S04935-A

                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________

                                         4935--A

                               2003-2004 Regular Sessions

                    IN SENATE

                                     April 30, 2003
                                       ___________

        Introduced  by  Sen. LAVALLE -- (at request of the Education Department)
          -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to
          the Committee on Higher Education -- recommitted to the  Committee  on
          Higher Education in accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8 -- committee
          discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted
          to said committee

        AN  ACT  to  amend the education law, the state finance law, the limited
          liability company law and the partnership  law,  in  relation  to  the
          practice of public accountancy

          The  People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:

     1    Section 1. Section 7401 of the education law, as  amended  by  chapter
     2  994 of the laws of 1971, is amended to read as follows:
     3    § 7401. Definition of practice of public accountancy.  1. The practice
     4  of  the  profession  of  public accountancy is defined as [holding one's
     5  self out to the public, in consideration of compensation received or  to
     6  be  received,  offering  to  perform  or  performing  for other persons,
     7  services which involve signing, delivering or issuing or causing  to  be
     8  signed,  delivered or issued any financial, accounting or related state-
     9  ment or any opinion on, report on, or certificate to such statement  if,
    10  by  reason  of  the signature, or the stationery or wording employed, or
    11  otherwise, it is indicated or implied that the practitioner has acted or
    12  is acting, in relation to said financial, accounting or  related  state-
    13  ment,  or  reporting  as  an  independent accountant or auditor or as an
    14  individual having or purporting to have expert knowledge  in  accounting
    15  or auditing]:
    16    a.  offering  to  perform  or  performing  attest  and/or  compilation
    17  services, as defined in section seventy-four hundred one-a of this arti-
    18  cle;
    19    b. as an incident to the services described in  paragraph  a  of  this
    20  subdivision,  rendering services to clients, including employers, in any

         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD13772-04-4

        S. 4935--A                          2

     1  or all matters relating to accounting concepts  and  to  the  recording,
     2  presentation, or certification of financial information or data; or
     3    c.  offering  to  perform  or performing for other persons one or more
     4  types of services, exclusive of services within paragraphs a  and  b  of
     5  this  subdivision, involving the use of professional skills or competen-
     6  cies  of  the  licensed  accountant,  including  professional   services
     7  rendered to one's employer.
     8    2.  Any  person  not  licensed pursuant to this article, and any other
     9  legal entity not registered pursuant to  this  article,  may  offer  the
    10  services  set forth in paragraph c of subdivision one of this section if
    11  the person or other legal entity does not hold itself out as a certified
    12  public accountant or public accountant or a firm authorized to  practice
    13  public accountancy under this article, or otherwise solicit or advertise
    14  for  clients  using  a "CPA" or "PA" designation or other similar desig-
    15  nation in violation of subdivision two of section  seventy-four  hundred
    16  eight of this article.
    17    §  2.  The  education law is amended by adding a new section 7401-a to
    18  read as follows:
    19    § 7401-a. Definitions. As used in this article:
    20    1. "Attest" means providing the following public accountancy  services
    21  which all require the independence of licensees:
    22    a.  any  audit  to  be performed in accordance with generally accepted
    23  auditing standards or other similar standards, developed by a recognized
    24  international or national professional  accountancy  organization,  that
    25  are  acceptable  to the department in accordance with the commissioner's
    26  regulations;
    27    b. any review of a financial statement to be performed  in  accordance
    28  with  standards,  developed  by  a  recognized international or national
    29  professional  accountancy  organization,  that  are  acceptable  to  the
    30  department in accordance with the commissioner's regulations; or
    31    c.  any  attestation  engagement  to  be  performed in accordance with
    32  attestation  standards  developed  by  a  recognized  international   or
    33  national  professional  accountancy organization, that are acceptable to
    34  the department in accordance with the commissioner's regulations.
    35    2. "Certified public accountant" means any person who has  received  a
    36  license  from  the  department  as a certified public accountant for the
    37  practice of public accountancy.
    38    3. "Compilation" means providing a service that presents, in the  form
    39  of  financial  statements, information that is the representation of the
    40  management or owners of the client without undertaking  to  express  any
    41  assurance  of  the  accuracy of the information in the statements, to be
    42  performed in accordance with standards, developed by a recognized inter-
    43  national or national professional  accountancy  organization,  that  are
    44  acceptable to the department in accordance with the commissioner's regu-
    45  lations.
    46    4.  "Firm"  means a sole proprietorship, a professional service corpo-
    47  ration, a partnership, a professional service limited liability company,
    48  a foreign professional service limited liability company,  a  registered
    49  limited  liability  partnership,  a  New York registered foreign limited
    50  partnership, or any other form of organization that is lawfully  engaged
    51  in the practice of public accountancy.
    52    5. "Principal place of business in New York" means that a person main-
    53  tains  an  actual place of business in this state or provides or reason-
    54  ably expects that he or she may  provide,  more  hours  of  professional
    55  services  to  clients  within  this  state, including employers, than to
    56  clients in any other single jurisdiction outside  of  this  state  or  a

