NEBRASKA COURT REPORTERS ASSOCIATION
(NeCRA)
VOLUNTARY CERTIFIED COURT REPORTER PROGRAM
SECTION 1: Purposes
It is the intention of this certification program to gain an opportunity of increasing the status, enhancing the necessity, and emphasizing the important role of our profession within the legal arena and society as a whole.
It is further intended that this program will ensure that this state‘s CCRs have acknowledged and agreed to abide by NeCRA’s standards of ethical conduct and professional behavior in the performance of their duties and that by doing so we will raise the overall status of, and respect for, our profession.
Any official or freelance member of NeCRA to whom a certificate is issued may use the title of Certified Court Reporter or the abbreviation therefor, CCR, which may be displayed on the title and certification pages of any transcript.
This program applies to all official or freelance members of the Nebraska Court Reporters Association who meet the standards set forth in the subsequent sections of this proposed program.
SECTION 2: Definitions
(A) “Court Reporting” means the making of a verbatim record of the spoken word by any writer of shorthand, manual or machine.
(B) “Court Reporter” means any individual engaged in the practice of court reporting as a profession as defined in Section 2(A).
(C) “CCR” means Certified Court Reporter.
(D) “RPR” means Registered Professional Reporter. “RMR” means Registered Merit Reporter. “RDR” means Registered Diplomate Reporter. “CRR” means Certified Realtime Reporter. These are all designations attained by meeting the requirements established by the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA).
(E) “Executive Committee” as defined herein means the officers and member representatives as defined in Article IV of the NeCRA Constitution.
(F) “CCR Committee” as defined herein means the NeCRA Voluntary Certified Court Reporter Program Committee.
(G) “Program” as defined herein means the NeCRA Voluntary Certified Court Reporter Program.
(H) “Official” as defined by NeCRA Bylaws, Article I, Section 1(a), means any person who is a writer of shorthand, manual or machine, and who is or has been an officially appointed shorthand reporter in a court in this state.
(I) “Freelance” as defined by NeCRA Bylaws, Article I, Section 1(b), means any person who is a writer of shor hand, manual or machine, and who is or has been engaged in the active practice of law reporting or general reporting in this state.
SECTION 3: Administration
The CCR Committee shall be appointed by the Executive Committee. The CCR Committee shall implement, oversee, and maintain said program as defined herein.
The chairperson, vice-chairperson, and members of the CCR Committee shall be members in good standing of the Nebraska Court Reporters Association according to the NeCRA Constitution and Bylaws.
The CCR Committee shall consist of five (5) active members and include a chairperson, one vice-chairperson, and a secretary. A CCR Committee member must have been a member of NeCRA for a minimum of two years, and the Committee Chairman must have been a member of NeCRA for a minimum of three years.
Terms of CCR Committee Members: Three members shall serve for three-year terms and two members shall serve for two-year terms. Any vacancy occurring in the CCR Committee may be filled by the Executive Committee. An appointee filling such vacancy shall serve during the unexpired portion of the term of the member replaced.
CCR Committee members, while engaged in performing their official duties, may be reimbursed for the actual expenses incurred in the performance of such duties out of funds generated by the program upon submission of receipt to the NeCRA Treasurer.
The CCR Committee shall keep minutes of its meetings and all official actions taken. All records of the CCR Committee shall be maintained at a location designated by the CCR Committee chairperson.
SECTION 4: Duties, Power, and Authority
(A) To review all applications for Voluntary CCR certification and, upon applicant satisfying all requirements, issue or authorize to be issued CCR certificate and certificate number.
(B) To report any discrepancy or irregularity in the administration of the program immediately to the NeCRA President.
(C) To submit status reports via e-mail to the Executive Committee within ten (10) days of each Executive Committee meeting.
(D) To keep an accurate, up-to-date database of continuing education points for each CCR.
(E) Notify participants in writing (electronically or paper copy) of any change(s) to this program a minimum of at least two weeks prior to an association business meeting. Changes to the program shall be presented by this committee to the NeCRA voting membership for discussion at an association business meeting, and proposed changes shall become effective upon majority vote at said meeting.
SECTION 5: Application
(A) An official or freelance member seeking certification under this program shall make application by completing the necessary forms, attaching required documents as defined in Section 5(B)(2), enclosing a check of required funds made payable to NeCRA, and sending the materials to the address indicated.
(B) An official or freelance member seeking certification as a Court Reporter under this program must meet all of the following requirements:
(1) Must be a freelance or an official member in good standing within the NeCRA.
(2) Must be a current holder of NCRA designations RPR or RMR or RDR or CRR, or must be a current CSR or CCR from a state which administers an RPR-equivalent examination. Printed verification of any current state CSR or CCR must accompany application.
(3) Satisfactorily completing the Application for Voluntary Certification.
