N.J. Stat. tit. 45, ch. 15B

in effect

N.J. Stat. § 45:15B-1 State Board of Court Reporting.

1. There is hereby established in the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety the State Board of Court Reporting (herein referred to as the board) to be composed of six members to be appointed by the Governor, three of whom shall be certified court reporters, two of whom shall be public members appointed pursuant to the provisions of section 2 of P.L.1971, c.60 (C.45:1-2.2), and one of whom shall be a State executive department member appointed pursuant to the provisions of P.L.1971, c.60 (C.45:1-2.1 et seq.). The members of the board, other than the public members and the State executive department member, with the exception of the members first to be appointed, shall be holders of certificates issued under the provisions of this act. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this section shall prohibit the members appointed as certified court reporters from owning or having ownership interest in, or being a corporate officer of, a court reporting firm. The members first appointed shall be skilled in the art and practice of court reporting and shall have been actively and continuously engaged as professional court reporters within the State of New Jersey for at least five years preceding their appointments. The members, except for the State executive department member, shall hold office for a term of three years, except that, (1) any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term for which his predecessor was appointed shall be appointed for the remainder of such term, and (2) the terms of office of the members first taking office after the date of enactment of this act shall expire, as designated by the Governor at the time of nomination, one at the end of one year, one at the end of two years, and one at the end of three years after such date. The board shall elect one of its members as chairman and one as secretary-treasurer, who shall hold their respective offices for one year. The secretary-treasurer shall give bond to the State in such sum as may be determined by the board. The board shall make all necessary rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this act. A majority of members appointed to the board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The board shall keep a complete record of all its proceedings and shall file an annual report with the office of the Secretary of State. L.1940,c.175,s.1; amended 2005, c.308, s.1.

N.J. Stat. § 45:15B-2 Certified court reporter, use of title or abbreviation.

2. Any person who has received from the board a certificate of his qualifications to practice as a court reporter shall be known and styled as a "certified court reporter," and no other person, and no partnership, all of the members of which have not received such certificate, and no corporation, shall assume such title or the abbreviation "C.S.R.," "C.C.R." or any other words, letters or abbreviations tending to indicate that the person, partnership or corporation so using the same is a certified court reporter. L.1940,c.175,s.2; amended 2005, c.308, s.2.

N.J. Stat. § 45:15B-3 Persons entitled to certificate.

3. The board shall grant a certificate as a certified court reporter to any citizen of the United States, residing or having a place for the regular transaction of business in this State, (a) who is over the age of 18 years, of good moral character, and is a graduate of a high school or has had an equivalent education; and (b) who has successfully passed an examination in court reporting under such rules and regulations as the board may prescribe. L.1940,c.175,s.3; amended 2005, c.308, s.3.

N.J. Stat. § 45:15B-3.1 Continuing education requirements for court reporters.

1. The State Board of Court Reporting shall require each court reporter certified pursuant to section 3 of P.L.1940, c.175 (C.45:15B-3) to complete any continuing education requirements imposed by the board pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1999, c.26 (C.45:15B-3.2). L.1999,c.26,s.1; amended 2005, c.308, s.4.

N.J. Stat. § 45:15B-3.2 Responsibilities of board.

2. a. The board shall: (1) establish standards for continuing court reporting education, including the subject matter and content of courses of study, the selection of instructors, and the number and type of continuing education credits required of a certified court reporter as a condition for biennial license renewal; (2) approve educational programs offering continuing education credits; and (3) approve other equivalent educational programs and establish procedures for the issuance of credit upon satisfactory proof of the completion of these programs. b. In the case of court reporting education courses and programs, each hour of instruction shall be equivalent to one credit. L.1999,c.26,s.2; amended 2005, c.308, s.5.

N.J. Stat. § 45:15B-3.3 Grounds for waiving requirements.

3. The board may, in its discretion, waive requirements for continuing education on an individual basis for reasons of hardship such as illness or disability, retirement of the license, or other good cause. L.1999,c.26,s.3.

