HB2459 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 08234 AAS 18284 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB2459

Introduced 2/4/2025, by Rep. Natalie A. Manley - Amy Elik

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

See Index

Amends the Illinois Public Accounting Act. Changes the definition of "CPA firm" to remove a reference to limited liability companies and to include professional limited liability companies. Changes references from "substantial equivalency" to "enhanced mobility". Changes provisions regarding substantial equivalency for an individual whose principal place of business is not in the State but who has a valid CPA license issued by another state to require that the licensure requirements of the issuing state must be equivalent to the criteria in the Act or, if the licensure requirements of the issuing state are not equivalent, to require that the individual must petition the Public Accountant Registration and Licensure Committee for, and obtain from the Public Accountant Registration and Licensure Committee, an equivalency determination (instead of requiring a verification of the criteria by the National Qualification Appraisal Service of the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy). Provides that, on and after January 1, 2027, the Department may license as licensed CPAs, individuals who have received a bachelor's degree in accounting from an accredited college or university and an exam certificate or certification from the Board and have had at least 2 years of experience as defined by Department of Financial and Professional Regulation rule. Provides that, on and after January 1, 2027, the Department may license as licensed CPAs individuals who have received a master's degree, a bachelor's degree with 30 hours of accounting from an accredited college or university and an exam certificate or certification from the Board, and at least one year of experience as defined by Department rule. Changes the organization that the Department may rely on for enhanced mobility determinations from the National Qualification Appraisal Service of the National Association of State Board of Accountancy to the Public Accountant Registration and Licensure Committee. Makes conforming and other changes.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning regulation.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Illinois Public Accounting Act is amended by changing Sections 0.03, 3, 5.2, 8, 14, 14.2, and 28 as follows:

(225 ILCS 450/0.03) (from Ch. 111, par. 5500.03)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2029)

Sec. 0.03. Definitions. As used in this Act, unless the context otherwise requires:

"Accountancy activities" means the services as set forth in Section 8.05 of this Act.

"Address of record" means the designated address recorded by the Department in the applicant's, licensee's, or registrant's application file or license file maintained by the Department's licensure maintenance unit. It is the duty of the applicant, licensee, or registrant to inform the Department of any change of address, and those changes must be made either through the Department's website or by directly contacting the Department.

"Certification" means certification by the Board or University or similar jurisdictions specifying an individual has successfully passed all sections and requirements of the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination and verification of completion of the academic requirements for licensure under Sections 3 and 14 of 150 credit hours. Certification by the Board or University or similar jurisdiction does not confer the ability to use the CPA title and is not equivalent to a registration or license under this Act.

"Compilation" means providing a service to be performed in accordance with Statements on Standards for Accounting and Review Services that is presented in the form of financial statements or information that is the representation of management or owners without undertaking to express any assurance on the statements.

"Coordinator" means the CPA Coordinator.

"CPA" or "C.P.A." means a certified public accountant who holds a license or registration issued by the Department or an individual authorized to use the CPA title under Section 5.2 of this Act.

"CPA firm" means a sole proprietorship, a corporation, registered limited liability partnership, limited liability company, professional limited liability company, partnership, professional service corporation, or any other form of organization issued a license in accordance with this Act or a CPA firm authorized to use the CPA firm title under Section 5.2 of this Act.

"CPA (inactive)" means a licensed certified public accountant who elects to have the Department place the licensee's license on inactive status pursuant to Section 17.2 of this Act.

"Email address of record" means the designated email address recorded by the Department in the applicant's application file or the licensee's license file, as maintained by the Department's licensure maintenance unit.

"Exam certificate" means an exam certificate issued by the Board, the University, or a similar jurisdiction specifying that an individual has successfully passed all sections and requirements of the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination. An exam certificate issued by the Board, the University, or a similar jurisdiction does not confer the ability to use the CPA title and is not equivalent to a registration or license under this Act.

"Financial statement" means a structured presentation of historical financial information, including, but not limited to, related notes intended to communicate an entity's economic resources and obligations at a point in time or the changes therein for a period of time in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) or other comprehensive basis of accounting (OCBOA).

