Highlighted Rules

HIGHLIGHTED TITLE 46 EXCERPTS

*See the Louisiana Administrative Code, Title 46, Part XXI for complete document.

CHAPTER 5. Certificates

501. You must renew with the Board annually on or before December 31st, or you will be suspended. If you are suspended, you are no longer eligible to work until your license has been renewed and you have received your current certification stamp/seal.
505. List of Causes for Suspension or Revocation
507. You may apply for inactive status, if your license is current.
511. You may practice utilizing only the method for which you have been certified.

CHAPTER 6. Continuing Education

603 A. 12 CEs every two years, due by end of every even numbered year.
603 D. Suspension or revocation for not obtaining CEs
605 Excess CEs are not cumulative
607 You are responsible for keeping track of CEs earned and submitting the records to the Board or having the organization you received them from submit them
609 A. Lists subjects the Board will accept.
The Board may accept CEs from accredited universities, colleges and other institutions of higher education, as long as, the subjects fall within the list in 609 A. An official transcript must be submitted to the Board office.
611 Online or home study courses are not accepted.

CHAPTER 7. Hearings

701 The Board may upon its own motion or upon a verified complaint against an individual investigate alleged improprieties and hold a hearing regarding the matter.
Suspensions, revocations, fines and even jail sentences may be levied by the Board.
See also Title 46, Part XXI., Sections 703-19 and RS 37:2559- 2560 for additional information regarding complaint procedures, suspensions, penalties and fines.

CHAPTER 13. Code of Ethics

§1301. Guidelines for Professional Practice

A. The mandatory Code of Ethics defines the ethical relationship that the public, the bench, and the bar have a right to expect from a certificate holder. It sets out the required conduct of the certificate holder when dealing with the user of reporting services, and acquaints the user, as well as the certificate holder, with guidelines established for professional behavior.

B. A current certificate holder shall:

be fair and impartial toward each participant in all aspects of reported proceedings, treat all parties equally, and always offer comparable services and prices to all parties in a proceeding;
be alert to situations that are conflicts of interest or that may give the appearance of a conflict of interest. If a conflict or a potential conflict arises, the Certificate Holder shall timely disclose said conflict or potential conflict to all parties in the proceeding or take the action(s) necessary for extraction from said conflict or potential conflict;
guard against not only the fact but the appearance of impropriety;
preserve the confidentiality and ensure the security of information, written, entrusted to the Certificate Holder by any of the parties in a proceeding;
be truthful and accurate when making public statements or when advertising the Certificate Holder’s qualifications or the services provided;
(if you are a CCR) refrain, as an official reporter, from freelance reporting activities that interfere with official duties and obligations;
determine fees independently, except when established by statue or court order, entering into no unlawful agreements with others, whether for services or charges;
deliver requested transcripts of testimony timely to all parties on the same day. Delivery shall be by hand, if reasonable, or by proper posting if hand delivery is not reasonable;
refrain from giving, directly or indirectly, any gift, incentive, reward, or anything of value to attorneys, clients, witnesses, insurance company personnel or any other persons or entities associated with (the) litigation, or to the representatives or agents of any of the foregoing, except for:
a. items that do not exceed $100 in the aggregate per recipient each year; or
b. pro bono services as defined by the National Court Reporters Association Guidelines for Professional Practice or by applicable state or local laws, rule, and regulations;
abide by the applicable national/state/local laws and court rules and the rules promulgated by the Louisiana Board of Examiners of Certified Shorthand Reporters.