DEFINITIONS.

(a) In this chapter:

(1) "Advisory board" means the Court Reporters Certification Advisory Board.

(1-a) "Apprentice court reporter" means a person to whom an apprentice court reporter certification is issued as authorized by Section 154.1011.

(2) "Certification" means, notwithstanding Section 151.001, a certification issued by the supreme court on the commission's recommendation.

(3) "Official court reporter" means the shorthand reporter appointed by a judge as the official court reporter.

(3-a) "Provisional court reporter" means a court reporter to whom a provisional certification is issued as authorized by Section 154.1011.

(4) "Shorthand reporter" and "court reporter" mean a person who is certified as a court reporter, apprentice court reporter, or provisional court reporter under this chapter to engage in shorthand reporting.

(5) "Shorthand reporting" and "court reporting" mean the practice of shorthand reporting for use in litigation in the courts of this state by making a verbatim record of an oral court proceeding, deposition, or proceeding before a grand jury, referee, or court commissioner using written symbols in shorthand, machine shorthand, or oral stenography.

(6) "Shorthand reporting firm," "court reporting firm," and "affiliate office" mean an entity wholly or partly in the business of providing court reporting or other related services in this state.

(b) For purposes of Subsection (a)(6), a court reporting firm, shorthand reporting firm, or affiliate office is considered to be providing court reporting or other related services in this state if:

(1) any act that constitutes a court reporting service or shorthand reporting service occurs wholly or partly in this state;

(2) the firm or affiliate office recruits a resident of this state through an intermediary located inside or outside of this state to provide court reporting services, shorthand reporting services, or other related services in this state; or

(3) the firm or affiliate office contracts with a resident of this state by mail or otherwise and either party is to perform court reporting services, shorthand reporting services, or other related services wholly or partly in this state.