step, but in no case may the initial salary be above the third step of the salary range. Official reporters shall advance to the next higher step on the salary plan annually, upon affirmative approval of the appointing authority. The compensation of each official reporter pro tempore shall be an amount which is equivalent to 1.05 times the daily wage of the fourth step in the salary range for full-time official reporters in Contra Costa County for each day the reporter is on duty under order of the court. Additional official reporters pro tempore may also be appointed on a half-day basis as the business of the court requires. Those reporters shall be compensated at a rate which is 55 percent of the daily wage of an official reporter pro tempore for each period up to four hours that the reporter is on duty under the order of the court.

reporter shall perform the duties required by law. When not engaged in the performance of any other duty imposed upon him or her by law, he or she shall render stenographic or clerical assistance to the judge of the court to which he or she is assigned as that judge may direct.