TITLE 22.EXAMINING BOARDS

Part 22. TEXAS STATE BOARD OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTANCY

Chapter 527. QUALITY REVIEW

22 TAC §527.4

The Texas State Board of Public Accountancy (Board) proposes an amendment to §527.4 concerning Quality Review Program.

The amendment to §527.4 will clarify that the Board requires a quality review every three years or sooner if the quality review organization so requires, adopts "system reviews and engagement reviews" as promulgated by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and does not recognize "report reviews" as promulgated by the AICPA.

William Treacy, Executive Director of the Board, has determined that for the first five-year period the proposed amendment will be in effect:

A. The additional estimated cost to the state expected as a result of enforcing or administering the rule will be zero because the amendment does not impose an additional burden to anyone.

B. The estimated reductions in costs to the state and to local governments as a result of enforcing or administering the rule will be zero because the amendment does not impose an additional burden to anyone.

C. The estimated loss or increase in revenue to the state as a result of enforcing or administering the rule will be zero because the amendment does not impose an additional burden to anyone.

Mr. Treacy has determined that for the first five-year period the amendment is in effect the public benefits expected as a result of adoption of the proposed amendment will be that the rule will clarify that the Board requires a quality review every three years or sooner, that "system reviews and engagements reviews" will be adopted but "report reviews" will not be adopted.

The probable economic cost to persons required to comply with the rule will be zero because the amendment does not impose an additional burden to anyone.

Mr. Treacy has determined that a Local Employment Impact Statement is not required because the amendment does not impose an additional burden to anyone.

The Board requests comments on the substance and effect of the proposed amendment from any interested person. Comments must be received at the Board no later than noon on August 25, 2000. Comments should be addressed to Amanda G. Birrell, General Counsel, Texas State Board of Public Accountancy, 333 Guadalupe, Tower III, Suite 900, Austin, Texas, 78701 or faxed to her attention at (512) 305-7854.

Mr. Treacy has determined that the proposed rule will not have an adverse economic effect on small businesses because the amendment requires nothing of anyone or of any small businesses. The Board specifically invites comments from the public on the issues of whether or not the proposed rule will have an adverse economic effect on small business; if the rule is believed to have such an effect, then how may the Board legally and feasibly reduce that effect considering the purpose of the statute under which the rule is to be adopted; and if the rule is believed to have such an effect, how the cost of compliance for a small business compares with the cost of compliance for the largest business affected by the rule under any of the following standards: (a) cost per employee; (b) cost for each hour of labor; or (c) cost for each $100 of sales. See Texas Government Code, §2006.002(c).

The amendment is adopted under the Public Accountancy Act, Texas Occupations Code, §901.151 (Vernon 1999) which authorizes the Board to adopt rules deemed necessary or advisable to effectuate the Act.

No other article, statute or code is affected by this proposed amendment.

§527.4.Quality Review Program

The following operations of the program shall be conducted by the board. This section shall not require any firm to become a member of any sponsoring organization.

(1)

(No change.)

(2)

Operation.

(A)

Each firm registered with the board shall enroll in the program of an approved sponsoring organization in accordance with paragraph (6) of this section within one year from its initial licensing date or the performance of services that require a review. The firm shall adopt the review due date assigned by the sponsoring organization, and must notify the board of the date within 30 days of its assignment. In addition, the firm shall schedule and begin an additional review within three years of the previous review's due date, or earlier as may be required by the sponsoring organization.

(B)

(No change.)

(3)

Standards [ Minimum standards ]. The board [ hereby ] adopts system reviews and engagement reviews described in "Standards for Performing and Reporting on Peer Reviews" promulgated by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Inc., as its minimum standards for review of firms. The board does not recognize "report reviews" performed under the AICPA Standards.

(4)-(10)

(No change.)

This agency hereby certifies that the proposal has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be within the agency's legal authority to adopt.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State, on July 21, 2000.

TRD-200005021

William Treacy

Executive Director

Texas State Board of Public Accountancy

Earliest possible date of adoption: September 3, 2000

For further information, please call: (512) 305-7848