To Whom It May Concern,
I am submitting this comment in opposition to the proposed increase in certification fees for Arizona’s Certified Court Reporters.
This increase would significantly and unfairly impact working reporters across the state. As professionals who already fund our own continuing education, software, and equipment—with no financial support from the state—raising certification fees places an additional, unnecessary financial burden on us.
Arizona already has one of the highest certification fee structures among self-funded states. Increasing the cost even further will:
• Deter new reporters from becoming certified in Arizona
• Cause dual-certified reporters to drop their Arizona license
• Accelerate the loss of experienced professionals from the field
• Deepen the existing court reporter shortage, which is already straining the legal system

The result? Fewer certified court reporters, more delays in the justice system, and a risk to the integrity of the official record. These consequences affect everyone, not just those in the profession.
I respectfully urge you to reconsider this fee increase and instead work with the court reporting community to find sustainable solutions that protect both the profession and the public’s access to accurate, certified court records.
Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Lorena Marin-Garcia
Peoria, AZ
AZ CR No. 50541
Court Reporter of 35 years

To Whom it May Concern:

I strongly oppose the proposed increase in certification fees for Arizona court reporters.

Arizona’s certification fees are burdensome when one considers that many Arizona reporters work in multiple states and maintain certifications in each. I am certified reporter in Arizona, California and New Mexico. At $300 annually, Arizona is the highest certification fee that I pay. This year I re-registered my firm for an additional $100.

In a cursory review of the Board minutes for this year and last, I find reference to one or two complaints against court reporters and/or firms. I see that the board mainly deals with administrative issues: CE lapses, initial certifications and renewals. Our board has existed for 25 years and the work that it does is known. When the certification fees were raised in the recent past, the reason given was the cost of employee wages and benefits. As less of us remain to absorb the costs of regulation, fees become a consideration when considering not only where to work, but for how long. We are not a rapidly growing profession. I implore you not to add additional financial burden to those of us who wish to remain in service to the Bench, the Bar and the public here in Arizona, as I have for the past 40 years.

Thank you for your time and consideration of my comments.

Kind regards,

Melissa Gonsalves, RMR, CRR
AZ CR 50070, CA CSR 6425, NM CR 540
Phoenix, Arizona

I have been working as a reporter for 45 years.

I strongly oppose the proposed increase in certification fees for Arizona court reporters.

Arizona already has some of the highest fees among self-funded states. Adding to that burden will drive experienced reporters out, discourage new certifications, and worsen the existing shortage.

This fee hike threatens access to justice by reducing the number of certified professionals available to produce accurate, official records.
Please reconsider this proposal and work with our profession on more sustainable solutions.

Sincerely,
Sheryl Henke
Goodyear, Arizona
CSR Number 50745

I strongly oppose the proposed increase in certification fees for Arizona court reporters.

Arizona already has some of the highest fees among self-funded states. Adding to that burden will drive experienced reporters out, discourage new certifications, and worsen the existing shortage leading to further backlogs in our courts.

This fee hike threatens access to justice by reducing the number of certified professionals available to produce accurate, official records. The feedback from civil litigators I personally receive is they want a record they can rely on by a court reporter and not an electronic recording that is littered with inaudible parentheticals, no punctuation, inaccuracies, and is extremely expensive.

Please reconsider this proposal and work with our profession on more sustainable solutions.

Sincerely,
Carrie Cariati, RPR, CRR
Phoenix, Arizona
CR 50355
33 years of service

I strongly oppose the proposed increase in certification fees for Arizona court reporters.
Arizona already has some of the highest fees among self-funded states. Adding to that burden will drive experienced reporters out, discourage new certifications, and worsen the existing shortage.
This fee hike threatens access to justice by reducing the number of certified professionals available to produce accurate, official records.
Please reconsider this proposal and work with our profession on more sustainable solutions.
Sincerely,
Tammy Jean Gillett
Phoenix, Arizona
CR 50430
38 years freelance reporter in Arizona