HB1764 - Relating to the certification and regulation of certain out-of-state certified public accountants.

  89R17103 BEE-F     By: Button, et al. H.B. No. 1764     Substitute the following for H.B. No. 1764:     By:  Phelan C.S.H.B. No. 1764       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the certification and regulation of certain   out-of-state certified public accountants.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 901.259(a), Occupations Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (a)  The board shall issue a certificate to a person who   holds a certificate or license issued by another state if the   person:                (1)  satisfies at least one of the following:                      (A)  [ holds a certificate or license as a   certified public accountant from a state that the National   Association of State Boards of Accountancy's National   Qualification Appraisal Service has verified as having education,   examination, and experience requirements for certification or   licensure that are comparable to or exceed the requirements for   licensure as a certified public accountant of The American   Institute of Certified Public Accountants/National Association of   State Boards of Accountancy Uniform Accountancy Act and the board   determines that the licensure requirements of that Act are   comparable to or exceed the licensure requirements of this chapter;                      [ (B)     obtains from the National Association of   State Boards of Accountancy's National Qualification Appraisal   Service verification that the individual's education, examination,   and experience qualifications are comparable to or exceed the   requirements for licensure as a certified public accountant of The   American Institute of Certified Public Accountants/National   Association of State Boards of Accountancy Uniform Accountancy Act   and the board determines that the licensure requirements of that   Act are comparable to or exceed the licensure requirements of this   chapter;                      [ (C) ] meets the requirements for issuance of a   certificate in this state other than the requirement providing the   grades necessary to pass the uniform CPA examination;                       (B)  [ (D) ]  met the requirements in effect for   issuance of a certificate in this state on the date the person was   issued a certificate by the other state; or                       (C)  [ (E) ]  has completed at least four years of   experience practicing public accountancy, if the experience:                            (i)  occurred after the person passed the   uniform CPA examination and within the 10 years preceding the date   of application; and                            (ii)  satisfies requirements established by   board rule; and                (2)  has met the continuing professional education   requirements that apply to a license holder under this chapter for   the three-year period preceding the date of application.          SECTION 2.  Section 901.462, Occupations Code, is amended by   amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsections (e) and (f)   to read as follows:          (a)  An individual who holds an active [ a ] certificate or   license as a certified public accountant issued by another state   and whose principal place of business is not in this state may   exercise all the privileges of certificate and license holders of   this state without obtaining a certificate or license under this   chapter if the individual :                 (1)  has passed the uniform CPA examination;                 (2)  has completed:                       (A)     a baccalaureate degree with at least 150   semester hours and a concentration in accounting or equivalent   courses;                       (B)     a graduate degree with a concentration in   accounting or equivalent courses; or                       (C)     a baccalaureate degree with a concentration   in accounting or equivalent courses; and                 (3)     at the time the individual's certificate or   license was issued in the other state, had completed:                       (A)     at least one year of work experience, if   licensed under an educational pathway comparable to Subdivision   (2)(A) or (B); or                       (B)     at least two years of work experience, if   licensed under an educational pathway comparable to Subdivision   (2)(C) [ (1)     the National Association of State Boards of   Accountancy's National Qualification Appraisal Service has   verified that the other state has education, examination, and   experience requirements for certification or licensure that are   comparable to or exceed the requirements for licensure as a   certified public accountant of The American Institute of Certified   Public Accountants/National Association of State Boards of   Accountancy Uniform Accountancy Act and the board determines that   the licensure requirements of that Act are comparable to or exceed   the licensure requirements of this chapter; or                [ (2)     the individual obtains from the National   Association of State Boards of Accountancy's National   Qualification Appraisal Service verification that the individual's   education, examination, and experience qualifications are   comparable to or exceed the requirements for licensure as a   certified public accountant of The American Institute of Certified   Public Accountants/National Association of State Boards of   Accountancy Uniform Accountancy Act and the board determines that   the licensure requirements of that Act are comparable to or exceed   the licensure requirements of this chapter ].          (b)  An individual who meets the requirements of Subsection   (a) [ (a)(1) or (2) ] and who offers or renders professional services   in person or by mail, telephone, or electronic means may practice   public accountancy in this state without notice to the board.           (e)     Notwithstanding any other law, the board may prohibit an   individual not licensed in this state from exercising the   privileges of certificate and license holders of this state if the   board determines the individual does not meet the requirements of   Subsection (a).           (f)     An individual who on December 31, 2024, held a   certificate or license issued by another state and practiced under   a privilege of this section in this state may exercise all the   privileges of the holder of a certificate and license issued under   this chapter without obtaining a certificate or license in this   state. To the extent that the individual exercises privileges as   described by this subsection, the individual is subject to this   chapter.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives   a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as   provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this   Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this   Act takes effect September 1, 2025.