"Other attestation engagements" means an engagement performed in accordance with the Statements on Standards for Attestation Engagements.

"Registered Certified Public Accountant" or "registered CPA" means any person who has been issued a registration under this Act as a Registered Certified Public Accountant.

"Report", when used with reference to financial statements, means an opinion, report, or other form of language that states or implies assurance as to the reliability of any financial statements and that also includes or is accompanied by any statement or implication that the person or firm issuing it has special knowledge or competence in accounting or auditing. Such a statement or implication of special knowledge or competence may arise from use by the issuer of the report of names or titles indicating that the person or firm is an accountant or auditor, or from the language of the report itself. "Report" includes any form of language that disclaims an opinion when the form of language is conventionally understood to imply any positive assurance as to the reliability of the financial statements referred to or special competence on the part of the person or firm issuing such language; it includes any other form of language that is conventionally understood to imply such assurance or such special knowledge or competence.

"Licensed Certified Public Accountant" or "licensed CPA" means any person licensed under this Act as a Licensed Certified Public Accountant.

"Committee" means the Public Accountant Registration and Licensure Committee appointed by the Secretary.

"Department" means the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

"License", "licensee", and "licensure" refer to the authorization to practice under the provisions of this Act.

"Peer review" means a study, appraisal, or review of one or more aspects of a CPA firm's or sole practitioner's compliance with applicable accounting, auditing, and other attestation standards adopted by generally recognized standard-setting bodies.

"Principal place of business" means the office location designated by the licensee from which the person directs, controls, and coordinates one's professional services.

"Review committee" means any person or persons conducting, reviewing, administering, or supervising a peer review program.

"Secretary" means the Secretary of the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

"University" means the University of Illinois.

"Board" means the Board of Examiners established under Section 2.

"Registration", "registrant", and "registered" refer to the authorization to hold oneself out as or use the title "Registered Certified Public Accountant" or "Certified Public Accountant", unless the context otherwise requires.

"Peer Review Administrator" means an organization designated by the Department that meets the requirements of subsection (f) of Section 16 of this Act and other rules that the Department may adopt.

(Source: P.A. 102-222, eff. 1-1-22; 103-309, eff. 1-1-24.)

(225 ILCS 450/3) (from Ch. 111, par. 5504)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2029)

Sec. 3. Qualifications of applicants. The Board shall certify applicants who successfully complete all portions of the examination and verify completion of 150 or 120 semester credit hours, whichever applies to the applicant.

(a) To be admitted to take the examination after the year 2000 and before January 1, 2023, for the purpose of determining the qualifications of applicants for certificates as certified public accountants under this Act, the applicants shall be required to present proof of the successful completion of 150 college or university semester hours of study or the applicant's quarter-hour or other academic credit unit equivalent, to include a baccalaureate or higher degree conferred by a college or university acceptable to the Board, the total educational program to include an accounting concentration or equivalent as determined by Board rule. In adopting those rules, the Board shall consider, among other things, any impediments to the interstate practice of public accounting that may result from differences in the requirements in other states.

(b) Beginning January 1, 2023, an applicant for the examination shall be required to present proof of 120 college or university semester hours of study or the applicant's quarter-hour or other academic credit unit equivalent, to include a baccalaureate or higher degree conferred by a college or university acceptable to the Board, the total education program to include an accounting concentration or equivalent as determined by Board rule. Applicants shall receive certification by the Board upon successful passage of all sections and requirements of the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination and verification of completion of educational requirements as determined by rule.

(c) In adopting rules, the Board shall consider, among other things, any impediments to the interstate practice of public accounting that may result from differences in the requirements in other states.

(Source: P.A. 102-222, eff. 1-1-22; 103-309, eff. 1-1-24.)

(225 ILCS 450/5.2)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2029)

Sec. 5.2. Enhanced mobility Substantial equivalency.

