Sunset Staff Reports Released

Sunset staff reports for the Angelina and Neches River Authority, Lower Neches Valley Authority, River Authority Uniformity Study, Trinity River Authority of Texas, and Texas Ethics Commission are now available.

Commission Decisions

The summary of the Texas Real Estate Commission decisions are now available. 

Court Reporters Certification Board

Agency History

Historical Notes

During the 83rd Legislative Session in 2013, Senate Bill 966 consolidated Court Reporters Certification Board along with several other judicial branch agencies creating the Judicial Branch Certification Commission.

This agency is currently inactive. An agency can be labeled inactive if it has been abolished, had a title change, was merged into a different agency or split into different agencies. See Agency History on the right for further information.

Next Review Date: None

  • Last Review Cycle: 2002-2003 Review Cycle - 78th Legislative Session

Sunset Documents for 2002-2003 Review Cycle, 78th Legislative Session

Legislative Documents

Final Results of Last Sunset Review

Since 1914, the courts of Texas have identified the need to preserve a record of court proceedings, and have considered court reporters to be officers of the court. In 1977, the Legislature created the Court Reporters Certification Board (the Board) to regulate the court reporter profession. In fiscal year 2002, the Legislature appropriated $156,525 to the Board. Agency appropriations were offset by $303,873 in fees paid into the General Revenue Fund from licensees. The agency currently employs three staff.

The Board’s major functions include:

  • administering the quarterly court reporter examination and certifying court reporters;
  • registering court reporting firms; and
  • processing complaints and taking disciplinary action against certified court reporters and court reporting firms.

Senate Bill 273 contains all of the Sunset Commission’s recommendations, and several additional provisions affecting the Board. Senate Bill 273 continues the Board and enacts several provisions that conform the agency’s operations and licensing procedures to standard practices seen in other regulatory bodies. The legislation also merges the Board into the Office of Court Administration for administrative purposes. The list below summarizes the major provisions of S.B. 273.

  • Continue the Court Reporters Certification Board for 12 Years.
  • Conform Key Elements of the Board’s Programs to Commonly Applied Occupational Licensing Practices.
  • Administratively Attach the Board to the Office of Court Administration.
  • Clarify the Application of Texas Laws Governing Court Reporters.