Article 12.1. Official Reporters In Tulare County of California Government Code >> Title 8. >> Chapter 5. >> Article 12.1.

In Tulare County, each judge of the superior court may appoint a competent phonographic reporter, to be known as a regular official reporter of that court, and such pro tempore reporters as necessary to report the proceedings of the court. Regular official reporters shall hold office during the pleasure of the appointing judge. The duties of regular official reporters appointed pursuant to this section shall be performed as elsewhere provided by law, and shall include the reporting of every civil proceeding.

(a) In consideration of all reporting services, official court reporters shall be paid biweekly at Range 184 of the current Tulare County salary schedule. The initial rate for currently appointed official superior court court reporters on the effective date of this article shall be Range 184, step "E," two thousand five hundred eighty-four dollars and five cents ($2,584.05). The initial hiring rate for each position shall be Range 184, step A. However, a judge of the superior court may appoint any such court reporter at a higher initial step if, in the opinion of the judge of the superior court, an individual to be appointed has such experience and qualifications to entitle that individual to the higher initial step. The county shall provide each reporter stenographic machine paper, ink, and ribbons necessary for reporting.
  (b) Where it is necessary to appoint a pro tempore reporter, the pro tempore reporter shall receive a per diem of one hundred fifteen dollars ($115) a day for the day the pro tempore reporter actually is on duty under order of the court. Pro tempore reporters shall not receive more than one per diem fee a day from the county.
  (c) This per diem rate shall also apply when a reporter is appointed pursuant to Section 869 of the Penal Code by a justice court judge acting as a magistrate.
  (d) Each full-time official reporter and each official reporter pro tempore shall receive the salaries specified in subdivisions (a) and (b) respectively, unless the Board of Supervisors of Tulare County, by ordinance, provides for compensation in excess of the specified amounts, in which event the amount set by ordinance shall apply.
  (e) For all transcripts incident to reporting services, each reporter shall receive the fees provided for in Section 69950.

In addition to the compensation provided in this article, each full-time reporter of the superior court shall be entitled to, and shall receive the same vacation, sick leave, salary step advancements, and similar privileges and benefits as are now or may hereafter be provided for the employees of the county. Regular official reporters of the superior court shall participate in any group health, accident, life insurance, or deferred compensation plan adopted by the county.

Official superior court court reporters shall be members of any retirement system maintained by the county. For retirement credit purposes compensation earnable shall be deemed to be the annual salary paid by the county to each official superior court court reporter.