        S. 4935--A                          3

     1  substantially  equal  number of hours in all jurisdictions. A person who
     2  actually provided more hours of professional services to clients in this
     3  state in the prior calendar year than  in  any  other  jurisdiction  and
     4  maintains an actual place of business in this state in the current year,
     5  shall be deemed to continue to have a principal place of business in New
     6  York during such current year.
     7    6. "Principal place of business is not in this state" means not having
     8  a  principal  place  of  business in New York, as defined in subdivision
     9  five of this section.
    10    7. "Public accountant" means any person who  has  received  a  license
    11  from the department for the practice of public accountancy.
    12    §  3.  Section 7402 of the education law, as amended by chapter 994 of
    13  the laws of 1971, is amended to read as follows:
    14    § 7402. Practice of public accountancy and  use  of  title  "certified
    15  public accountant" or "public accountant".  1. Only a person licensed or
    16  otherwise  authorized  to  practice  under  this  article shall practice
    17  public accountancy and use the title "certified  public  accountant"  or
    18  the  designation  ["C.P.A."]  "CPA"  or "public accountant" or any other
    19  derivative or designation provided in section seventy-four hundred eight
    20  of this article.
    21    2.  Except  as  otherwise  specifically  authorized  pursuant  to  the
    22  provisions  of  subdivision  two  of section seventy-four hundred one of
    23  this article, only  a certified public accountant or  public  accountant
    24  or  person  otherwise  authorized  or  exempted pursuant to this article
    25  shall engage in the practice of public accountancy as defined  in  para-
    26  graphs a and b of subdivision one of section seventy-four hundred one of
    27  this article, provided that such person may engage in such practice in a
    28  firm  registered  pursuant to section seventy-four hundred eight of this
    29  article.
    30    § 4. Section 7408 of the education law, as added by chapter 987 of the
    31  laws of 1971, the opening paragraph of subdivision 1 and  subdivision  2
    32  as amended by chapter 994 of the laws of 1971, and paragraph e of subdi-
    33  vision  1  as  amended  by chapter 62 of the laws of 1989, is amended to
    34  read as follows:
    35    § 7408. Special provisions.   1. Nothing  contained  in  this  article
    36  shall  be deemed to prohibit two or more certified public accountants or
    37  two or more public accountants, or any combination thereof, from forming
    38  a [partnership; provided, however, that no partnership] firm.
    39    2.   No firm shall use the  words  "certified  public  accountant"  or
    40  "certified  public  accountants"  or  the  letters ["C.P.A.'s"] "CPA" or
    41  "CPAs" in connection with its name unless the sole  proprietor  or  each
    42  partner,  member  or shareholder of such [partnership] firm, resident or
    43  engaged within the United States in practice is in good  standing  as  a
    44  certified  public  accountant  of one or more of the states or political
    45  subdivisions of the United States, and the sole proprietor or each part-
    46  ner, member or shareholder thereof  [resident  or  engaged  in  practice
    47  within]  whose  principal  place of business is in the state is licensed
    48  under this article.
    49    a. A registration shall be issued to a [partnership] firm upon payment
    50  of the fee prescribed by the commissioner upon application showing that:
    51    (1) At least one partner, member or shareholder of such  [partnership]
    52  firm  or  the sole proprietorship is licensed under this article and his
    53  or her license to practice  is  not  currently  suspended,  annulled  or
    54  revoked  in any jurisdiction and he or she is regularly engaged in prac-
    55  tice on behalf of the [partnership] firm within the state;

