After a long and arduous process, yesterday COCRA was notified that its application for affiliate status with the National Court Reporters Association has been accepted and we are now recognized as an NCRA state affiliate!

This is the first time in NCRA history that more than one state association has been recognized as an NCRA state affiliate, and it required a bylaws change by NCRA. In her notification to COCRA, Karen Yates, President of NCRA, referred to the NCRA Board of Directors’ decision to recognize both DRA and COCRA as “history in the making.”

This move by NCRA entitles our members’ voices to be heard at the national level through the National Committee of State Associations and allows every reporter in California the ability to choose the affiliate association which best suits their professional needs. We look forward to working with all of California’s affiliate associations and NCRA in representing your interests.

Thanks to DRA, NCRA and our COCRA reps for making this happen!

Today the Budget Conference Committee approved the AOC’s request to implement a statewide closure plan of all California courts one day per month for a one-year period beginning July 1.

The Committee did not approve language that had been previously negotiated by union labor representatives (AFSCME, IFPTE, SEIU, UPE, and others) as to the details of the closure plan, including an alternative plan to set the closure date on the third Friday of each month, instead of the third Wednesday as requested by the AOC. Efforts continue and details of closures and will be released soon.

In order to achieve the projected $102 million savings as a result of these closures, trial courts will begin local negotiations with trial court employees regarding whether employees of local courts will be furloughed. This determination will be made based on the individual trial court’s reserves and budgetary considerations.

Labor representatives remain concerned with specific employee rights regarding closures and imminent furloughs, specifically to be negotiated at the local level with their individual court. Of main concern has been how employee reduced compensation may affect benefits and retirement. The language as submitted, though approved by union reps, was not part of the package approved by the Conference Committee:

“Any court closure or reduction in earnings as a result of this section shall not constitute a reduction in service for the purposes of calculation of retirement benefits or other employment-related benefits for court employees otherwise eligible for such benefits.”

The offered statutory court closure legislation also stated that any closure due to the current budget crisis would be “treated as a holiday for purposes of performing any act requiring the transaction of judicial business.”

The Conference Committee adopted the concept of one-day court closures but did not adopt specific trailer bill language. Details will be released as soon as proposed language is finalized.

The alternative trial court funding package approved by the Budget Conference Committee today includes a $5 increase in the court reporter user fee paid under the Uniform Civil Filing Fee. The change from $25 to the new $30 fee is expected to generate over $7 million FY 2009/2010.

This fee is paid by civil parties filing or answering a complaint and covers all reporter services under one hour. This is allowed under Government Code 68086 which also requires courts to charge per diems for utilizing services of official reporters in civil cases.

The money collected for court reporter user fees is used exclusively for court reporter salaries in civil divisions. This fund amounted to $26 million in each of the past two fiscal years and is a significant source of funding and places a value on the reporter services which helps to fill the AOC coffers statewide.

Today, June 15th, 2009, the Senate Committee on Business, Professions & Economic Development, chaired by Senator Gloria Negrete McLeod, met to discuss the Governor’s proposal to eliminate the Court Reporters Board.

The original recommendation of the Chair was consideration should be given to the proposal stated above.

After compelling arguments made by COCRA, DRA, CCRA, several attorneys who spoke highly of the Transcript Reimbursement Fund, Donna Hershkowitz of Judicial Council, and educators from court reporting schools across the state, Senator Corbett stated she would not support eliminating the Court Reporters Board and made a substitute motion to maintain the Court Reporters Board and the Transcript Reimbursement Fund.

The Committee voted in favor of Senator Corbett’s motion 7-2.

As a result, the Court Reporters Board lives and court reporters across the state have cause to celebrate.

Thanks to our members, friends, and fellow bloggers who followed our live feed here on our website.

Truly ~
THE COCRA TEAM
For Officials by Officials