission's Internet website notice of the availability of the membership position; (2) shall accept resumes from and conduct interviews of any qualified individuals interested in appointment to the position; and (3) may recommend to the supreme court one or more of the qualified individuals for appointment to the advisory board. (g) Advisory board members serve without compensation but are entitled to reimbursement for travel expenses and other actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of official advisory board duties, as provided by the General Appropriations Act. Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 480, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1985. Amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 148, Sec. 2.68(a), eff. Sept. 1, 1987; Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 167, Sec. 2.19(15), eff. Sept. 1, 1987; Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 561, Sec. 22, eff. Aug. 26, 1991; Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 76, Sec. 5.95(28), eff. Sept. 1, 1995; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 29, Sec. 4, eff. Sept. 1, 2001; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 813, Sec. 4, eff. Sept. 1, 2003. Amended by: Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 808 (S.B. 1441), Sec. 1, eff. June 19, 2009. Transferred, redesignated and amended from Government Code, Section 52.011 by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 42 (S.B. 966), Sec. 1.03, eff. September 1, 2014. Redesignated from Government Code, Subtitle K, Title 2 by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1236 (S.B. 1296), Sec. 21.001(21), eff. September 1, 2015. Amended by: Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 861 (H.B. 3474), Sec. 9.006(a), eff. September 1, 2023.