        S. 4935--A                          4

     1    (2) The [partnership] firm, other than a sole proprietorship, consists
     2  of at least two present [members]  partners,  members  or  shareholders;
     3  [and]
     4    (3)  The  [partnership] firm other than a sole proprietorship contains
     5  at least as many present partners, members or shareholders as the  total
     6  number of names in the firm name, or, where the word "company" or abbre-
     7  viation "co." is used, the number of present partners, members or share-
     8  holders shall be greater than the number of names in the firm name[.];
     9    (4)  Such  application  includes a list of the location of all offices
    10  within this state, including the names of the persons in charge of  such
    11  offices; and
    12    (5) Such application includes a list of all states or jurisdictions in
    13  which  the  firm  has  applied  for or holds registrations, licenses, or
    14  permits as a public accounting firm and a list of any past denial, revo-
    15  cation, or suspension of a registration or permit by any other state  or
    16  jurisdiction.
    17    b.  [Such registration may be revoked] The board of regents may revoke
    18  such registration or take other  disciplinary  action  after  a  hearing
    19  conducted  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  section sixty-five
    20  hundred ten of this title in the same manner and to the same  extent  as
    21  is  provided with respect to individuals licensed pursuant to this arti-
    22  cle, or upon proof:
    23    (1) That the registration was obtained by either misrepresentation  or
    24  suppression of any material fact;
    25    (2)  That  disciplinary action has been sustained by a duly authorized
    26  professional disciplinary agency in any jurisdiction against the license
    27  or authorization to practice of any partner [is suspended,  annulled  or
    28  revoked in any jurisdiction], sole proprietor, member or shareholder;
    29    (3) That any partner, sole proprietor, member or shareholder in such a
    30  [partnership]  firm  is  or  has  been engaged in the practice of public
    31  accountancy in this state who is not licensed in this state; [or]
    32    (4) That the [partnership] firm failed to file the  written  notifica-
    33  tion  required  pursuant  to  paragraph  d  of this subdivision [of this
    34  section.]; or
    35    (5) That the firm failed to undergo a review of its attest or compila-
    36  tion services pursuant to section seventy-four hundred ten of this arti-
    37  cle at least once every three years.
    38    c. Personal service on any general partner, sole proprietor, member or
    39  shareholder of a notice of hearing to revoke [a partnership] the  regis-
    40  tration of, or take other disciplinary action against, a firm registered
    41  hereunder shall be deemed service on the [partnership] firm.
    42    d.  A  [partnership]  firm  registered  to  practice  pursuant to this
    43  section shall file with the department annually on or before [July first
    44  of each year] the anniversary of the date of the firm's first  registra-
    45  tion written notification of:
    46    (1) Any admission of a partner, member or shareholder,
    47    (2)  Any resignation, termination, retirement or death of a partner or
    48  member or shareholder,
    49    (3) Any termination of [partnership] a firm, [or]
    50    (4) Any change in the number or location of offices within this  state
    51  and any change in the identity of the persons in charge of such offices,
    52  or
    53    (5)  Any occurrence of any event or events which would eliminate as to
    54  such [partnership] firm conformity with the applicable  requirements  of
    55  this section.

