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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the certification and regulation of certain |
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out-of-state certified public accountants. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 901.259(a), Occupations Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(a) The board shall issue a certificate to a person who |
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holds a certificate or license issued by another state if the |
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person: |
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(1) satisfies at least one of the following: |
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(A) [holds a certificate or license as a |
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certified public accountant from a state that the National |
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Association of State Boards of Accountancy's National |
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Qualification Appraisal Service has verified as having education, |
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examination, and experience requirements for certification or |
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licensure that are comparable to or exceed the requirements for |
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licensure as a certified public accountant of The American |
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Institute of Certified Public Accountants/National Association of |
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State Boards of Accountancy Uniform Accountancy Act and the board |
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determines that the licensure requirements of that Act are |
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comparable to or exceed the licensure requirements of this chapter; |
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[(B) obtains from the National Association of |
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State Boards of Accountancy's National Qualification Appraisal |
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Service verification that the individual's education, examination, |
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and experience qualifications are comparable to or exceed the |
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requirements for licensure as a certified public accountant of The |
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American Institute of Certified Public Accountants/National |
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Association of State Boards of Accountancy Uniform Accountancy Act |
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and the board determines that the licensure requirements of that |
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Act are comparable to or exceed the licensure requirements of this |
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chapter; |
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[(C)] meets the requirements for issuance of a |
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certificate in this state other than the requirement providing the |
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grades necessary to pass the uniform CPA examination; |
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(B) [(D)] met the requirements in effect for |
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issuance of a certificate in this state on the date the person was |
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issued a certificate by the other state; or |
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(C) [(E)] has completed at least four years of |
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experience practicing public accountancy, if the experience: |
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(i) occurred after the person passed the |
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uniform CPA examination and within the 10 years preceding the date |
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of application; and |
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(ii) satisfies requirements established by |
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board rule; and |
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(2) has met the continuing professional education |
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requirements that apply to a license holder under this chapter for |
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the three-year period preceding the date of application. |
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SECTION 2. Section 901.462, Occupations Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsections (e) and (f) |
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to read as follows: |
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(a) An individual who holds an active [a] certificate or |
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license as a certified public accountant issued by another state |
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and whose principal place of business is not in this state may |
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exercise all the privileges of certificate and license holders of |
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this state without obtaining a certificate or license under this |
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chapter if the individual: |
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(1) has passed the uniform CPA examination; |
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(2) has completed: |
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(A) a baccalaureate degree with at least 150 |
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semester hours and a concentration in accounting or equivalent |
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courses; |
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(B) a graduate degree with a concentration in |
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accounting or equivalent courses; or |
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(C) a baccalaureate degree with a concentration |
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in accounting or equivalent courses; and |
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(3) at the time the individual's certificate or |
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license was issued in the other state, had completed: |
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(A) at least one year of work experience, if |
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licensed under an educational pathway comparable to Subdivision |
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(2)(A) or (B); or |
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(B) at least two years of work experience, if |
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licensed under an educational pathway comparable to Subdivision |
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(2)(C) [(1) the National Association of State Boards of |
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Accountancy's National Qualification Appraisal Service has |
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verified that the other state has education, examination, and |
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experience requirements for certification or licensure that are |
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comparable to or exceed the requirements for licensure as a |
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certified public accountant of The American Institute of Certified |
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Public Accountants/National Association of State Boards of |
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Accountancy Uniform Accountancy Act and the board determines that |
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the licensure requirements of that Act are comparable to or exceed |
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the licensure requirements of this chapter; or |
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[(2) the individual obtains from the National |
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Association of State Boards of Accountancy's National |
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Qualification Appraisal Service verification that the individual's |
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education, examination, and experience qualifications are |
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comparable to or exceed the requirements for licensure as a |
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certified public accountant of The American Institute of Certified |
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Public Accountants/National Association of State Boards of |
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Accountancy Uniform Accountancy Act and the board determines that |
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the licensure requirements of that Act are comparable to or exceed |
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the licensure requirements of this chapter]. |
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(b) An individual who meets the requirements of Subsection |
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(a) [(a)(1) or (2)] and who offers or renders professional services |
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in person or by mail, telephone, or electronic means may practice |
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public accountancy in this state without notice to the board. |
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(e) Notwithstanding any other law, the board may prohibit an |
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individual not licensed in this state from exercising the |
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privileges of certificate and license holders of this state if the |
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board determines the individual does not meet the requirements of |
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Subsection (a). |
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(f) An individual who on December 31, 2024, held a |
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certificate or license issued by another state and practiced under |
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a privilege of this section in this state may exercise all the |
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privileges of the holder of a certificate and license issued under |
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this chapter without obtaining a certificate or license in this |
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state. To the extent that the individual exercises privileges as |
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described by this subsection, the individual is subject to this |
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chapter. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |
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