A regular meeting of the State Board of Court Reporting was held at 124 Halsey Street, Newark, N.J. on the sixth floor, on Monday, July 21, 2008. The meeting was convened in accordance with the schedule filed with the Secretary of State and was conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Open Public Meeting Act. Chapter 321, P.L. Notice of the meeting was prepared in the office of the Board and mailed out to the Secretary of State., the Attorney General, the Star Ledger, the Record, the Press of Atlantic City, the Asbury Park Press and the Trenton Times. The meeting was called to order at 9:45 A.M. A roll call was taken and the following attendance of Board members was recorded for these minutes:

Marianne Cammarota Present
Jean Dolan Present
Richard McCormack Present
Susan Scardilli Present

Also in attendance were: Dianne L. Tamaroglio, Executive Director, State Board of Court Reporting and Deputy Attorney General Olga Bradford.

I. APPROVAL OF PUBLIC SESSION MEETING MINUTES OF MAY 12, 2008

A motion was made by Susan Scardilli and seconded by Richard McCormack to approve the Public Session Minutes of May 12, 2008 as amended. A vote was taken and the motion was passed by a unanimous vote.

II. EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS REMARKS

Executive Director Dianne L. Tamaroglio advised the Board that 5 people passed NCRA’s May, 2008 RPR exam; 2 of them are already Certified Court Reporters. Ms. Tamaroglio also advised that we are nearing the end of the 2008-2010 renewal and approximately 90% of Court Reporters have renewed.

III. BOARD PRESIDENT REMARKS

Board President Marianne Cammarota advised that she would check her calendar for dates for the next Realtime and Bankers Exams.

IV. REGULATORY MATTERS

Appearance Patricia Schiripo, Regulatory Analyst
Re: Sunsetting of Regulations

The Board reviewed with Regulatory Analyst Patricia Schiripo the proposed re-adoption of its Regulations with amendments for Sunsetting. Upon completion of the review a motion was made by Richard McCormack and seconded by Jean Dolan to accept the re-adoption. A vote was taken and the motion was passed by a unanimous vote. Ms. Schiripo will prepare the prefatory language for the review process of the Board’s regulations.

Memo from Louis J. Krofka, Chief, Criminal History Review Unit, regarding Background Checks

The Board reviewed a memo sent from Louis J. Krofka, Chief, Criminal History Review Unit. Mr. Krofka’s memo was regarding his opposition of the Division of Consumer Affairs conducting State name checks for the purpose of determining an applicant’s criminal history background. Upon review and discussion, a motion was made by Jean Dolan and seconded by Susan Scardilli to maintain conducting name only background checks. A vote was taken and the motion was passed by a unanimous vote.

V. OLD BUSINESS

A. Susan Pearce-Bates, CCR 30XI00168800
July 16, 2007 agenda

In 2007, the Board reviewed correspondence from Susan Pearce-Bates in reference to her Certified Court Reporter Certification. Ms. Bates’ Certification was in expired status and she was requesting to have it reinstated. Based on information reviewed by the Board it is evident that her Certification has been in expired status for more than 5 years and therefore, she would be required to successfully complete the examination required for initial Certification as stated in NJAC13:43-3A.3(d). Additionally, due to the circumstances wherein the Board is unable to verify the exact date that Ms. Pearce-Bates’ Certification was placed in expired status, the Board has granted a waiver of payment of all past delinquent renewal fees. Also, Ms. Bates will not be required to complete any Continuing Education Credits. NCRA has advised that Ms. Bates passed its May, 2008 RPR exam thereby making her eligible for the reinstatement of her Certificate. A motion was made by Jean Dolan and seconded by Susan Scardilli to forward to Ms. Bates the Reinstatement paperwork. Ms. Bates will have to pay the current renewal fee & the reinstatement fee and will retain her original Certificate number. A vote was taken and the motion was passed by a unanimous vote.

VI. NEW BUSINESS

A. Correspondence from The Alabama Board of Court Reporting

Paula McCaleb, Executive Director, for the State of Alabama’s Board of Court Reporting has written to the Board requesting that Alabama and New Jersey evaluate the possibility of establishing a reciprocity agreement. Ms. McCaleb will be advised that our Statute is silent on this matter and does not give the Board the authority to allow for reciprocity. The licensees of Alabama can certainly apply to this Board for New Jersey Certification but they would have to meet all of the Board’s initial Certification requirements and abide by the Board’s rules and regulations. This matter is closed and removed from future Board meeting agendas.

