THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK / ALBANY, NY 12234

 

TO:	Higher Education and Professional Practice Committee
FROM:	Johanna Duncan-Poitier
SUBJECT:	Proposed Amendment to the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education Relating to the Licensing Examination in Certified Shorthand Reporting
DATE:	March 1, 2006
STRATEGIC GOAL:	Goal 3
AUTHORIZATION(S):

 

SUMMARY

 

Issue for Decision (Consent Agenda)

 

Should the Regents amend section 71.3 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education, relating to the licensing examination in certified shorthand reporting?

 

Reason(s) for Consideration

          Review of Policy.

 

Proposed Handling

 

The proposed amendment is submitted for approval at the March 2006 Regents meeting.

 

Procedural History

 

The proposed amendment was discussed at the January 2006 meeting of the Board of Regents.  A Notice of Proposed Rule Making concerning the proposed amendment was published in the State Register on January 11, 2006.

 

 

Background Information

 

The purpose of the proposed amendment is to make a change in an examination requirement for licensure in certified shorthand reporting to partially eliminate the option that permits a candidate to transcribe shorthand notes in longhand during the examination, preserving the option only in the event the candidate's transcription equipment fails or malfunctions during the examination.  The amendment is needed to align examination requirements with standard practice in this field, which requires certified shorthand reporters to produce transcripts of their shorthand notes through the use of typewriters or other transcription equipment.   The State Board for Certified Shorthand Reporting has approved this change.

 

Recommendation

 

I recommend that the Board of Regents take the following action:

 

VOTED: That section 71.3 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education be amended, as submitted, effective April 13, 2006.

 

Timetable for Implementation

 

The effective date of the proposed amendment is April 13, 2006.

 

 

 

Attachment

 

AMENDMENT TO THE REGULATIONS OF THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION

          Pursuant to sections 207, 6504, 6506, 6507, and 7504 of the Education Law.

Section 71.3 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education is amended, effective April 13, 2006, as follows:

(a) . . .

(b) . . . 

(c) . . .

(d)  [Materials.  Candidates shall be responsible for bringing to the examination materials that they plan to use during the examination, which shall include any of the following materials: notepaper or notebooks, stationery, medical dictionary, shorthand writing machines, pens, pencils, typewriters and transcription equipment.  Transcription] Creation of a transcript.  Transcripts created during the examination shall be on paper 81/2 inches by 11 inches and all transcripts shall be double-spaced. Candidates may write shorthand with either pen or pencil, or may use shorthand writing machines, and shall transcribe their shorthand notes [in longhand,] on a typewriter or on transcription equipment which is acceptable to the State Board for Certified Shorthand Reporting based upon a determination that such transcription equipment uses technology and/or software in common usage in the practice as a certified shorthand reporter and would not provide the candidate with an unfair advantage over other candidates who would use during the examination transcription equipment that uses technology and/or software in common usage in the practice as a certified shorthand reporter.  Transcription of shorthand notes in longhand shall be acceptable only in the event that a candidate's transcription equipment fails or malfunctions during the administration of the examination.

(e) Materials.  Candidates shall be responsible for bringing to the examination materials that they plan to use during the examination, which shall include any of the following materials: notepaper or notebooks, stationery, medical dictionary, shorthand writing machines, pens, pencils, typewriters and transcription equipment.