Court Opinion

ID: 3134052
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-22 15:02:34.016238+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:27:07.893989
License: Public Domain

2015 Ark. 383

                 SUPREME COURT OF ARKANSAS

                                                   Opinion Delivered October 22, 2015
        IN RE ADMINISTRATIVE
        ORDER NUMBER 9 –
        COMPENSATORY TIME
        RECORD POLICY FOR
        ARKANSAS OFFICIAL COURT
        REPORTERS

                                        PER CURIAM

       Administrative Order Number 9 (A) is amended as follows:

                      ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NUMBER 9

       A. Procedures. To ensure statewide compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act of

1938 (29 U.S.C. § 207(o)(6)), each official court reporter shall complete the time records

required by the Administrative Office of the Courts (“AOC”), all sections of the

Compensatory Time Record For Arkansas Official Court Reporters form, which is appended

hereto, sign the time records to certify that they it correctly reports all hours worked in excess

of the 40 hour work week that are not excluded by 29 U.S.C. § 207(o), and monthly submit

the records to his/her appointing judge for approval. The time record forms shall be approved

by the Arkansas Supreme Court, which is authorized to amend them from time to time as

may be necessary.

       The appointing judge shall approve and sign each monthly record certifying that, to

the best of his/her knowledge, the time record reflects a true and accurate record of

compensatory time earned for all hours worked in excess of the 40 hour work week, as
                                        2015 Ark. 383

defined by the Fair Labor Standards Act ("FLSA"). The appointing judge shall grant the court

reporter compensatory time at the rate of one and one-half times the number of hours worked

in excess of the 40 hour work week pursuant to this policy.

       For the purpose of determining the 40 hour FLSA work week, the established work

week shall begin on Saturday at 12:01 a.m. and continue through Friday at 12:00 midnight.

Any time excluded by 29 U.S.C. § 207(o) and any time taken off for holidays, compensatory

time leave, sick leave, annual leave or any other purpose during the week shall not be counted

in determining whether the employee has worked 40 hours.

       The appointing judge shall be responsible for maintaining the approved time record

and shall forward copies of the previous three months records within the first fifteen days of

every calendar quarter (i.e., January 15, April 15, July 15, and October 15) to the

Administrative Office of the Courts ("AOC") at the time and in the manner directed by the

AOC. The time records shall be retained by the AOC for the period required by law.three

years or until completion of an audit by the State Auditor's Office of the AOC, whichever

is longer.

       Court reporters shall be permitted to use accrued compensatory time as soon as possible

when the court is not in session and without unduly disrupting the operations of the court.

The appointing judge shall approve use of compensatory time. Compensatory time may be

used in lieu of sick leave or annual leave.

       Under no circumstances shall the outstanding balance of compensatory time exceed

90 hours. The appointing judges are responsible for ensuring that court reporters do not

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                                         2015 Ark. 383

exceed this maximum balance of compensatory time.

          Accrued compensatory time should be used prior to the employee's termination of

employment. If accrued compensatory time is not used prior to the employee's termination

of employment, the appointing judge shall hold the official court reporter position vacant for

a period equivalent to the period for which accrued compensatory time is paid. The payment

for compensatory time shall be at the ending rate of pay for the employee.

          The compensatory time records for official reporters is not intended for use by

substitute court reporters. Substitute court reporters shall be governed by the provisions of

Ark. Code Ann. § 16-13-509 as described in the AOC publication, Arkansas State Trial

Court Employee Manual Employment Guide.

          B. Enforcement. The failure of court reporters to comply with the requirements of this

Order shall constitute grounds for discipline under the provisions of Section 19(c) of the

Regulations of the Board of Certified Court Reporter Examiners and Section 7 of the Rule

Providing for Certification of Court Reporters. (ii) The failure of appointing judges to

comply with the requirements of this Order shall constitute grounds for discipline under the

provisions of Canon 3 (C) of the Arkansas Code of Judicial Conduct.

          Except for these amendments, which are effective immediately, no other term or

provision of Administrative Order Number 9 is amended, and it shall remain in full force and

effect.

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                                       2015 Ark. 383

                                   CLEAN VERSION

       A. Procedures. To ensure statewide compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act of

1938 (29 U.S.C. § 207(o)(6)), each official court reporter shall complete the time records

required by the Administrative Office of the Courts (“AOC”), sign the time records to certify

that they correctly report all hours worked in excess of the 40 hour work week that are not

excluded by 29 U.S.C. § 207(o), and monthly submit the records to his/her appointing judge

for approval. The time record forms shall be prepared by the AOC, which is authorized to

amend them from time to time as may be necessary.

       The appointing judge shall approve and sign each monthly record certifying that, to

the best of his/her knowledge, the time record reflects a true and accurate record of

compensatory time earned for all hours worked in excess of the 40 hour work week, as

defined by the Fair Labor Standards Act ("FLSA"). The appointing judge shall grant the court

reporter compensatory time at the rate of one and one-half times the number of hours worked

in excess of the 40 hour work week pursuant to this policy.

       For the purpose of determining the 40 hour FLSA work week, the established work

week shall begin on Saturday at 12:01 a.m. and continue through Friday at 12:00 midnight.

Any time excluded by 29 U.S.C. § 207(o) and any time taken off for holidays, compensatory

time leave, sick leave, annual leave or any other purpose during the week shall not be counted

in determining whether the employee has worked 40 hours.

       The appointing judge shall be responsible for maintaining the approved time record

and shall forward copies to the AOC at the time and in the manner directed by the AOC.

The time records shall be retained by the AOC for the period required by law.

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                                        2015 Ark. 383

       Court reporters shall be permitted to use accrued compensatory time as soon as possible

when the court is not in session and without unduly disrupting the operations of the court.

The appointing judge shall approve use of compensatory time. Compensatory time may be

used in lieu of sick leave or annual leave.

       Under no circumstances shall the outstanding balance of compensatory time exceed

90 hours. The appointing judges are responsible for ensuring that court reporters do not

exceed this maximum balance of compensatory time.

       Accrued compensatory time should be used prior to the employee's termination of

employment. If accrued compensatory time is not used prior to the employee's termination

of employment, the appointing judge shall hold the official court reporter position vacant for

a period equivalent to the period for which accrued compensatory time is paid. The payment

for compensatory time shall be at the ending rate of pay for the employee.

       The compensatory time records for official reporters is not intended for use by

substitute court reporters. Substitute court reporters shall be governed by the provisions of

Ark. Code Ann. § 16-13-509 as described in the AOC publication, Arkansas State Trial

Court Employment Guide.

       B. Enforcement. (i) The failure of court reporters to comply with the requirements of

this Order shall constitute grounds for discipline under the provisions of Section 19(c) of the

Regulations of the Board of Certified Court Reporter Examiners and Section 7 of the Rule

Providing for Certification of Court Reporters. (ii) The failure of appointing judges to

comply with the requirements of this Order shall constitute grounds for discipline under the

provisions of Canon 3 (C) of the Arkansas Code of Judicial Conduct.

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