California Board of Accountancy.

Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of accountants by the California Board of Accountancy. Existing law sets forth the duties of the board in that regard, and requires all board meetings to be open and public. Existing law authorizes the board to receive and investigate complaints against an accountant licensee or any person acting as an accountant without a license. This bill would require the board to post the finalized minutes from those board meetings on its Internet Web site within a specified time period. The bill would also require the board to provide a live audio or video broadcast, on its Internet Web site, of its board meetings and would specify that a technical failure prohibiting a live broadcast would not prohibit the board from meeting and taking actions. The bill would require the posted minutes and broadcasts or a link to the minutes or broadcasts to remain on the Internet Web site for at least 3 years. The bill would also require the board to post on its Internet Web site notice of all formal accusations filed by the board against a licensee, as specified, and would require the notice to contain a link where a person may request, among other things, a copy of the formal accusation and alleged violations. The bill would require the board to develop and provide a statement, as specified, that informs any person requesting or receiving a copy of an accusation that these allegations are not a final determination of wrongdoing and are subject to specified adjudication and final review.