HB 147-PUBLIC ACCOUNTING
3:31:27 PM
CHAIR KITO announced that the next order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 147, "An Act relating to the Board of Public
Accountancy; relating to the licensure of public accountants;
and relating to the practice of public accounting."
3:31:40 PM
LYNETTE BERGH, Staff, Representative Steve Thompson, Alaska
State Legislature, presented HB 147 on behalf of Representative
Thompson, prime sponsor. She gave a brief summary of the
proposed bill. She said HB 147 would amend board of accounting
statutes by updating the statutes to reflect the national
standards of the Uniform Accountancy Act and the American
Institute of Certified Public Accountancy Code of professional
conduct. She said that by incorporating the changes, Alaska
would be more in line with national standards which ensure that
only qualified persons are practicing.
3:32:43 PM
REPRESENTATIVE BIRCH said he appreciates that the state would
"not be killing as many trees" by having the regulations and
forms available online.
3:33:39 PM
REPRESENTATIVE JOSEPHSON asked about changes to license
reciprocity.
MS. BERGH deferred to the board.
3:34:30 PM
KAREN TARVER, Member, Alaska State Board of Public Accountancy,
answered questions in the hearing on HB 147. She explained the
change would reduce the number of years of experience required
from four years to two years so that the two methods of
licensure are consistent.
3:35:20 PM
CHAIR KITO announced that public testimony on HB 147 was still
open from a previous hearing. Upon ascertaining that there was
no one available to testify, he closed public testimony.
3:35:52 PM
REPRESENTATIVE WOOL moved to report HB 147 out of committee with
individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes.
There being no objection, it was so ordered.