SEC. 73-33-5. Powers and duties of board; examinations; standards of practice.
The Mississippi State Board of Public Accountancy is hereby authorized with the following powers and duties:
(a) To adopt a seal;
(b) To govern its proceedings;
(c) To set the fees and to regulate the time, manner and place of conducting examinations to be held under this chapter. Beginning February 1, 1995, a total of one hundred fifty (150) collegiate-level semester hours of education including a baccalaureate degree or its equivalent at a college or university acceptable to the board shall be required in order to sit for the examination by candidates who have not previously sat for the examination. The total education program shall include an accounting concentration or the equivalent as determined by the board to be appropriate by rules and regulations. The examination shall cover a knowledge of the "theory of accounts," "accounting practice," "auditing," "business law as affecting accountancy," and such other branches of knowledge pertaining to accountancy as the board may deem proper;
(d) To initiate investigations of certified public accountant practices;
(e) To notify applicants who have failed an examination within one hundred twenty (120) days of such failure and in what branch or branches deficiency was found;
(f) To adopt and enforce such rules and regulations concerning certified public accountant examinee and licensee qualifications and practices as the board considers necessary to maintain the highest standard of proficiency in the profession of certified public accounting and for the protection of the public interest. The standards of practice by certified public accountants shall include generally accepted auditing and accounting standards as promulgated by the Mississippi State Board of Public Accountancy;
(g) To issue certificates under the signature and the official seal of the board as provided in this chapter;
(h) To issue licenses to practice public accounting to any certified public accountant who has obtained a certificate or reciprocal certificate issued by the board pursuant to such rules and regulations as may be promulgated by the board;
(i) To employ personnel;
(j) To contract for services and rent; and
(k) To adopt and enforce all such rules and regulations as shall be necessary for the administration of this chapter; provided, however, no adoption or modification of any rules or regulations of the board shall become effective unless any final action of the board approving such adoption or modification shall occur at a time and place which is open to the public and for which notice by mail of such time and place and the rules and/or regulations proposed to be adopted or modified has been given at least thirty (30) days prior thereto to every person who is licensed and registered with the board.
SOURCES: Codes, Hemingway's 1921 Supp. Sec. 6661c; 1930, Sec. 5913; 1942, Sec. 8907; Laws, 1920, ch. 211; 1981, ch. 445, Sec. 2; reenacted and amended, 1983, ch. 411 Sec. 3; 1990, ch. 322, Sec. 1; reenacted, 1991, ch. 306, Sec. 3, eff from and after July 1, 1991.
1997 Amendment
SECTION 57. Section 73-33-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
73-33-5. The Mississippi State Board of Public Accountancy is hereby authorized with the following powers and duties:
(a) To adopt a seal;
(b) To govern its proceedings;
(c) To set the fees and to regulate the time, manner and place of conducting examinations to be held under this chapter. Beginning February 1, 1995, a total of one hundred fifty (150) collegiate-level semester hours of education including a baccalaureate degree or its equivalent at a college or university acceptable to the board shall be required in order to sit for the examination by candidates who have not previously sat for the examination. The total education program shall include an accounting concentration or the equivalent as determined by the board to be appropriate by rules and regulations. The examination shall cover a knowledge of the "theory of accounts," "accounting practice," "auditing," "business law as affecting accountancy," and such other branches of knowledge pertaining to accountancy as the board may deem proper;
(d) To initiate investigations of certified public accountant practices;
(e) To notify applicants who have failed an examination within one hundred twenty (120) days of such failure and in what branch or branches deficiency was found;
(f) To adopt and enforce such rules and regulations concerning certified public accountant examinee and licensee qualifications and practices as the board considers necessary to maintain the highest standard of proficiency in the profession of certified public accounting and for the protection of the public interest. The standards of practice by certified public accountants shall include generally accepted auditing and accounting standards as promulgated by the Mississippi State Board of Public Accountancy;
(g) To issue certificates under the signature and the official seal of the board as provided in this chapter;
(h) To issue licenses to practice public accounting to any certified public accountant who has obtained a certificate or reciprocal certificate issued by the board pursuant to such rules and regulations as may be promulgated by the board;
(i) To employ personnel;
(j) To contract for services and rent; and
(k) To adopt and enforce all such rules and regulations as shall be necessary for the administration of this chapter; provided, however, no adoption or modification of any rules or regulations of the board shall become effective unless any final action of the board approving such adoption or modification shall occur at a time and place which is open to the public and for which notice by mail of such time and place and the rules and/or regulations proposed to be adopted or modified has been given at least thirty (30) days prior thereto to every person who is licensed and registered with the board.
Each application or filing made under this section shall include the Social Security number(s) of the applicant in accordance with Section 93-11-64, Mississippi Code of 1972.
SOURCE: 1997 Laws, Chapter 588, Sec. 57, SB2164, Effective July 1, 1997.
Note: 1997 Laws, Chapter 588, Sec. 150, states as follows:
SECTION 150. Any person or entity shall be absolutely immune from any liability arising from compliance with the dictates of this act unless such conduct by the person or entity is willful and intentional.