AB725: Bill Text

AB725,10,25 3. A name that includes the name of an individual who is not a CPA if the title "CPAs" is included in the firm name.

AB725,11,2 4. A name that includes information about or indicates an association with persons who are not members of the firm, except as provided in subs. (3) and (4).

AB725,11,6 5. A name that includes the terms "& Company," "& Associate," or "Group," if the firm does not include, in addition to the named partner, shareholder, owner, or member, at least one other unnamed partner, shareholder, owner, member, or staff employee.

AB725,11,10 (b) A name that contains any representation that would be likely to cause a reasonable person to have a false or unjustified expectation of favorable results or capabilities, through the use of a false or unjustified statement of fact as to any material matter.

AB725,11,12 (c) A name that claims or implies the ability to influence a regulatory body or official.

AB725,11,16 (d) A name that includes the name of an owner whose license has been revoked for disciplinary reasons by the board, whereby the licensee has been prohibited from practicing public accountancy or prohibited from using the title CPA or holding himself or herself out as a certified public accountant.

AB725,11,18 (2) Any of the following is a permissible type of CPA firm name if it does not otherwise violate this subchapter:

AB725,11,20 (a) A firm name that includes the names of one or more former or present owners.

AB725,11,22 (b) A firm name that excludes the names of one or more former or present owners.

AB725,11,25 (c) A firm name that uses the CPA title as part of the firm name when all named individuals are owners of the firm who hold such title or are former owners who held such title at the time they ceased to be owners of the firm.

AB725,12,2 (d) A firm name that includes the name of a non-CPA owner if the CPA title is not a part of the firm name.

AB725,12,4 (3) A network firm may use a common brand name or share common initials as part of the firm name.

AB725,12,7 (4) A network firm may use the network name as the firm's name, provided that it also shares one or more of the following characteristics with other firms in the network:

AB725,12,9 (a) Common control, as defined by generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S., among the firms through ownership, management, or other means.

AB725,12,12 (b) Profits or costs, excluding costs of operating the association, costs developing audit methodologies, manuals and training courses, and other costs that are immaterial to the firm.

AB725,12,15 (c) A common business strategy that involves ongoing collaboration among the firms whereby the firms are responsible for implementing the association's strategy and are held accountable for performance pursuant to that strategy.

AB725,12,16 (d) A significant part of professional resources.

AB725,12,18 (e) Common quality control policies and procedures that participating firms are required to implement and that are monitored by the association.

AB725,21 Section 21. Chapter Accy 2 (title) of the administrative code is created to read:

AB725,12,20 Chapter accy 2

AB725,12,22 individual certification and licensure

AB725,22 Section 22. Subchapter I (title) of chapter Accy 2 [precedes Accy 2.001] of the administrative code is created to read:

AB725,12,25 Chapter accy 2

AB725,13,1 subchapter I

AB725,13,2 authority and definitions

AB725,23 Section 23. Accy 2.001 of the administrative code is created to read:

AB725,13,5 Accy 2.001 Authority. The rules in this chapter are adopted under the authority in ss. 15.08 (5) (b), 227.11 (2), and 442.04, Stats.

AB725,24 Section 24. Accy 2.002 of the administrative code is created to read:

AB725,13,7 Accy 2.002 Definitions. In this chapter:

AB725,13,9 (1) "Accredited" means to be listed by an accrediting agency recognized by the secretary of the federal department of education.

AB725,13,12 Note: For a listing of accrediting agencies recognized by the secretary of the federal department of education, see http:/www2.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/accreditation_pg6.html.

AB725,13,15 (2) "Bachelor's degree" means a baccalaureate degree normally conferred by universities and colleges at the completion of at least a 4-year, full-time, academic-year program of study.

AB725,13,18 Note: Some students complete the 4-year bachelor's degree in less than 4 years by attending summer school or maximum course loads over a number of academic semesters.

AB725,25 Section 25. Subchapter II (title) of chapter Accy 2 [precedes Accy 2.101] of the administrative code is created to read:

AB725,13,21 chapter accy 2

AB725,13,22 subchapter II

AB725,13,24 application for certification of individuals

AB725,26 Section 26. Accy 2.101 (Note) of the administrative code is created to read:

AB725,14,4 Accy 2.101 Note: Application forms are available upon request to the board's office at 1400 East Washington Avenue, P.O. Box 8935, Madison WI 53708-8935 or on the Internet at www.dsps.wi.gov. An applicant with a disability will be provided reasonable accommodations.

AB725,27 Section 27. Accy 2.101 (3), (4) and (5) of the administrative code are created to read:

AB725,14,8 Accy 2.101 (3) Evidence of at least one year of public accounting experience as required by s. Accy 2.403 and s. 442.04 (5) (b) 5., Stats.

