1-1 By: Pitts (Senate Sponsor - Armbrister) H.B. No. 430
1-2 (In the Senate - Received from the House April 25, 2001;
1-3 April 26, 2001, read first time and referred to Committee on
1-4 Business and Commerce; May 7, 2001, reported favorably by the
1-5 following vote: Yeas 7, Nays 0; May 7, 2001, sent to printer.)
1-6 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-7 AN ACT
1-8 relating to the examination required to become a certified public
1-9 accountant.
1-10 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-11 SECTION 1. Section 901.301, Occupations Code, is amended to
1-12 read as follows:
1-13 Sec. 901.301. ADMINISTRATION; BOARD RULES. (a) The board
1-14 shall:
1-15 (1) conduct [each] uniform CPA examinations
1-16 [examination] administered under this chapter; or
1-17 (2) contract with a person to conduct uniform CPA
1-18 examinations administered under this chapter.
1-19 (b) The board by rule may establish the:
1-20 (1) manner in which a person may apply for the
1-21 examination;
1-22 (2) time, date, and place for the examination;
1-23 (3) manner in which the examination is conducted;
1-24 [(4) method used to grade the examination;]
1-25 [(5) criteria used to determine a passing score on the
1-26 examination;] and
1-27 (4) [(6)] manner in which a person's examination score
1-28 is reported to the person.
1-29 SECTION 2. Section 901.304(a), Occupations Code, is amended
1-30 to read as follows:
1-31 (a) For each examination or reexamination, the board by rule
1-32 shall apportion an amount of the total examination fee among the
1-33 parts of the examination that an applicant is eligible to take on a
1-34 particular examination date. For each examination or
1-35 reexamination, the board shall collect a fee not to exceed the cost
1-36 of administering the examination [The total examination fee may not
1-37 exceed $250].
1-38 SECTION 3. Section 901.305, Occupations Code, is amended to
1-39 read as follows:
1-40 Sec. 901.305. FREQUENCY OF EXAMINATION. A [The board shall
1-41 administer a] uniform CPA examination shall be administered under
1-42 this chapter as often as necessary but at least once each year.
1-43 SECTION 4. Section 901.306(a), Occupations Code, is amended
1-44 to read as follows:
1-45 (a) The board may use or require the use of all or part of
1-46 the uniform CPA examination and any related service available from:
1-47 (1) the American Institute of Certified Public
1-48 Accountants; or
1-49 (2) the National Association of State Boards of
1-50 Accountancy[, if doing so would result in a greater degree of
1-51 reciprocity with the examination results of other states].
1-52 SECTION 5. Section 901.307, Occupations Code, is amended to
1-53 read as follows:
1-54 Sec. 901.307. GRADING EXAMINATION [MINIMUM PASSING GRADE].
1-55 The board by rule shall:
1-56 (1) adopt methods for grading examinations; and
1-57 (2) establish the criteria for passing [A person must
1-58 attain a grade of at least 75 percent on each subject of the
1-59 examination to pass] the examination.
1-60 SECTION 6. Section 901.308(d), Occupations Code, is amended
1-61 to read as follows:
1-62 (d) A person who fails a paper [an] examination is entitled
1-63 to inspect the examination questions and the person's answers not
1-64 later than the 91st day after the date the board receives the
2-1 results. An inspection must be by appointment at the board's
2-2 offices during regular office hours. The person's grade must be
2-3 clearly shown on the examination. A copy of the examination
2-4 questions or answers may not be made.
2-5 SECTION 7. (a) This Act takes effect immediately if it
2-6 receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each
2-7 house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.
2-8 If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate
2-9 effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
2-10 (b) Sections 901.304(a) and 901.307, Occupations Code, as
2-11 amended by this Act, apply only to an examination given on or after
2-12 the date the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy adopts rules
2-13 under those sections as required by this Act.
2-14 * * * * *