BILL NUMBER: AB 1005	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  JULY 8, 2009
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 30, 2009
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 20, 2009

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Block

                        FEBRUARY 27, 2009

   An act to add Sections 5017.1, 5017.5, and 5103.5 to the Business
and Professions Code, relating to accountants.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1005, as amended, Block. 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  .
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   SECTION 1.  Section 5017.1 is added to the Business and
Professions Code, to read:
   5017.1.  The board shall  post ,   post,
 within 10 days of board approval, the finalized minutes from
meetings of the board that are open and public pursuant to Section
5017 on the board's Internet Web site. The minutes shall remain on
the board's Internet Web site for at least three years. Providing a
link on the Internet Web site to the minutes shall satisfy this
requirement.
  SEC. 2.  Section 5017.5 is added to the Business and Professions
Code, to read:
   5017.5.  (a) The board shall provide a live audio or video
broadcast, on its Internet Web site, of each of its board meetings
that are open and public.
   (b) (1) If technical failure prevents the board from providing a
live broadcast as specified in subdivision (a), that failure shall
not constitute a violation of this section if the board exercised
reasonable diligence in providing a live broadcast.
   (2) Failure to provide a live broadcast of its board meetings due
to technical failure shall not prohibit the board from meeting and
taking actions.
   (c) The recording of the live audio or video broadcast shall
remain on the Internet Web site for at least three years. Providing a
link on the Internet Web site to the recording of the live audio or
video broadcast shall satisfy this requirement.
  SEC. 3.  Section 5103.5 is added to the Business and Professions
Code, to read:
   5103.5.   (a)    The board shall post on its
Internet Web site, in an easily marked and identifiable location,
notice of all formal accusations. The notice of any formal accusation
shall contain a link to where a  consumer can  
person may  request and have sent to him or her a copy of the
formal  accusation , including   accusation, and
 the basis for the accusation and alleged violations filed by
the board against a licensee. 
   (b) The link to where a person may request and have sent to him or
her a copy of the formal accusation shall be clearly and
conspicuously located on the same Internet Web site page on which the
notice is posted and shall authorize a person to request and receive
the information described in subdivision (a) by regular mail or
electronic mail.