AB 2415 Vetoed: and other legislative action affecting CPAs.

• Author: Allen, Bruce C.

In the closing clays of the legislative session the governor vetoed AB 2415 (Ting), which would have created a registration requirement for anyone acting as a property lax agent. As you know, this bill has been the top priority for the CalCPA Government Relations team this legislative session, and this issue has been around the Legislature for several years.

In its original form, the definition of "property lax agent" and the registration requirement in AB 2415 was broad. CalCPA was concerned that the bill would have required CPAs to register with the Secretary of Stale's Office for services that already fall within the scope of their practice as a CPA.

Prior to AB 2415 being sent to the governor, CalCPA was successful in getting amendments to the bill to exclude the routine day-to-day services that CPAs regularly perform for clients that may bring them into contact with a county assessor or their stall". As a result of these negotiated amendments, CalCPA removed its opposition to the bill.

Even with the amendments in place, the governor vetoed AB 2415, stating: "This bill would regulate individuals who represent clients before county assessors. The real property tax assessment system has worked relatively well over a long period of years. There has been some serious misconduct in a limited number of cases, but that doesn't lay the predicate for yet another registration program."

Achieving the amendments excluding usual and customary services performed by CPAs was a successful outcome; still, the veto of AB 2415 is an important and even more successful outcome to this legislation. It avoids another registration requirement CPAs potentially would have had to comply with.

Thank you for all your help and involvement throughout the process. When legislators hear from CPAs and members of their communities, it provides the extra push and unique perspective needed to ensure that a difference is made.

CBA Omnibus Bill Signed into Law

Another bill that CalCPA successfully worked on this year with the Legislature and the California Board of Accountancy was SB 1467, which is an omnibus bill containing legislative provisions requested by the CBA.

These non-controversial, legislative changes are necessary for the CBA to continue to regulate the CPA profession and ensure consumer protection. Specifically there was technical cleanup and a change of mobility language; language to allow the CBA to collect licensee email addresses during the licensure and...