AB725,14,10 (4) Evidence that the applicant has successfully passed each section of the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination.

AB725,14,13 (5) Successful completion of the open book professional ethics examination on statutes and rules governing the practice of public accounting in Wisconsin as set forth in s. Accy 2.306.

AB725,28 Section 28. Subchapter III (title) of chapter Accy 2 [precedes Accy 2.202] of the administrative code is created to read:

AB725,14,16 chapter accy 2

AB725,14,17 subchapter III

AB725,14,18 education

AB725,29 Section 29. Accy 2.202 (1) (a) to (f) and (2) of the administrative code are created to read:

AB725,14,21 Accy 2.202 (1) (a) Intermediate financial accounting.

AB725,14,22 (b) Advanced financial accounting.

AB725,14,23 (c) Cost or managerial accounting.

AB725,14,24 (d) Taxation.

AB725,14,25 (e) Auditing.

AB725,15,1 (f) Accounting information systems.

AB725,15,4 (2) At least 24 semester hours in business courses other than accounting courses, at the undergraduate or graduate level, including at least one course in each of the following subjects:

AB725,15,5 (a) Economics.

AB725,15,6 (b) Finance.

AB725,15,7 (c) Marketing.

AB725,15,8 (d) Management or organizational behavior.

AB725,15,9 (e) Business law.

AB725,15,10 (f) Information technology.

AB725,15,17 Note: The courses covering the subjects of advanced financial accounting, cost or managerial accounting, taxation, and auditing under s. Accy 2.202 (1), would generally be courses taken beyond the introduction level. A course would generally be considered advanced financial accounting if it covers one or more of the following topics: foreign currency transactions, partnerships, state and local governments, not-for-profit entities, consolidations, mergers and acquisitions, intercompany transactions, fraud investigations, accounting theory, and accounting research.

AB725,30 Section 30. Subchapter IV (title) of chapter Accy 2 [precedes Accy 2.301] of the administrative code is created to read:

AB725,15,20 chapter accy 2

AB725,15,21 subchapter iv

AB725,15,22 examination

AB725,31 Section 31. Accy 2.305 (1) (g) of the administrative code is created to read:

AB725,15,25 Accy 2.305 (1) (g) Falsifying or misrepresenting educational credentials or other information required for admission to the examination.

AB725,32 Section 32. Subchapter V (title) of chapter Accy 2 [precedes Accy 2.401] of the administrative code is created to read:

AB725,16,3 chapter accy 2

AB725,16,4 subchapter v

AB725,16,5 experience

AB725,33 Section 33. Accy 2.401 (2) of the administrative code is created to read:

AB725,16,9 Accy 2.401 (2) Experience may consist of providing any type of services or advice using accounting, attest, compilation, management advisory, financial advisory, tax, or related consulting skills.

AB725,34 Section 34. Subchapter VI (title) of chapter Accy 2 [precedes Accy 2.501] of the administrative code is created to read:

AB725,16,12 Chapter accy 2

AB725,16,13 subchapter VI

AB725,16,14 LICENSURE

AB725,35 Section 35. Accy 2.501 of the administrative code is created to read:

AB725,16,19 Accy 2.501 Requirements for renewal and reinstatement of individual licenses. (1) Renewal before 5 years. An individual certified public accountant who files an application for renewal of a license within 5 years after the renewal date may renew his or her license by filing with the board all of the following:

AB725,16,20 (a) An application for renewal on a form prescribed by the department.

AB725,16,22 (b) The fee determined by the department under s. 440.03 (9) (a), Stats., and the applicable late renewal fee specified in s. 440.08 (3) (a), Stats.

AB725,16,25 (2) Renewal after 5 years. An individual certified public accountant who files an application for renewal of a license 5 years or more after the renewal date may renew his or her license by filing with the board all of the following:

AB725,17,1 (a) An application for renewal on a form prescribed by the department.

AB725,17,3 (b) The fee determined by the department under s. 440.03 (9) (a), Stats., and the applicable late renewal fee specified in s. 440.08 (3) (a), Stats.

AB725,17,6 (c) Verification of successful completion of examinations specified in s. Accy 2.301 or education specified in s. Accy 2.202 or both as may be prescribed by the board.

AB725,17,13 (3) Reinstatement. (a) Notwithstanding the board's authority under s. 442.12 (1) (g), Stats., to grant a hearing pursuant to an application in writing and notice, an individual certified public accountant who has a license with unmet disciplinary requirements and who has failed to renew the license within 5 years after the renewal date, or an individual whose license has been surrendered or revoked, may apply for reinstatement of his or her license. The request shall be in writing and be accompanied by all of the following:

AB725,17,14 1. The materials and fee specified in sub. (2) (a) to (c).

AB725,17,15 2. Evidence of completion of disciplinary requirements, if applicable.