(a) An individual whose principal place of business is not in this State shall have all the privileges of a person licensed under this Act as a licensed CPA without the need to obtain a license from the Department or to file notice with the Department, if the individual:

(1) holds a valid license as a certified public accountant issued by another state if the licensure requirements of the issuing state are equivalent to the criteria outlined in Section 14 that the National Qualification Appraisal Service of the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy has verified to be in substantial equivalence with the CPA licensure requirements of the Uniform Accountancy Act of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy; or

(2) holds a valid license as a certified public accountant issued by another state that is not equivalent to the criteria outlined in Section 14 and petitions the Committee for, and obtains from the Committee, an equivalency determination of education, exam, and experience and obtains from the National Qualification Appraisal Service of the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy verification that the individual's CPA qualifications are substantially equivalent to the CPA licensure requirements of the Uniform Accountancy Act of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy; however, any individual who has passed the Uniform CPA Examination and holds a valid license issued by any other state prior to January 1, 2012 shall be exempt from the education requirements of Section 3 of this Act for the purposes of this item (2).

(a-5) A CPA firm whose principal place of business is not in this State shall have all the privileges of a CPA firm licensed under this Act without the need to obtain a license from the Department or to file notice with the Department if the CPA firm complies with the requirements outlined in Sections 14.4 and 16 through enhanced mobility substantial equivalency of the firm's licensed state.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an individual or CPA firm who offers or renders professional services under this Section, whether in person or by mail, telephone, or electronic means, shall be granted practice privileges in this State and no notice or other submission must be provided by any such individual or CPA firm.

(c) An individual licensee or CPA firm of another state exercising the privilege afforded under this Section and the CPA firm that employs such individual licensee, if any, as a condition of the grant of this privilege, hereby simultaneously consents:

(1) to the personal and subject matter jurisdiction and disciplinary authority of the Department;

(2) to comply with this Act and the Department's rules adopted under this Act;

(3) that in the event that the license from the state of the individual's or CPA firm's principal place of business is no longer valid, the individual or CPA firm shall cease offering or rendering accountancy activities as outlined in paragraphs (1) and (2) of Section 8.05 in this State individually or on behalf of a CPA firm; and

(4) to the appointment of the state board that issued the individual's or the CPA firm's license as the agent upon which process may be served in any action or proceeding by the Department against the individual or CPA firm.

(d) An individual licensee who qualifies for practice privileges under this Section who, for any entity headquartered in this State, performs (i) a financial statement audit or other engagement in accordance with Statements on Auditing Standards; (ii) an examination of prospective financial information in accordance with Statements on Standards for Attestation Engagements; or (iii) an engagement in accordance with Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Auditing Standards may only do so through a CPA firm licensed under this Act or a CPA firm with practice privileges under this Section.

(e) A CPA firm that qualifies for practice privileges under this Section and, for any entity headquartered in this State, performs the following may only do so through an individual or individuals licensed under this Act or an individual or individuals with practice privileges under this Section:

(1) a financial statement audit or other engagement in accordance with Statements on Auditing Standards;

(2) an examination of prospective financial information in accordance with Statements on Standards for Attestation Engagements; or

(3) an engagement in accordance with Public Company Accounting Oversight Board auditing standards.

(Source: P.A. 103-309, eff. 1-1-24.)

(225 ILCS 450/8) (from Ch. 111, par. 5509)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2029)

Sec. 8. Practicing as a licensed CPA. Persons, either individually, as members of a partnership or limited liability company, or as officers of a corporation, who sign, affix, or associate names or any trade or assumed names used by the persons in a profession or business to any report expressing or disclaiming an opinion on a financial statement based on an audit or examination of that statement, or expressing assurance on a financial statement, shall be deemed to be in practice as licensed CPAs and are performing accountancy activities as outlined in paragraph (1) of subsection (a) of Section 8.05.

(Source: P.A. 103-309, eff. 1-1-24.)

(225 ILCS 450/14) (from Ch. 111, par. 5515)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2029)

Sec. 14. Qualifications for licensure as a licensed CPA. The Department may license as licensed CPAs individuals meeting the following requirements:

(a) All persons who have received exam certificates or certifications as certified public accountants from the Board or who hereafter received registrations as registered CPAs from the Department who have had at least one year of full-time experience, or its equivalent, providing any type of service or advice involving the use of accounting, audit, management advisory, financial advisory, tax, consulting skills, or other attestation engagements which may be gained through employment in government, industry, academia, or public practice.