        S. 4935--A                          5

     1    e.  [Partnerships]  Firms shall register triennially [and pay a fee of
     2  fifty dollars].
     3    3.  a.  No  firm shall engage in the practice of public accountancy as
     4  defined in subdivision one of section seventy-four hundred one  of  this
     5  article  or  use  the title "CPA" or "CPA firm" or the title "PA" or the
     6  title "PA firm" without a registration from the department. As a  condi-
     7  tion  of registration or renewal, the firm shall demonstrate that it has
     8  complied with the provisions of this article, any other applicable  laws
     9  and  such  other  requirements  as the department may impose, consistent
    10  with this article, except that the provisions  of  section  seventy-four
    11  hundred ten of this article shall not apply on initial registration.
    12    b.  The  commissioner  shall  establish  in regulations a registration
    13  process for certified public accountancy firms  and  public  accountancy
    14  firms, including the imposition of application and registration fees and
    15  procedures  to  suspend or revoke a registration or take other discipli-
    16  nary action for cause.
    17    [2] 4.  Any person shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor who  shall
    18  use,  in  connection  with the practice of public accountancy, or in any
    19  manner tending to imply that he is an independent accountant or auditor,
    20  the designations "chartered accountant", "certified accountant", "expert
    21  accountant", "certified tax  accountant",  "tax  accountant",  "enrolled
    22  accountant",  "enrolled  public  accountant",  "registered  accountant",
    23  "licensed accountant",  "incorporated  accountant",  "registered  public
    24  accountant",  "licensed public accountant", or any abbreviation thereof,
    25  or the letters  "C.A.",  "E.A.",  "C.T.A.",  "T.A.",  "E.P.A.",  "R.A.",
    26  "L.A.", "I.A.", "P.A.", "R.P.A.", or, "L.P.A.", except as provided else-
    27  where in this article, or any other designation tending to imply that he
    28  or  she  has  expert  knowledge  in  accounting  or  auditing. The title
    29  "enrolled agent" or the designation "E.A." may only be used by  individ-
    30  uals so designated by the United States internal revenue service.
    31    § 5. Section 7409 of the education law, as added by chapter 805 of the
    32  laws of 1990, is amended to read as follows:
    33    § 7409. Mandatory  continuing  education.  1.   [(a)] a. Each licensed
    34  certified public accountant and public accountant required under article
    35  one hundred thirty of this [chapter] title to register triennially  with
    36  the department to practice in the state shall comply with the provisions
    37  of  the  mandatory continuing education requirements except as set forth
    38  in [paragraphs (b) and (c)] paragraph b of this  subdivision.  Certified
    39  public  accountants and public accountants who do not satisfy the manda-
    40  tory continuing education requirements shall  not  practice  until  they
    41  have met such requirements, they have paid all applicable fees, and they
    42  have been issued a registration or conditional registration certificate.
    43    [(b)]  b. Certified public accountants and public accountants shall be
    44  exempt from the  mandatory  continuing  education  requirement  for  the
    45  triennial  registration  period during which they are first licensed. In
    46  accordance with the intent of this section, adjustments to the mandatory
    47  continuing education requirement may be granted by  the  department  for
    48  reasons  of  health  certified  by a physician, for extended active duty
    49  with armed forces of the United States, or for other good cause accepta-
    50  ble to the department which may prevent compliance.
    51    [(c) A licensed certified public accountant and  a  public  accountant
    52  not  engaged in public practice as an individual practitioner, a partner
    53  of a partnership, a shareholder of a professional  service  corporation,
    54  or an employee of such practice units, shall be exempt from the mandato-
    55  ry continuing education requirement and payment of the mandatory contin-
    56  uing  education  fee  upon the filing of a statement with the department

