Regional Calls Held in February

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When NASBA’s Regional calls are convened, states learn how their neighbors are facing similar issues and where forces are pushing them in different directions. For example, while some groups are promoting laws that open licensing to individuals with criminal records, closer scrutiny is being urged by others. Richard Grueter (MA) pointed out, during the Northeast Region’s conference call, that the Massachusetts Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure at the end of 2019 called for an investigation into how 68 registered sex offenders held state licenses (including 21 electricians). This was brought to the legislators’ attention by a report in the Boston Globe.

All eight of NASBA’s Regional Directors held Regional Conference calls with State Board Chairs and Executive Directors in February. During the calls the Regional Directors reviewed actions taken at the Board of Directors’ January meeting. NASBA Vice President – Relations with Member Boards Daniel Dustin updated the Boards’ representatives on the CPA Evolution Initiative and Director of Legislative and Governmental Affairs John Johnson reviewed anti-regulatory legislation now being debated in each Region’s states and trending across the country. The calls also gave each Board the opportunity to highlight the current issues they are facing. Among those mentioned were:

• Many states are making the changes necessary to be ready for continuous testing, including New York, Delaware, Louisiana and Montana.
• International licensing candidates are applying to several New England states for their licenses, but then not practicing in those states.
• Continuing professional education requirements are not being met by some practitioners in several jurisdictions.
• The Tennessee Board is now requiring Peer Review acceptance letters from firms.
• Missouri has a bill in play that would give it access to Peer Review information.
• Minnesota is looking to hire a new investigator.
• Many states are working on legislation to expedite licensing for military and spouses (see Legislative E- News on www.nasba.org for details).
• Brenda Turley will be retiring as the West Virginia Board of Accountancy’s Executive Director and a search for her replacement is beginning.
• Oregon has updated their Continuing Professional Education (CPE) rules to allow for nano learning and blended courses.
• Washington is working to restore its Peer Review Oversight Committee.
• Texas will be moving the Board’s offices later this year.
• Louisiana is requiring sexual harassment training for the staff and members of its boards.
• North Carolina has created a succession planning task force to address requirements for CPA firms.
• Legislation being considered in Idaho would establish an Office of Administrative Hearing Officers.

Mr. Johnson reported that 41 states were actively in legislative session in February. Anti-regulatory bills, including those calling for least restrictive means of regulation and establishment of oversight bodies, are being monitored by Mr. Johnson and can be viewed by state on https://nasba.org/mc/legislativesupport/legislativetracking. During the Regional calls Mr. Johnson was thanked by states for his help in their defense against bills that would harm the Boards. He reminded the Boards to check the Alliance for Responsible Professional Licensing (ARPL) website http://responsiblelicensing.org for articles, talking points and videos in support of professional licensing.

The Regional Directors invited all their State Boards to participate in the webinars to be held in March to provide more information on the CPA Evolution Initiative, and to contact the Regional Directors with any questions the Accountancy Boards might have to bring to the attention of the NASBA Board.