(4) By signing application, applicant agrees to abide by all rules, policies, and
procedures of this program.
(5) Payment of certification fee(s).
SECTION 6: Certification by Examination
(A) Certification by examination under this program shall be by use of the National Court Reporters Association’s Registered Professional Reporter examination given in May and November of each year.
(B) All applicants applying for CCR certification by examination shall be responsible for reading all rules and regulations of NCRA’s examination procedure before exam date.
(C) It shall be the responsibility of the applicant to provide a copy of the NCRA test result notification with their CCR application.
SECTION 7: Fees
(A) Members applying for certification under this program shall pay to NeCRA fees identified below. This program is intended to be a self-funding program, if at all possible, and all fees received for this program shall be used to fund this program’s implementation, oversight and maintenance, and any other use as deemed necessary by the Executive Committee.
(B) All fees will be non-refundable. $30 Application Fee. $20 Annual Renewal Fee due September 30th of each year.
SECTION 8: Issuance of Certification
(A) Once an applicant has met and satisfied the qualifications as set forth in this program, this committee shall issue the applicant a certificate as a CCR with the certificate number, documentation, and other materials deemed necessary.
This certificate shall remain valid as long as the court reporter remains a member in good standing with the NeCRA, pays annual certification dues by September 30th of each year, all required fees, and abides by all rules, regulations, policies & procedures under this program as set forth by NeCRA and this voluntary program.
(B) All qualified/eligible court reporters meeting the requirements of this program by September 30th of each year shall be listed in the next NeCRA Annual Membership Directory with the designation of “CCR.”
SECTION 9: Continuing Education Requirements
(A) Accumulation of a total of 3.0 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) shall be required during each three-year (3-year) certification period. The three-year (3-year) CEU cycle of any CCR holding RPR, RMR, RDR or CRR designations may be coordinated with their NCRA CEU cycle upon written request to the CCR Committee for an extension of time for obtaining CEUs in accordance with Section 9(D). It is the responsibility of each CCR certificate holder to provide the CCR Committee with documentation of any CEU points obtained from sources other than NeCRA-sponsored events.
(B) The CCR Committee will maintain a database of continuing education units for each CCR upon submission of proof of CEUs earned. The Committee shall notify each CCR on an annual basis of total CEUs accumulated.
(C) CEUs may be obtained from the following resources:
(1) Any CEUs accrued under the auspices of NCRA-sponsored or NCRA-approved events, classes, seminars, projects, or activities.
(2) Classes taken at accredited colleges will accrue at .1 CEU per credit hour per semester.
(D) Written requests for extension of time for obtaining CEUs shall be submitted to the CCR Committee for their consideration. The CCR Committee will formulate rules to be established regarding extensions.
SECTION 10: Reciprocity [Repealed June 2009]
SECTION 11: Renewal
(A) The Renewal for CCR form will be published in “The Scribe” each year and must be completed and returned with a renewal fee ($20) by September 30th of each year. It shall be the responsibility of each CCR to submit proof of continuing education units earned to the CCR Committee.
(B) Upon review of renewal form by the CCR Committee, confirmation of renewal will be sent to each CCR.
SECTION 12: Reinstatement
(A) A CCR may be placed on inactive status by written request to the Committee and, provided NeCRA membership dues are paid annually, may be reinstated upon written request. A CCR seeking reinstatement to active status shall complete and return Renewal for CCR form and pay renewal fee. While a certification is in an inactive status, the use of the CCR designation is prohibited.
(B) A member whose CCR certificate has become null and void under Section 13(B) may apply for reinstatement by completing the Application For Voluntary CCR Program, paying application fee, and the showing of good cause. Reinstatement shall be subject to review and approval by the Committee.
SECTION 13: Nullification, Revocation, or Suspension of Certificate
(A) A CCR whose certificate has become null and void under Section 13(B) will be notified in writing and shall be granted fifteen (15) days to satisfactorily meet requirements for renewal of their CCR certificate.
(B) A CCR’s certificate shall become null and void on September 30th of each year for one or more of the following reasons:
(1) Nonpayment of NeCRA dues.
(2) Failure to provide proof of 3.0 continuing education units every three years.
(3) Nonpayment of CCR certification renewal fee by September 30th of each year.
(4) Failure to satisfactorily complete renewal form.
(C) Any member’s certificate issued under this program shall be suspended or revoked for one or more of the following reasons:
(1) Conviction of a felony.
(2) Failure to abide by the NeCRA Bylaws.
(3) Failure to abide by any rule, policy, or procedure as defined in this program.
(4) Misrepresentation in applying for certification.
(5) Remaining on inactive status for more than three (3) consecutive years.
(D) Prior to the revocation or suspension of any certificate, member shall be given notice and opportunity for hearing shall be afforded.