B. Requesting Continuing Education Approval

1. Certified Court Reporters Association of New Jersey
Re: CCRA-NJ Annual Fall Conference

The Board reviewed the course materials for the Certified Court Reporters Association of New Jersey’s Annual Fall Conference. Upon review, a motion was made by Susan Scardilli and seconded by Jean Dolan to approve the following Continuing Education courses and credits. A vote was taken and the motion was passed unanimously.

First Annual Trivia, Spelling & Vocabulary Challenge 1.5 Credits
Vendor: Advantage Software 2 Credits Vendor: Stenograph 2 Credits
Speed Class Dictation 2 Credits
Tech Track; Technogadgets & Sites Galore 2 Credits
Mock CRR 2 Credits
Realtime Coach 2 Credits
Tech Track: Digital Signatures in the Digital Age 2 Credits
Steno Swap 2 Credits
Vendor: Stenograph 2 Credits
Vendor: Advantage Software 2 Credits
Vendor: Procat Software 2 Credits
Four Voice Speed Class Dictation 2 Credits

C. Ratification of approval of Continuation Credits
Re: Case Catalyst Training Seminar
The School of Court Reporting

Board Chairman Marianne Cammarota and Executive Director Dianne Tamaroglio previously approved the Case Catalyst Training Seminar submitted by the School of Court Reporting. A motion was made by Susan Scardilli and seconded by Jean Dolan to ratify the approval for the following. A vote was taken and the motion was approved by a unanimous vote.

Review of Options during translate & Edit
Making numbers work for you ] 3.5 Credits
Number Triggers and conversions

Creating Include Files
Dictionary Usage & Maintenance } 3.5 Credits
Dictionary Filtering
Reviewing Number Triggers & conversion

D. Requesting extension to complete Continuing Education Credits

1. William Vorsteg,CCR 30XI00031900

William Vorsteg, CCR has written to the Board requesting an extension to complete 2.5 Continuing Education Credits to fulfill his requirement for the 2008-2010 biennial renewal. A motion was made by Jean Dolan and seconded by Susan Scardilli to grant a 3 month extension until October 21, 2008 to complete the additional 2.5 credits. A vote was taken and the motion was passed by a unanimous vote.

2. Annette Halpin,CCR 30XI00143100

Annette Halpin, CCR has written to the Board requesting an extension to complete 7 Continuing Education Credits to fulfill her requirement for the 2008-2010 biennial renewal. A motion was made by Jean Dolan and seconded by Susan Scardilli to grant a 6 month extension until January 21, 2009 to complete the additional 7 credits. A vote was taken and the motion was passed by a unanimous vote.

3. Nancy Iannini,CCR 30XI00139600

Nancy Iannini, CCR has written to the Board requesting an extension to complete 4.5 Continuing Education Credits to fulfill her requirement for the 2008-2010 biennial renewal. A motion was made by Susan Scardilli and seconded by Jean Dolan to grant a 6 month extension until January 21, 2009 to complete the additional 4.5 credits. A vote was taken and the motion was passed by a unanimous vote.

E. NJAC13:43-5.4(a)1, Prohibited practices

The Board discussed its Prohibited practices regulation as it appears that in the Court Reporting field there may be some out there who offer incentives or rewards to attorneys, clients or their representatives or agents to influence the choice of Court Reporting agencies. Some of these incentives may be points redeemable for limousine rides, iPods, trips to the Bahamas, coffeemakers, TV’s, etc. The Board’s regulation prohibits this practice. New Jersey Certified Court Reporters may distribute promotional items of nominal value, which advertise their business.

VI. FOR YOUR INFORMATION

A. Bankers Examination Results

No one passed the May 12, 2008 Banker’s Exam.

B. Realtime Examination Results

One person took the May 12, 2008 Realtime Examination and she did not pass it.

C. I/M/O Joseph Quigley v Esquire Deposition

DAG Olga Bradford provided the Board with an update with regard to this matter. The main issue in dispute in this matter involved whether the Board’s statutes and regulations, governing the practice of court reporting in this State, applied to a deposition taken in connection with a case venued in Federal Court. The Appellate Division has concluded that the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure pre-empt the Board’s statutes and regulations. Therefore, the Court held that "A deposition taken in connection with Federal litigation may be transcribed by a reporter who is not certified by the Board." Practically speaking, this decision appears to permit uncertified court reporters to record and transcribe depositions in connection with all Federal litigation. This decision does not seem to conflict with the Board’s enabling statute.

VII. ADJOURNMENT

A motion was made by Susan Scardilli and seconded by Richard McCormack to adjourn Public Session at 11:00 P.M. and move into Executive Session at 11:10 P.M. A vote was taken and the motion was passed by a unanimous vote. The Board moved into Executive Session to discuss confidential matters.

Respectfully Submitted,

Dianne L. Tamaroglio
Executive Director

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