HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	206
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THE BOARD OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTANCY TO CONVENE A MEETING TO DISCUSS ISSUES FACING THE ACCOUNTING PROFESSION.

     WHEREAS, to become a certified public accountant, an applicant must meet a variety of requirements, which include successful completion of a national uniform certified public accountancy examination, education, and experience requirements; and

     WHEREAS, the accounting profession in Hawaii is composed of over two thousand five hundred licensed certified public accountants in government, industry, and academia, and individuals actively engaged in public accountancy; and

     WHEREAS, certified public accountants are licensed under chapter 466, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and chapter 16-71, Hawaii Administrative Rules (Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs), which further define the requirements to obtain and renew a permit to practice; and

     WHEREAS, ensuring the competence of licensed certified public accountants is important, and the primary benefit is to protect the public; and

     WHEREAS, the applicable rules are administered by the Board of Public Accountancy within the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; and

     WHEREAS, many states across the nation have considered or have enacted enhancements to the regulation of certified public accountants, including peer review requirements and provisions dealing with interstate practice; and

     WHEREAS, national models for legislation and rules have been jointly proposed by the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants; and

     WHEREAS, various individuals and representatives of the accountancy profession have come before the Legislature to request changes in the laws and rules, often times with dissimilar views and contrary positions, leading to a conclusion that there may not be a majority view within the profession; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2008, that the Board of Public Accountancy is requested to convene a meeting with the individuals and groups who have expressed opinions on the licensure of certified public accountants at the Legislature, as well as any others who express an interest in the subject matter; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Public Accountancy is requested to summarize the results of the meetings with the interested parties or stakeholders, and to submit a report of findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature not later than thirty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2009; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, the Director of Taxation, the Comptroller, the Director of Finance, the Auditor, and the Chair of the Board of Public Accountancy, who in turn, is requested to transmit copies to the Hawaii Association of Public Accountants, the Accountants Coalition, the Hawaii Society of Certified Public Accountants, the American Society of Women Accountants, the Association of Government Accountants, the Institute of Management Accountants, the Institute of Internal Auditors, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Accounting; Board