SECTION 14: Grandfather Clause [Repealed June 2009]
August 2009
(NeCRA)
VOLUNTARY CERTIFIED COURT REPORTER PROGRAM
SECTION 1: Purposes
It is the intention of this certification program to gain an opportunity of increasing the status, enhancing the necessity, and emphasizing the important role of our profession within the legal arena and society as a whole.
It is further intended that this program will ensure that this state‘s CCRs have acknowledged and agreed to abide by NeCRA’s standards of ethical conduct and professional behavior in the performance of their duties and that by doing so we will raise the overall status of, and respect for, our profession.
Any official or freelance member of NeCRA to whom a certificate is issued may use the title of Certified Court Reporter or the abbreviation therefor, CCR, which may be displayed on the title and certification pages of any transcript.
This program applies to all official or freelance members of the Nebraska Court Reporters Association who meet the standards set forth in the subsequent sections of this proposed program.
SECTION 2: Definitions
(A) “Court Reporting” means the making of a verbatim record of the spoken word by any writer of shorthand, manual or machine.
(B) “Court Reporter” means any individual engaged in the practice of court reporting as a profession as defined in Section 2(A).
(C) “CCR” means Certified Court Reporter.
(D) “RPR” means Registered Professional Reporter. “RMR” means Registered Merit Reporter. “RDR” means Registered Diplomate Reporter. “CRR” means Certified Realtime Reporter. These are all designations attained by meeting the requirements established by the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA).
(E) “Executive Committee” as defined herein means the officers and member representatives as defined in Article IV of the NeCRA Constitution.
(F) “CCR Committee” as defined herein means the NeCRA Voluntary Certified Court Reporter Program Committee.
(G) “Program” as defined herein means the NeCRA Voluntary Certified Court Reporter Program.
(H) “Official” as defined by NeCRA Bylaws, Article I, Section 1(a), means any person who is a writer of shorthand, manual or machine, and who is or has been an officially appointed shorthand reporter in a court in this state.
(I) “Freelance” as defined by NeCRA Bylaws, Article I, Section 1(b), means any person who is a writer of shor hand, manual or machine, and who is or has been engaged in the active practice of law reporting or general reporting in this state.
SECTION 3: Administration
The CCR Committee shall be appointed by the Executive Committee. The CCR Committee shall implement, oversee, and maintain said program as defined herein.
The chairperson, vice-chairperson, and members of the CCR Committee shall be members in good standing of the Nebraska Court Reporters Association according to the NeCRA Constitution and Bylaws.
The CCR Committee shall consist of five (5) active members and include a chairperson, one vice-chairperson, and a secretary. A CCR Committee member must have been a member of NeCRA for a minimum of two years, and the Committee Chairman must have been a member of NeCRA for a minimum of three years.
Terms of CCR Committee Members: Three members shall serve for three-year terms and two members shall serve for two-year terms. Any vacancy occurring in the CCR Committee may be filled by the Executive Committee. An appointee filling such vacancy shall serve during the unexpired portion of the term of the member replaced.
CCR Committee members, while engaged in performing their official duties, may be reimbursed for the actual expenses incurred in the performance of such duties out of funds generated by the program upon submission of receipt to the NeCRA Treasurer.
The CCR Committee shall keep minutes of its meetings and all official actions taken. All records of the CCR Committee shall be maintained at a location designated by the CCR Committee chairperson.
SECTION 4: Duties, Power, and Authority
(A) To review all applications for Voluntary CCR certification and, upon applicant satisfying all requirements, issue or authorize to be issued CCR certificate and certificate number.
(B) To report any discrepancy or irregularity in the administration of the program immediately to the NeCRA President.
(C) To submit status reports via e-mail to the Executive Committee within ten (10) days of each Executive Committee meeting.
(D) To keep an accurate, up-to-date database of continuing education points for each CCR.
(E) Notify participants in writing (electronically or paper copy) of any change(s) to this program a minimum of at least two weeks prior to an association business meeting. Changes to the program shall be presented by this committee to the NeCRA voting membership for discussion at an association business meeting, and proposed changes shall become effective upon majority vote at said meeting.
SECTION 5: Application
(A) An official or freelance member seeking certification under this program shall make application by completing the necessary forms, attaching required documents as defined in Section 5(B)(2), enclosing a check of required funds made payable to NeCRA, and sending the materials to the address indicated.
(B) An official or freelance member seeking certification as a Court Reporter under this program must meet all of the following requirements:
(1) Must be a freelance or an official member in good standing within the NeCRA.
(2) Must be a current holder of NCRA designations RPR or RMR or RDR or CRR, or must be a current CSR or CCR from a state which administers an RPR-equivalent examination. Printed verification of any current state CSR or CCR must accompany application.
(3) Satisfactorily completing the Application for Voluntary Certification.
(4) By signing application, applicant agrees to abide by all rules, policies, and
procedures of this program.
