Accountants

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 40-2-10, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO PURPOSES FOR WHICH MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF ACCOUNTANCY MAY BE CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC, SO AS TO PROVIDE MEETINGS MAY BE CLOSED TO PROTECT CERTAIN CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION; TO AMEND SECTION 40-2-20, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS CONCERNING THE REGULATION OF CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS AND PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS, SO AS TO REVISE A DEFINITION; TO AMEND SECTION 40-2-35, RELATING TO EXAMINATION REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSURE BY THE BOARD, SO AS TO REMOVE THE REQUIREMENT THAT CERTAIN EXAMINATIONS BE COMPUTER-BASED; TO AMEND SECTION 40-2-40, RELATING TO CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS FOR NONCERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT OWNERS OF CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRMS, SO AS TO INCLUDE CERTAIN ETHICS REQUIREMENTS; TO AMEND SECTION 40-2-80, RELATING TO THE CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT OF CERTAIN EVIDENCE OBTAINED DURING INVESTIGATIONS BY THE BOARD, SO AS TO PROVIDE ALL PROCEEDINGS AND INQUIRIES RELATED TO THE INVESTIGATIONS ARE CONFIDENTIAL EXCEPT WHEN THE SUBJECT OF AN INVESTIGATION WAIVES CONFIDENTIALITY OF THE EXISTENCE OF THE COMPLAINT; TO AMEND SECTION 40-2-90, RELATING TO INVESTIGATIONS BY THE BOARD, SO AS TO PROVIDE DISCIPLINARY HEARINGS BY THE BOARD MUST BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC EXCEPT IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES AND ALL EVIDENCE MUST BE MADE PART OF THE RECORD IN THE PROCEEDINGS; TO AMEND SECTION 40-2-240, RELATING TO LICENSURE OF OUT-OF-STATE PERSONS BY THE BOARD, SO AS TO PROVIDE ALTERNATIVE CRITERIA FOR SUCH LICENSURE; AND TO AMEND SECTION 40-2-340, RELATING TO DISCLAIMERS THAT ACCOUNTING PRACTITIONERS AND ACCOUNTING PRACTITIONER FIRMS MUST USE WHEN ASSOCIATING THEIR NAMES WITH CERTAIN COMPILED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, SO AS TO REMOVE THE EXISTING BOILERPLATE LANGUAGE REQUIRED AND INSTEAD PROVIDE SUCH DISCLAIMERS MUST COMPLY WITH CERTAIN NATIONAL STANDARDS. - ratified title