        S. 4935--A                          6

     1  declaring such status. Any licensee who returns to the  public  practice
     2  of  certified public accountancy or public accountancy during the trien-
     3  nial registration period shall notify the department prior to reentering
     4  the  profession and shall pay the current mandatory continuing education
     5  fee and shall meet such mandatory continuing education  requirements  as
     6  shall be prescribed by regulations of the commissioner.]
     7    2.  a. During each year of the triennial registration period beginning
     8  September first, [nineteen hundred ninety and ending  September  first,]
     9  nineteen  hundred  ninety-three  and each registration period thereafter
    10  ending December thirty-first, two thousand four, an applicant for regis-
    11  tration shall have the option of [(a)] (1) completing a minimum of forty
    12  contact hours of acceptable formal continuing  education  in  recognized
    13  areas of study, or [(b)] (2) completing a minimum of twenty-four contact
    14  hours  of acceptable formal continuing education concentrated in any one
    15  of the following three subject areas: auditing, accounting, or taxation.
    16    b.   For applicants whose triennial registration  date  occurs  on  or
    17  after January first, two thousand five, for each calendar year beginning
    18  with  the two thousand five calendar year, an applicant for registration
    19  shall have the option of (1) completing a minimum of forty contact hours
    20  of acceptable formal continuing education in recognized areas of  study,
    21  or  (2)  completing a minimum of twenty-four contact hours of acceptable
    22  formal continuing education concentrated in any one of  such  recognized
    23  areas of study; provided, however, that any continuing education contact
    24  hours  earned  between  September  first, two thousand four and December
    25  thirty-first, two thousand four  may  be  credited  toward  the  minimum
    26  contact  hours  required  for the calendar year beginning January first,
    27  two thousand five.
    28    c. A licensee who has not satisfied the mandatory continuing education
    29  requirements shall not be issued a triennial registration certificate by
    30  the department and shall not practice unless  and  until  a  conditional
    31  registration  certificate  is issued as provided in subdivision three of
    32  this section. No hourly credits may be transferred from one  year  to  a
    33  subsequent  year, except as provided in paragraph b of this subdivision.
    34  The individual licensee shall determine  the  selection  of  courses  or
    35  programs of study pursuant to subdivision four of this section.
    36    3.  The  department, in its discretion, may issue a conditional regis-
    37  tration to a  licensee  who  fails  to  meet  the  continuing  education
    38  requirements  established  in  subdivision  two  of this section but who
    39  agrees to make up any deficiencies and  take  any  additional  education
    40  which  the department may require. The fee for such a conditional regis-
    41  tration shall be the same as, and in addition to, the fee for the trien-
    42  nial registration. The duration of such conditional  registration  shall
    43  be  determined  by  the  department. Any licensee who is notified of the
    44  denial of registration for failure to submit evidence,  satisfactory  to
    45  the  department,  of  required  continuing  education  and who practices
    46  public accountancy without such registration, may be subject  to  disci-
    47  plinary  proceedings  pursuant to section [six thousand five] sixty-five
    48  hundred ten of this [chapter] title.
    49    4. As used in subdivision two  of  this  section,  "acceptable  formal
    50  continuing  education"  shall  mean  formal  programs  of learning which
    51  contribute to professional practice and the growth in  the  professional
    52  knowledge  and  professional  competence and ethics of the licensee, and
    53  which meet the standards prescribed by regulations of the  commissioner.
    54  Recognized  areas of study shall include but not be limited to: account-
    55  ing, auditing, taxation, advisory services,  specialized  knowledge  and
    56  applications  related to specialized industries, and such other [techni-

        S. 4935--A                          7

     1  cal] areas appropriately related to the practice of accounting as may be
     2  acceptable to the department. To fulfill the mandatory continuing educa-
     3  tion requirement, programs must be taken from sponsors approved  by  the
     4  department, pursuant to the regulations of the commissioner.
     5    5.  The  mandatory continuing education fee shall be determined by the
     6  regents, shall be payable on or before the first day of  each  triennial
     7  registration  period,  and  shall  be  paid in addition to the triennial
     8  registration fee required by section [seven thousand four]  seventy-four
     9  hundred four of this article.
    10    §  6.  The  education law is amended by adding five new sections 7410,
    11  7411, 7412, 7413 and 7414 to read as follows:
    12    § 7410. Mandatory quality review of firms. 1. a.  As  a  condition  of
    13  initial  registration, a firm shall submit to the department a satisfac-
    14  tory quality review report of its attest and compilation services, which
    15  has been conducted in accordance with a quality review program  approved
    16  by  the department within three years immediately preceding the applica-
    17  tion, unless exempted under paragraph f of  subdivision  three  of  this
    18  section.
    19    b.  As  a condition for renewing the registration of a firm registered
    20  in this state, the department shall require the firm to undergo a quali-
    21  ty review in accordance with this  section  at  least  once  during  the
    22  three-year period preceding the application for renewal, unless exempted
    23  by  the  department.  The  quality review shall be conducted by a review
    24  team approved by the department, which shall  consist  of  one  or  more
    25  certified  public  accountants  in  good standing, be independent of the
    26  firm reviewed, and possess such other qualifications as  established  by
    27  the  department.  The department may authorize a recognized statewide or
    28  national professional  accounting  organization,  or  other  appropriate
    29  third  party,  as  defined  in  the  regulations of the commissioner, to
    30  administer the quality review. Approved reviewers shall file the quality
    31  or system review report, and related documents such  as  any  letter  of
    32  comments, letter of response and monitoring and inspection reports, with
    33  the  department  in  a  manner  that is identified in regulations of the
    34  commissioner.
    35    2. A firm shall undergo a quality review  pursuant  to  standards  and
    36  procedures approved by the state board to determine, verify and report:
    37    a.  On the degree of compliance of the firm in performing under gener-
    38  ally accepted auditing standards, and other similarly recognized techni-
    39  cal standards, and
    40    b. On the competence of those licensed individuals  in  the  firm  who
    41  supervise  attest  and  compilation  services  and sign or authorize any
    42  individual in the firm to sign reports of financial statements on behalf
    43  of the firm.
    44    3. The standards for quality reviews  promulgated  by  the  department
    45  shall include, at a minimum, procedures for:
    46    a. selecting and training, if necessary, qualified reviewers;
    47    b.  developing criteria for assignment of reviewers to specific quali-
    48  ty reviews;
    49    c. ensuring the independence and impartiality of the reviewer;
    50    d.  evaluating  the findings of the reviewer by the state board, which
    51  may accept in whole or in part, reject in whole or in  part,  or  remand
    52  the findings of the reviewer;
    53    e.    recommending  that  firms or licensed individuals who are not in
    54  compliance with state laws, rules or regulations or  applicable  profes-
    55  sional  standards  and  practice  be sanctioned through referrals of the
    56  matter to the department for appropriate disciplinary action;