(a-5) If the applicant's exam certificate or certification as a certified public accountant from the Board or the applicant's registration as a registered CPA from the Department was issued more than 4 years prior to the application for a license as a licensed CPA under this Section, the applicant shall submit any evidence the Department may require showing the applicant has completed not less than 90 hours of continuing professional education acceptable to the Department within the 3 years immediately preceding the date of application.

(b) (Blank).

(c) On and after January 1, 2027, all persons who have received a bachelor's degree in accounting from an accredited college or university and an exam certificate or certification from the Board and who have had at least 2 years of experience as defined by Department rule.

(d) On and after January 1, 2027, all persons who have received a master's degree, a bachelor's degree with 30 hours of accounting from an accredited college or university, and an exam certificate or certification from the Board and who have had at least one year of experience as defined by Department rule.

(Source: P.A. 102-222, eff. 1-1-22.)

(225 ILCS 450/14.2)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2029)

Sec. 14.2. Licensure by endorsement.

(a) The Department shall issue a license as a licensed CPA to any applicant who holds a current, valid, and unrevoked license as a certified public accountant issued from another state with equivalent educational requirements and examination standards, applies to the Department on forms supplied by the Department, and pays the required fee, provided:

(1) the individual applicant is determined by the Department to possess qualifications substantially equivalent to this State's current licensing requirements;

(2) at the time the applicant became licensed, the applicant possessed qualifications substantially equivalent to the qualifications for licensure then in effect in this State; or

(3) the applicant has, after passing the examination upon which licensure to practice was based, satisfied experience requirements not less than 4 years of experience as outlined in Section 14 of this Act within the 10 years immediately before the application.

(b) In determining the enhanced mobility substantial equivalency of any state's requirements to Illinois' requirements, the Department may rely on the determinations by the Committee of the National Qualification Appraisal Service of the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy or such other qualification appraisal service as it deems appropriate.

(c) Applicants have 3 years from the date of application to complete the application process. If the process has not been completed in 3 years, the application shall be denied, the fee shall be forfeited, and the applicant must reapply and meet the requirements in effect at the time of reapplication.

(d) Any individual who is the holder of a current, valid, and not previously disciplined license as a certified public accountant of any state and has applied in writing to the Department in form and substance satisfactory to the Department for a license as a licensed CPA may perform accountancy activities as set forth in Section 8.05 until the earlier of the following dates:

(1) the expiration of 6 months after filing the written application; or

(2) the denial of the application by the Department.

Any individual performing accountancy activities under this subsection (d) shall be subject to discipline in the same manner as an individual licensed under this Act.

(Source: P.A. 103-309, eff. 1-1-24.)

(225 ILCS 450/28) (from Ch. 111, par. 5534)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2029)

Sec. 28. Criminal penalties. Each of the following acts perpetrated in the State of Illinois is a Class A misdemeanor:

(a) the practice of accountancy activities as defined in paragraph (1) of subsection (a) of Section 8.05 without an active CPA license in violation of the provisions of this Act;

(b) the obtaining or attempting to obtain licensure as a licensed CPA or registration as a registered CPA by fraud;

(c) the use of the title "Certified Public Accountant", "public accountant", or the abbreviation "C.P.A.", "RCPA", "LCPA", "PA" or use of any similar words or letters indicating the user is a certified public accountant, or the title "Registered Certified Public Accountant";

(c-5) (blank);

(d) the use of the title "Certified Public Accountant", "public accountant", or the abbrevi ation "C.P.A.", "RCPA", "LCPA", "PA" or any similar words or letters indicating that the members are certified public accountants, by any partnership, limited liability company, corporation, or other entity in violation of this Act;

(e) the unauthorized practice in the performance of accountancy activities as defined in Section 8.05 and in violation of this Act;

(f) (blank);

(g) making false statements to the Department regarding compliance with continuing professional education or peer review requirements;

(h) (Blank).

(Source: P.A. 98-254, eff. 8-9-13; 98-756, eff. 7-16-14.)