Your voice counts: profession's Concerns Being Heard in the Legislature.

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

CalCPA has been aggressively opposing legislation that would impose additional registration requirements for CPAs. AB 2415 (Ting) states that anyone who represents a taxpayer and communicates directly with any county official must register with the Secretary of State and a pay a S250 registration fee.

Under this bill, a CPA contacting a county assessor's office about the accuracy of a property assessment as it relates to another client matter would be required to register and pay a registration fee.

AB 2415 adds a layer of costly, redundant and needlessly burdensome regulation for CPAs. Further, it pre-empts local control, creates a new title act for property tax agents without specifying any minimum qualifications or standards and provides no guarantee of any additional public protection or transparency.

CalCPA maintains that CPAs are already regulated by the California Board of Accountancy and are performing services that fall within the scope of their license.

CalCPA wants to thank all of our members for their continuous grassroots efforts on this important issue. Members from across the state have been instrumental in getting the word out to the Legislature about CalCPA's opposition to AB 2415. Because of countless phone calls and letters from CPAs, legislators have raised concerns and become more wary about the negative implications of this bill on individuals already licensed and regulated by the state of California.

In addition to letters and phone calls, members of the CalCPA Government Relations Committee testified in opposition of AB 2415 when it was heard in the Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee last month. The proactive role of CalCPA members throughout the legislative process is paying off as legislators are reviewing the bill with increased scrutiny. It's situations such as these that remind us of the importance of our grassroots advocacy.

At press time, AB 2415 was placed on Assembly Appropriations Suspense File, meaning that its fiscal impact to the state is large enough that it requires further review before it can move forward.

Mandatory Firm Rotation Struck from Bill

SB 1017 (Evans) creates an oil severance tax to help fund higher education, parks and social service programs. Part of the oversight process requires higher education programs receiving funding to be audited at least once every six years. However, the bill mandates that a new audit firm must be used every six years.

Mandatory firm rotation restricts an...