03/23/2021 03:00 PM House STATE AFFAIRS

            HB  44-PRACTICE OF ACCOUNTING; LICENSURE                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:02:40 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS  announced that the first  order of business                                                               
would be HOUSE  BILL NO. 44, "An Act relating  to the practice of                                                               
accounting."  [Before the committee was CSHB 44(STA).]                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS invited final comments from the committee.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
3:03:27 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE STORY stated  her support for moving  the bill out                                                               
of committee.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
3:04:03 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE EASTMAN  drew attention to an  outstanding concern                                                               
regarding the definition  of "reports," which was  discussed in a                                                               
previous  committee hearing.    He offered  his  belief that  the                                                               
definition  of the  term  is  overly broad.    He clarified  that                                                               
committee's intent is not to  change the nature of the accounting                                                               
practice  by  broadening  the   requirements  pertaining  to  the                                                               
issuance of reports,  as they are no longer  limited to financial                                                               
statements.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
3:05:30 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  CLAMAN offered  his appreciation  to the  sponsor                                                               
for bringing  the bill forward  so that standards  are maintained                                                               
for  a profession  that  many consumers  use.   Additionally,  he                                                               
returned  attention to  the discussion  on "may"  versus "shall,"                                                               
opining that  the use of  either would not  prevent [accountants]                                                               
from  doing an  effective  job.   In  response to  Representative                                                               
Eastman,  he stated  his belief  that the  committee's discussion                                                               
reflected that the definition of  "report" is consistent with the                                                               
scope of reports that accountants  traditionally provide in their                                                               
practice.    He added  that  the  current  language in  the  bill                                                               
reflects his intent.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS  noted that the  fiscal note is  $5,300, all                                                               
of which  is covered  by the  licensing fees  from the  [Board of                                                               
Public Accountancy].                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
3:07:48 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  CLAMAN  moved  to  report CSHB  44,  Version  32-                                                               
LS0302\B,  Fisher,  3/8/21,  out  of  committee  with  individual                                                               
recommendations  and  the  accompanying fiscal  notes.    Without                                                               
objection, CSHB  44(STA) was moved  from the House  State Affairs                                                               
Standing Committee.