Delaware HB 143: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE BOARD OF ACCOUNTANCY.

Bill Text

Legislation Document 

 SPONSOR: 

 Rep. Bush & Sen. Mantzavinos 

 Rep. Carson 

 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

 153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY 

 HOUSE SUBSTITUTE NO. 1 

 FOR 

 HOUSE BILL NO. 143 

 AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE BOARD OF ACCOUNTANCY. 

 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE: 

 Section 1. Amend § 102, Title 24 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows and redesignate accordingly: 

 § 102. Definitions. 

 The following definitions shall apply, unless the definition is inappropriate for the context: 

 (23) “Substantial equivalency” is a determination by the Board of Accountancy or its designee that the education, examination and experience requirements contained in the statutes and administrative rules of another jurisdiction are comparable to, or exceed the education, examination and experience requirements contained in the Uniform Accountancy Act or that an individual CPA’s education, examination and experience qualifications are comparable to or exceed the education, examination and experience requirements contained in the Uniform Accountancy Act. In ascertaining substantial equivalency as used in this act the Board shall take into account the qualifications without regard to the sequence in which experience, education or examination requirements were attained. 

 Section 2. Amend § 107, Title 24 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows: 

 § 107. Requirements and qualifications for a permit to practice as a certified public accountant. 

 (c) The applicant has completed at least 
 one of the following: 

 (1) A post-baccalaureate or higher degree conferred by an accredited college or university acceptable to the Board, the total educational program to include an accounting concentration or equivalent as determined by Board rule to be appropriate. 

 (2) At least 150 
 semester hours of college education including a baccalaureate or higher degree conferred by an accredited college or university acceptable to the Board, the total educational program to include an accounting concentration or equivalent as determined by Board rule to be 
 appropriate; 
 appropriate. 

 (3) A baccalaureate degree conferred by an accredited college or university acceptable to the Board, the total educational program to include an accounting concentration or equivalent as determined by Board rule to be appropriate. 

 (d) The applicant has successfully passed the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination and/or such successor examinations as may be required to qualify for a permit to practice, provided that the applicant may not sit for said exams until that applicant has successfully completed 
 at least 120 semester hours of college education including 
 a baccalaureate or higher degree conferred by an accredited college or university acceptable to the Board, the total educational program to include an accounting concentration or equivalent as determined by Board rule to be 
 appropriate; 
 appropriate. 

 (e) The applicant has successfully passed the AICPA self-study course and examination in professional 
 ethics; and 
 ethics. 

 (f) The applicant has had 1 year of 
 experience. This experience 
 experience if applying for a permit based on the educational requirement under paragraph (c)(1) or (c)(2) of this section, and the applicant has had 2 years of experience if applying for a permit based on the educational requirement under paragraph (c)(3) of this section. The experience required by this subsection (f) 
 shall include providing any type of service or advice involving the use of accounting, attest, compilation, management advisory, financial advisory, tax or consulting skills all of which was supervised by a United States certified public accountant, meeting requirements prescribed by the Board by rule. This experience would be acceptable if it was gained through employment in government, industry, academia or public practice. 

 Section 3. Amend § 108, Title 24 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows: 

 § 108. Issuance and renewal of CPA permits to practice and maintenance of competency; reciprocity. 

 (a) The Board shall grant or renew permits to practice to persons who make application and demonstrate 
 that: 

 one of the following: 

 (1) Their qualifications, including where applicable the qualifications prescribed by § 107 of this title, are in accordance with the following subsections of this 
 section, or 

 section. 

 (2) They are eligible under the 
 substantial equivalency 
 practice privileges 
 standard set out in 
 § 109(a)(2) 
 § 109(a)(1) 
 of this title. 

 (c) (1) Reciprocal permits to practice shall be issued to applicants who 
 are eligible under the practice privileges standard set out in § 109(a)