        S. 4935--A                          8

     1    f. developing grounds for exemption from the requirement to undergo  a
     2  quality review;
     3    g.  relying  on  the  results and findings of quality reviews of firms
     4  conducted in accordance with quality review requirements of  the  United
     5  States securities exchange commission, federal general accounting office
     6  or  other appropriate third party which the department may deem substan-
     7  tially equivalent to the requirements of this section; and
     8    h. ensuring that all records and files relating to  a  quality  review
     9  are confidential except as provided in subdivision five of this section.
    10    4.  The  standards  of  quality  reviews promulgated by the department
    11  shall also include criteria for assessment of quality reviews by a qual-
    12  ity review oversight committee of the  state  board,  appointed  by  the
    13  board of regents, which shall be authorized to refer appropriate quality
    14  reviews to the department for disciplinary action.
    15    5.  Notwithstanding  any provision of law to the contrary, the records
    16  submitted by a firm in accordance with this section, and the comments of
    17  reviewers, the oversight committee or the state  board  in  relation  to
    18  reports  submitted  by  firms  shall be confidential; provided, however,
    19  that the quality or system  review  report  shall  constitute  a  public
    20  record  and  shall be subject to disclosure under articles six and six-a
    21  of the public officers law.
    22    § 7411. Substantial equivalency; temporary practice and discipline for
    23  out-of-state practice. 1.  Substantial  equivalency.  a.  An  individual
    24  whose  principal  place  of business is not in this state having a valid
    25  certificate or license as a certified public accountant from  any  state
    26  or  jurisdiction which the department has verified to have substantially
    27  equivalent  certified  public  accountant  licensure  requirements,   as
    28  defined  in  the  regulations  of the commissioner, shall be presumed to
    29  have qualifications substantially equivalent to New York's  requirements
    30  and shall have all the privileges of licensees of this state without the
    31  need to obtain a license under section seventy-four hundred four of this
    32  article  for  a  one-year  period upon filing of the annual notification
    33  required in this subdivision, unless such privilege is rejected pursuant
    34  to paragraph c of this  subdivision.  Such  individuals  shall  annually
    35  notify  the  department  of  their  intent  to perform public accountant
    36  services in this state under this section and pay a notification fee  in
    37  accordance with the regulations of the commissioner.
    38    b.  An  individual  whose  principal  place of business is not in this
    39  state having a valid  certificate  or  license  as  a  certified  public
    40  accountant  from  any  state or jurisdiction that the department has not
    41  verified to have substantially equivalent  certified  public  accountant
    42  licensure requirements, as defined in the regulations of the commission-
    43  er,  may  obtain from the department verification that such individual's
    44  certified public accountant licensure qualifications  are  substantially
    45  equivalent  to New York's requirements, as defined in the regulations of
    46  the commissioner. Such individuals shall annually notify the  department
    47  of their intent to perform public accountancy services in this state and
    48  shall  pay  a notification fee in accordance with the regulations of the
    49  commissioner. Upon receipt of such verification by the  department,  the
    50  individual  may  perform  the  services  defined in section seventy-four
    51  hundred one of this article and shall have all the privileges of  licen-
    52  sees  of  this  state without the need to obtain a license under section
    53  seventy-four hundred four of this article for the one-year period speci-
    54  fied in such verification. In addition, after submitting such  notifica-
    55  tion to the department, such individual may perform the services defined
    56  in  section  seventy-four hundred one of this article and shall have all

