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CS/HB 813 — Certified Public Accountants
by Regulatory Reform & Economic Development Subcommittee and Rep. Caruso and others (CS/CS/SB 954 by Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee; Regulated Industries Committee; and Senator Gruters)
This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.
Prepared by: Regulated Industries Committee (RI)
The bill permits a certified public accountant (CPA) to place his or her license in a retired status. If a licensee with a retired status license reenters the workforce in a position that has an association with accounting or any of the CPA services, the licensee automatically loses the retired status. However, a retired licensee may serve without compensation on a board of directors or board of trustees, provide volunteer tax preparation services, participate in government-sponsored business mentoring programs, or participate in an advisory role for a similar charitable, civic, or non-profit organization.
Under the bill, a retired licensee may accept routine reimbursement for actual costs of travel and meals associated with volunteer services or de minimis per diem amounts paid to the retired licensee to cover such expenses as allowed by law. Retired licensees may use the title of “retired CPA,” but may not offer or render professional services that require her or his signature and use of the CPA title, regardless of whether the word “retired” is attached to such title.
A retired licensee may reactivate a license in a conditional manner determined by the Florida Board of Accountancy. Under the bill the continuing education requirements for reactivation are those of the most recent biennium plus one-half of the continuing education requirements in s. 473.312, F.S., for each biennium or part thereof during which the license was on retired status.
The bill also revises the definition of “Uniform Accountancy Act,” which is published by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy, to reference the current Eighth Edition, dated January 2018. The Uniform Accountancy Act provides uniform standards for the regulation of accountancy.
If approved by the Governor, or allowed to become law without the Governor’s signature, these provisions take effect July 1, 2024.
Vote: Senate 39-0; House 119-0