N.J. Stat. § 45:15B-4 Examinations

The examinations shall be held at least once each year at such times and places as may be necessary in the opinion of the board; providing, sufficient applications are on file with the board. The time and place of holding such examinations shall be advertised in a periodical or other publication to be selected by the board at least 30 days prior to the date of each examination. L.1940, c. 175, p. 536, s. 4. Amended by L.1969, c. 284, s. 1, eff. Jan. 15, 1970.

N.J. Stat. § 45:15B-8 Compensation and expenses of board members

Each member of the board shall receive $50.00 for each day on which he is actually engaged in giving examinations, and $25.00 for each day actually employed in the discharge of his official duties, and in addition thereto all necessary expenses incurred by him in executing his functions under this act, upon certifying the same to the State Treasurer; provided, however, that total salaries of the board per year shall not exceed the amount appropriated by law for such year after payment or provision for payment of all costs or expenses other than such salaries. The compensation and expenses of the members of the board and the expenses of the board that are necessary to carry out the provisions of this act shall be paid by the State Treasurer from the fees collected under section 7; provided, that such compensation and expenses shall not exceed the amount so collected as fees. No additional employees shall be engaged in addition to the board itself. L.1940, c. 175, p. 537, s. 8. Amended by L.1969, c. 284, s. 3, eff. Jan. 15, 1970.

N.J. Stat. § 45:15B-9 Practice without certificate prohibited; temporary employment.

9. a. No person shall engage in the practice of court reporting in this State unless the person has first obtained a certificate from the board as provided pursuant to P.L.2005, c.308. b. Nothing in this act shall be construed to prohibit the temporary employment or retention of any person not holding a certificate until a certified court reporter is available, provided that such temporary employment shall be permitted only in such circumstances as the board may specify through regulation consistent with this section. In no instance shall a person not holding a certificate engage in court reporting without: (1) registering with the board according to such procedures as the board may adopt through regulation; and (2) disclosing to the participants at a proceeding and obtaining written acknowledgment from such participants, prior to the commencement of any proceeding, that the person does not hold a certificate and is registered with the board to work on a temporary basis. Registration with the board shall be for a period of one year, and shall not be renewable unless specifically authorized by the board. c. A person who is in violation of this section shall be subject to a penalty of not more than $500 for the first violation, and not more than $1,000 for each violation thereafter, to be sued for and collected in a summary proceeding by the board pursuant to the "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999," P.L.1999, c.274 (C.2A:58-10 et seq.). In addition, a person who fails to comply with the requirements of this section is subject to the suspension or revocation of that individual's certificate or temporary registration pursuant to section 8 of P.L.1978, c.73 (C.45:1-21). L.1940,c.175,s.9; amended 2005, c.308, s.6.

N.J. Stat. § 45:15B-10 "Certified court reporter," "court reporting" defined.

10. As used in this act: "Certified court reporter" means a person who is certified pursuant to the provisions of this act. "Court reporting" means making by use of symbols or abbreviations, of a verbatim record of court proceedings, depositions, other judicial proceedings, meetings of boards, agencies, corporations, or other bodies or groups, and causing that record to be printed in readable form or produced on a computer screen in readable form. L.1940,c.175,s.10; amended 1953, c.43, s.80; 2005, c.308, s.7.

N.J. Stat. § 45:15B-13 "Shorthand reporting" refers to "court reporting."

12. Whenever the term "State Board of Shorthand Reporting" or "shorthand reporter" occurs or any reference is made thereto in any law, contract or document, the same shall be deemed to refer to the "State Board of Court Reporting" and "court reporter," respectively. L.2005,c.308,s.12.

N.J. Stat. § 45:15B-14 Certified shorthand reporter to be certified court reporter.

13. Any person who is a certified shorthand reporter pursuant to section 3 of P.L.1940, c.175 (C.45:15B-3) on the effective date of this amendatory and supplementary act shall be a certified court reporter under and subject to the provisions of P.L.1940, c.175 (C.45:15B-1 et seq.) and this amendatory and supplementary act. L.2005,c.308,s.13.

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-activity/statutesFetched: 10/17/2026