Capitol's newest CPA: CalCPA member Fiona Ma elected to Assembly.

• Author: Allen, Bruce C.

The June primaries yielded profession when Fiona Ma, a member of the City and County of San Francisco Board of Supervisors and CalCPA, received the Democratic nomination to replace termed out Assembly Member Leland Yee.

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Her primary victory assures that Ma will replace Yee when the Legislature reconvenes in January.

Ma is a CPA with a lifetime of commitment to public service and Democratic causes. Her rise to professional and political success is the essential story of America.

She was born in New York to immigrant parents. Her father was an engineer and her mother was a high school teacher. After receiving a bachelor's degree in accounting from the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York, Ma moved west and earned a master's degree in taxation from Golden Gate University in San Francisco and an MBA from Pepperdine University.

In 1995, she accepted a position as district representative to former State Senate President Pro Tempore John Burton and helped constituents deal with vexing issues involving licensing, job training, tax issues, unemployment, and Medi-Cal. Among her accomplishments, Ma helped thousands of low income senior and disabled homeowners and renters claim refunds from the state of California.

Prior to that position, Ma had been involved in a variety of community activities, including volunteer food bank coordinator for St. Johns Presbyterian Church and assistant volleyball and basketball coach at Holy Name School.

Ma also was the founder and president of the Westside Chinese Democratic Club and a board member of the National Women's Political Caucus (San Francisco Chapter).

She will become the second CPA in the Legislature after the November elections, joining Assembly Member Roger Niello, CPA (R-Fair Oaks). CalCPA is looking forward to the presence of two CPAs in the Assembly.

Client Confidentiality Interpretations Coming Soon

Business and Professions Code Sec. 5063.3 and Rule 54.1, with some exemptions (such as an official inquiry from the federal or state government, response to subpoena, etc.), prohibits the disclosure of confidential client information without the client's advance written permission.

There is an exemption to allow for professional consultation with another licensee. CPAs need to comply with these requirements and ensure they are protecting themselves and their clients.

The California Board of Accountancy is preparing answers to frequently asked questions that are expected to be...