§74. State Board of Certified Public Accountants of Louisiana; powers and duties

A. There is hereby created as a state agency within the office of the governor the State Board of Certified Public Accountants of Louisiana which shall administer and enforce this Part and be domiciled in the city of New Orleans.

B.(1) The board shall consist of seven members appointed by the governor, all of whom shall be residents of this state and holders of valid licenses. Each appointment shall be made from a list of three or more names submitted to the governor by the Society of Louisiana Certified Public Accountants or its successor.

(2) Three members of the board shall be residents of the area comprising the parishes of Ascension, Assumption, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Jefferson, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, Point Coupee, St. Charles, St. Bernard, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Helena, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, Washington, West Baton Rouge, and West Feliciana.

(3) Two members of the board shall be residents of the area comprising the parishes of Acadia, Allen, Avoyelles, Beauregard, Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Calcasieu, Caldwell, Cameron, Catahoula, Claiborne, Concordia, DeSoto, East Carroll, Evangeline, Franklin, Grant, Iberia, Jackson, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, LaSalle, Lincoln, Madison, Morehouse, Natchitoches, Ouachita, Rapides, Red River, Richland, Sabine, St. Landry, St. Martin, Tensas, Union, Vernon, Vermilion, Webster, West Carroll, and Winn.

(4) Two members of the board shall be appointed from the state at large.

C.(1) Each appointment by the governor shall be submitted to the Senate for confirmation and each member of the board shall serve at the pleasure of the governor. Vacancies occurring on the board shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment was made.

(2) Any member of the board whose certificate is revoked or suspended pursuant to the provisions of this Part shall automatically cease to be a member of the board as of the date of revocation or suspension.

(3) Each member of the board shall, within thirty days of such member's appointment, subscribe to an oath, before any person authorized to administer oaths in the state, to faithfully and impartially perform the duties of the office. Such oaths shall be filed with the secretary of state.

D. The governor shall designate a chair of the board. The board shall annually elect from its members such other officers as the board may determine to be appropriate.

E.(1) The board shall meet at such times and places as may be fixed by the board. Meetings of the board shall be open to the public except as provided with regard to investigations pursuant to R.S. 37:80 or hearings pursuant to R.S. 37:81 and except as may be necessary to protect information that is required to be kept confidential by board rules or by the laws of this state.

(2) A majority of the board members then in office shall constitute a quorum at any meeting duly called.

(3) The board shall have a seal which shall be judicially noticed.

(4) The board shall retain or arrange for the retention of such applications and documents under oath that are filed with the board, as well as all records of its proceedings as required by law or regulation. The board shall maintain a registry of the names and addresses of all licensees and all certificates and permits issued by the board. In any civil or criminal court proceeding arising out of or founded upon any provision of this Part, copies of any records certified as true copies under the seal of the board shall be admissible in evidence as tending to prove the contents of the records.

(5) The board shall take appropriate administrative actions to regulate holders of a certificate and permits and enforce the provisions of this Part.

F. The members of the board shall receive monthly compensation in an amount to be fixed by the board for the time expended by such members in the discharge of their official duties. The compensation of the board officers shall not exceed the sum of two hundred fifty dollars per month per officer. The compensation of other members of the board shall not exceed the sum of two hundred dollars per month per member. Such expenses shall be paid out of the treasury of the board. No expenses incurred by the board shall be charged to or against the funds of this state.

G.(1) The board may employ an executive director and such other personnel as it deems necessary in its administration and enforcement of this Part.

(2) The board may appoint or employ such committees or persons to advise or assist it in such administration and enforcement as it may see fit.

(3) The board may retain its own counsel to advise and assist it.

(4) The board may incur all necessary and proper expenses.

(5) The board may authorize any member of the board or any of its agents or employees to make any affidavit necessary to the issuance of any injunction or other legal process authorized by this Part or the rules of the board.

H.(1) The board may take all action that is necessary and proper to effectuate the purposes of this Part, including the power to sue and be sued in its official name as an agency of this state.

(2) The board shall have the power to issue subpoenas to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of documents, to administer oaths, to take testimony, and receive evidence concerning all matters within the scope of this Part, and to cooperate with the appropriate state and federal regulatory authorities having jurisdiction over the conduct in question in investigation and enforcement concerning violations of this Part and comparable acts of other states. The board shall have the power to cooperate in enforcement with appropriate foreign regulatory authorities, which grant substantially equivalent foreign designations under R.S. 37:76(G), in instances which have or may result in criminal conviction, loss of license or suspension, admonishment or censure.

(3) The board may invoke the aid of any court or other appropriate regulatory agency in the case of disobedience of a subpoena in requiring the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of documentary evidence.

I. The board, its members, and its agents shall be immune from personal liability for actions taken in good faith in the discharge of the board's responsibilities. The state shall hold the board, its members, and its agents harmless from all costs, damages, and attorney fees arising from claims and suits against them with respect to matters to which such immunity applies.

J. The board may adopt rules in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act, governing its administration and enforcement of the provisions of this Part and the conduct of holders of a certificate, license, or permit including but not limited to rules governing:

(1) The board's meetings and the conduct of its business.

(2) The procedure governing the conduct of investigations and hearings by the board.

(3) The educational and experience qualifications required for the issuance of certificates and the continuing professional education required for renewal of active certificates as provided for in R.S. 37:76.

(4) Professional conduct directed to controlling the quality and probity of services by holders of a certificate and permits including but not limited to those dealing with independence, integrity, and objectivity, competence and technical standards, responsibilities to the public, and responsibilities to clients.

(5) The manner and circumstances of use of the titles "certified public accountant", "public accountant", "PA", and "CPA".

(6) Peer review that may be required to be performed under the provisions of this Part.

(7) Substantial equivalency.

(8) Any other issues as are necessary or appropriate for the implementation, administration, and enforcement of the provisions and purposes of this Part.

Acts 1979, No. 510, §1; Acts 1999, No. 473, §1, eff. June 18, 1999; Acts 2001, No. 8, §12, eff. July 1, 2001; Acts 2006, No. 214, §1; Acts 2016, No. 553, §1.