State of Maryland

A Hearing Reporter I is the intermediate level of work taking and transcribing complete technical verbatim notes of formal or quasi-judicial hearings, conferences and other meetings for the Workers’ Compensation Commission.   Employees in this classification do not supervise other positions.

Employees in this  classification receive moderate supervision from a Hearing Reporter Supervisor.  Employees in this classification are regularly required to travel to designated areas within the State and may be required to work overtime.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The Hearing Reporter I and Hearing Reporter II are differentiated on the basis of degree of supervisory control exercised by the supervisor over these employees.  The Hearing Reporter I performs duties under close supervision at times and under general supervision at other times depending on the complexity of the specific duty being performed.  The Hearing Reporter II performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.

Records verbatim accounts of the proceedings of Workers' Compensation Commission hearings, special conferences and meetings using recognized stenographic recording equipment and properly identifying multiple participants and accurately recording technical information including medical terminology;

Reads back testimony accurately and promptly upon request during a proceeding;

Transcribes notes and produces complete transcripts of evidence and testimony of proceedings within a specified time period for use in court as needed;

Assembles transcripts, reports and exhibits for appealed cases;

May travel throughout the State to record verbatim accounts;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of spelling, punctuation, grammar, and legal and medical terminology sufficient for production of accurate transcripts;

Skill in recording verbatim testimony at a minimum net speed of 200 words per minute;

Ability to produce accurate, complete and timely transcripts in the format required for appeals or other demands for record;

Ability to learn reporting requirements for formal, legal and quasi-judicial proceedings;

Ability to read back testimony accurately and promptly upon request;

Ability to understand and follow directions;

Ability to maintain file records and stenographic notes in a neat and orderly fashion;

Ability to communicate effectively with employees, supervisors and the general public;

Ability to establish and maintain working relationships with staff, supervisors, attorneys and the general public.

Education:   Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.

Experience: None.

Notes:

1. Applicants may substitute certification as a Certified Court Reporter by the Maryland Court Reporters Association or other recognized state court reporting association for six months of the required experience.

2. Applicants may substitute possession of a Certificate of Proficiency, a Certified Court Reporter Certificate, a Certificate of Merit or certification as a Registered Professional Reporter from the National Court Reporters Association for all of the required experience.

3. Applicants may substitute experience in taking verbatim notes using recognized stenographic recording equipment in formal or informal hearings and meetings on a year for year basis for the required education.

4. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a non-commissioned officer in Closed Microphone Reporting classification series or Closed Microphone Reporting specialty codes on a year-for-year basis for the required education.

1. Applicants for this classification must demonstrate an ability to record verbatim notes at a minimum net speed of 200 words per minute. Certification of the applicant’s speed by the Maryland Court Reporters Association or other recognized state court reporting association or the National Court Reporters Association may be substituted for the above demonstration of ability.

2. Employees in this classification may be required to provide their own transportation to various work sites throughout the State on a regular basis and will receive mileage reimbursement.

3. Employees in this classification may be required to provide their own stenographic recording and transcript production equipment.

4. Employees in this classification may receive additional compensation from interested parties who request copies of transcribed records.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is not assigned to a bargaining unit as indicated by the designation of S (supervisor), M (manager), T (agency head), U (Board or Commission member), W (student), X (excluded by executive order),  or Z (confidential).  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and therefore, all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

Employees in this classification are eligible to receive overtime compensation.  An employee who works more than the normal workweek is entitled to be compensated for that overtime as provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 8-305.

This classification is one level in a Non-Competitive Promotion (NCP) series.  NCP promotions are promotions by which employees may advance in grade and class level from trainee to full performance levels in a classification series.  In order to be non-competitively promoted to the next level in a NCP series an employee must: 1) perform the main purpose of the class as defined in the Nature of Work section of the class specification; 2) receive the type of supervision defined in the class specification, and 3) meet the minimum qualifications of the classification.