What it takes: making a difference in the profession--together.

• Author: Allen, Bruce C.
• Position: CapitolBeat

CalCPA has a history of success in the California Legislature. With the support of a committed membership and dedicated professional staff, CalCPA is a well-respected organization in Sacramento.

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Our goal is to pursue legislation that will enhance public protection and the profession (peer review, conformity with national licensing standards for continuing education and entry level education, state and federal tax conformity, etc.) while also defeating or mitigating legislation that is damaging to taxpayers, California's business climate and the profession.

CalCPA sponsored three bills in 2009 that:

* Restored taxpayer privilege for clients of CPAs and enrolled agents.

* Conformed CPA licensing standards to the national level, thereby allowing existing California CPAs to participate in interstate mobility.

* Required CPAs with inactive licenses to disclose that fact when using the CPA designation.

Additionally, CalCPA:

* Successfully defended the profession in Capitol hearings on the role of the CPA in the economic downturn.

* Resisted attempts to impose a sales tax on professional accounting services that would have placed the profession at a competitive disadvantage compared to unlicensed practitioners.

* Defeated numerous tax bills that would have hurt both the profession and the taxpaying public.

CalCPA's efforts over the years have strengthened the profession in the public's eyes and ensured that CPAs were competing on a level playing field. This has resulted in CPAs and CPA firms conducting successful and profitable businesses without having to deal with over-regulation and unfair competition. This continues to be done through proactive initiatives at all levels.

The Secret to Our Success: Relationships

The key to last year's success was grassroots activism. CPAs and students met with virtually every member of the California Legislature to discuss the importance of the CPA-sponsored legislation. More than 200 students and CPAs visited Sacramento for CPA Day at the Capitol and discussed the initiatives with legislators and legislative staff.

CalCPA is now launching an important initiative to grow its grassroots program: Each chapter has a Grassroots Government Relations Committee charged with identifying CPAs that already know legislators or candidates, or would be willing to get to know their legislators.

These volunteer members will occasionally meet with candidates and legislators, along with other chapter...