By Swinford H.B. No. 962 75R4444 JMM-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to inactive status for a certified public accountant. 1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-4 SECTION 1. The Public Accountancy Act of 1991 (Article 1-5 41a-1, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes) is amended by adding Section 1-6 12A to read as follows: 1-7 Sec. 12A. INACTIVE STATUS. (a) A person who holds a 1-8 license under this Act and who is not actively engaged in the 1-9 practice of public accountancy but who intends to return to the 1-10 practice of public accountancy may apply to the board in writing to 1-11 be placed on inactive status. A person must apply for inactive 1-12 status before the expiration date of the person's license. 1-13 (b) A person must pay the biennial license fee under Section 1-14 9(b) of this Act but is not required to pay the increase in fees 1-15 required by Section 9A of this Act during the time the person is on 1-16 inactive status. 1-17 (c) A person on inactive status may not perform any activity 1-18 regulated under this Act. 1-19 (d) A person on inactive status must meet the continuing 1-20 professional education requirements under Section 15A of this Act 1-21 while the person is on inactive status unless the person is exempt 1-22 under Section 15A(b) of this Act. 1-23 (e) A person on inactive status shall notify the board in 1-24 writing in order to reenter active practice. On determination by 2-1 the board that the person has complied with the requirements of 2-2 this section for inactive status and on payment of the increase in 2-3 fees required by Section 9A of this Act, the board shall remove the 2-4 person from inactive status and place the person on active status. 2-5 SECTION 2. Section 21, Public Accountancy Act of 1991 2-6 (Article 41a-1, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended by 2-7 adding Subsection (i) to read as follows: 2-8 (i) After notice and hearing as provided by Section 22 of 2-9 this Act, the board shall revoke the license of a person who 2-10 engages in the practice of public accountancy during a time in 2-11 which the person is on inactive status under Section 12A of this 2-12 Act. 2-13 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997. 2-14 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the 2-15 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-16 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-17 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-18 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.