By: Goolsby (Senate Sponsor - Carona) H.B. No. 1316

(In the Senate - Received from the House April 16, 2007; April 17, 2007, read first time and referred to Committee on Business and Commerce; May 14, 2007, reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 7, Nays 0; May 14, 2007, sent to printer.)

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 1316 By: Fraser

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a fee exemption under the Public Accountancy Act for accountants in this state who are employed by certain governmental entities.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 901.410, Occupations Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 901.410. FEE EXEMPTION FOR CERTAIN LICENSE HOLDERS. The fee increase imposed under Section 901.406 and the additional fee imposed under Section 901.407 do not apply to a license holder who is:

(1) an employee of the federal government, the government of another state, or a municipal or county government of this state and who is restricted by virtue of that employment from engaging in the practice of public accountancy outside the scope of employment; or

(2) an employee of a state agency that has authorized the payment of the fee increase and additional fee for the license holder.

SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies to a fee under Section 901.406 or 901.407, Occupations Code, that becomes due on or after the effective date of this Act. A fee under those sections that becomes due before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the fee becomes due, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2007.

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