(5) Payment of certification fee(s).
SECTION 6: Certification by Examination
(A) Certification by examination under this program shall be by use of the National Court Reporters Association’s Registered Professional Reporter examination given in May and November of each year.
(B) All applicants applying for CCR certification by examination shall be responsible for reading all rules and regulations of NCRA’s examination procedure before exam date.
(C) It shall be the responsibility of the applicant to provide a copy of the NCRA test result notification with their CCR application.
SECTION 7: Fees
(A) Members applying for certification under this program shall pay to NeCRA fees identified below. This program is intended to be a self-funding program, if at all possible, and all fees received for this program shall be used to fund this program’s implementation, oversight and maintenance, and any other use as deemed necessary by the Executive Committee.
(B) All fees will be non-refundable. $30 Application Fee. $20 Annual Renewal Fee due September 30th of each year.
SECTION 8: Issuance of Certification
(A) Once an applicant has met and satisfied the qualifications as set forth in this program, this committee shall issue the applicant a certificate as a CCR with the certificate number, documentation, and other materials deemed necessary.
This certificate shall remain valid as long as the court reporter remains a member in good standing with the NeCRA, pays annual certification dues by September 30th of each year, all required fees, and abides by all rules, regulations, policies & procedures under this program as set forth by NeCRA and this voluntary program.
(B) All qualified/eligible court reporters meeting the requirements of this program by September 30th of each year shall be listed in the next NeCRA Annual Membership Directory with the designation of “CCR.”
SECTION 9: Continuing Education Requirements
(A) Accumulation of a total of 3.0 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) shall be required during each three-year (3-year) certification period. The three-year (3-year) CEU cycle of any CCR holding RPR, RMR, RDR or CRR designations may be coordinated with their NCRA CEU cycle upon written request to the CCR Committee for an extension of time for obtaining CEUs in accordance with Section 9(D). It is the responsibility of each CCR certificate holder to provide the CCR Committee with documentation of any CEU points obtained from sources other than NeCRA-sponsored events.
(B) The CCR Committee will maintain a database of continuing education units for each CCR upon submission of proof of CEUs earned. The Committee shall notify each CCR on an annual basis of total CEUs accumulated.
(C) CEUs may be obtained from the following resources:
(1) Any CEUs accrued under the auspices of NCRA-sponsored or NCRA-approved events, classes, seminars, projects, or activities.
(2) Classes taken at accredited colleges will accrue at .1 CEU per credit hour per semester.
(D) Written requests for extension of time for obtaining CEUs shall be submitted to the CCR Committee for their consideration. The CCR Committee will formulate rules to be established regarding extensions.
SECTION 10: Reciprocity [Repealed June 2009]
SECTION 11: Renewal
(A) The Renewal for CCR form will be published in “The Scribe” each year and must be completed and returned with a renewal fee ($20) by September 30th of each year. It shall be the responsibility of each CCR to submit proof of continuing education units earned to the CCR Committee.
(B) Upon review of renewal form by the CCR Committee, confirmation of renewal will be sent to each CCR.
SECTION 12: Reinstatement
(A) A CCR may be placed on inactive status by written request to the Committee and, provided NeCRA membership dues are paid annually, may be reinstated upon written request. A CCR seeking reinstatement to active status shall complete and return Renewal for CCR form and pay renewal fee. While a certification is in an inactive status, the use of the CCR designation is prohibited.
(B) A member whose CCR certificate has become null and void under Section 13(B) may apply for reinstatement by completing the Application For Voluntary CCR Program, paying application fee, and the showing of good cause. Reinstatement shall be subject to review and approval by the Committee.
SECTION 13: Nullification, Revocation, or Suspension of Certificate
(A) A CCR whose certificate has become null and void under Section 13(B) will be notified in writing and shall be granted fifteen (15) days to satisfactorily meet requirements for renewal of their CCR certificate.
(B) A CCR’s certificate shall become null and void on September 30th of each year for one or more of the following reasons:
(1) Nonpayment of NeCRA dues.
(2) Failure to provide proof of 3.0 continuing education units every three years.
(3) Nonpayment of CCR certification renewal fee by September 30th of each year.
(4) Failure to satisfactorily complete renewal form.
(C) Any member’s certificate issued under this program shall be suspended or revoked for one or more of the following reasons:
(1) Conviction of a felony.
(2) Failure to abide by the NeCRA Bylaws.
(3) Failure to abide by any rule, policy, or procedure as defined in this program.
(4) Misrepresentation in applying for certification.
(5) Remaining on inactive status for more than three (3) consecutive years.
(D) Prior to the revocation or suspension of any certificate, member shall be given notice and opportunity for hearing shall be afforded.
SECTION 14: Grandfather Clause [Repealed June 2009]
August 2009
