Assigned to COM                                                                                                         FOR COMMITTEE

 

 


 

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Phoenix, Arizona

 

FACT SHEET FOR H.B. 2330

 

board of accountancy; fees

 

Purpose

 

Authorizes the State Board of Accountancy (Board) to increase the biennial licensure fees and the maximum amount the Board can collect for past due fees and penalties resulting from a registration suspension. Contains a Proposition 108 clause.

 

Background

 

The purpose of the Board is to regulate and license accountants and accounting firms in the interest of protecting the citizens of Arizona from inept and unlawful accounting practices.  To carry out this responsibility, the Board examines candidates seeking certification as certified public accountants (CPAs); certifies persons and registers firms meeting statutory requirements as CPAs or certified public accountant firms; initiates and processes complaints; determines any disciplinary action; and monitors practitioners through its quality review process.

 

Under current Arizona law the Board, on a biennial basis, requires every CPA, public accountant, partnership, professional corporation and professional limited liability company to register with the Board and pay a registration fee of not less than $100, but not to exceed $300.  In addition, the Board may a fee not to exceed $350 for all fees accumulated during the suspension of registration.  H.B. 2330 authorizes the Board to increase the biennial licensure fee caps from $100 to $300 and from $300 to $600.  In addition, H.B. 2330 increases the maximum amount of money the Board can collect for past due fees and penalties resulting from a suspended registration to $950.

 

As a 90/10 agency, the Board remits administrative penalties and 10 percent of other gross revenues to the state general fund.  H.B. 2330 will result in an increase in revenues to the state general fund and to the Board of Accountancy fund if the Board chooses to act upon its increased authority as prescribed by this measure.

 

Provisions

 

1.      Increases, from $100 and $300 to $300 and $600, the biennial registration fee caps as applied by the Board to CPAs, public accountants, partnerships, professional corporations and professional limited liability companies.

 

2.      Increases, from $350 maximum penalty to $950, the maximum amount the Board can collect for past due fees and penalties resulting from registration suspension.

 

3.      Contains a Proposition 108 clause, requiring an affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the members of each chamber of the Legislature.

House Action

 

CED          3/5/01     DPA/SE     10-0-0-0

3rd Read    3/13/01                      40-17-3-0

 

 

Prepared by Senate Staff

March 19, 2001