        S. 4935--A                          9

     1  privileges of licensees of this state  without  the  need  to  obtain  a
     2  license  under  section  seventy-four hundred four of this article until
     3  such time as his or her individual licensure qualifications are verified
     4  by  the department to be substantially equivalent to New York's require-
     5  ments or are rejected by  the  department  as  not  being  substantially
     6  equivalent  or  on the grounds specified in paragraph c of this subdivi-
     7  sion.
     8    c. The department may reject the privilege to practice in  this  state
     9  for  an individual who would otherwise qualify for such privilege pursu-
    10  ant to paragraph a or b of this subdivision, based  on  a  determination
    11  that  such individual lacks good moral character, his or her certificate
    12  or license to practice as a certified public accountant  in  such  other
    13  state  or  jurisdiction  is not in good standing, or such individual has
    14  been found guilty of  improper  professional  practice  or  professional
    15  misconduct  or  is  the  subject of pending disciplinary charges in such
    16  state or jurisdiction, where the conduct  upon  which  the  disciplinary
    17  action was based would, if committed in New York state, constitute prac-
    18  ticing  the  profession beyond its authorized scope, with gross incompe-
    19  tence, with gross negligence on a particular occasion,  or  with  negli-
    20  gence  or  incompetence  on more than one occasion under the laws of New
    21  York state.  Upon rejection for any reason, such individual shall  cease
    22  performing  public  accountancy  services in this state immediately upon
    23  receipt of the notice of rejection. Where the rejection is based on lack
    24  of good moral character, a certificate or license not in  good  standing
    25  or pending disciplinary charges, the individual may request a hearing to
    26  be  conducted  in  the  same  manner as a hearing on denial of a license
    27  based on lack of good moral character pursuant to the rules of the board
    28  of regents.
    29    d. Any licensee of another state or  jurisdiction  practicing  in  New
    30  York under the provisions of this subdivision shall consent, as a condi-
    31  tion  of  practicing  in  New  York  pursuant  to the provisions of this
    32  section:
    33    (1) to the personal and subject matter jurisdiction  and  disciplinary
    34  authority  of  the  department  and  the board of regents, including the
    35  imposition of any disciplinary penalty provided  in  section  sixty-five
    36  hundred  eleven  or  section  seventy-four hundred twelve of this title,
    37  including but not limited to the revocation or suspension of any  privi-
    38  lege granted under this subdivision;
    39    (2) to comply with the provisions of this chapter and the rules of the
    40  board of regents and the regulations of the commissioner relating to the
    41  practice  of public accountancy, including but not limited to continuing
    42  education requirements;
    43    (3) to provide their address of record in their state or  jurisdiction
    44  of  licensure or certification where process may be served in any action
    45  or proceeding by the department or the  board  of  regents  against  the
    46  licensee;  or,  as  an  alternative  to  the submission of an address of
    47  record, the address of the state board or the equivalent licensing  body
    48  of the state or jurisdiction which issued their license or certification
    49  and  has  been designated by such state or jurisdiction as such individ-
    50  ual's agent upon whom process may be served in any action or  proceeding
    51  against the licensee; and
    52    (4)  to  report  to  the  department  any pending disciplinary charges
    53  brought against the individual as a licensee in  public  accountancy  by
    54  another  state or other jurisdiction, and any disposition of such charg-
    55  es, within the time prescribed by the department.

        S. 4935--A                         10

     1    2. Conversion of practice privilege. An  individual  practicing  under
     2  the  provisions  of  subdivision one of this section acknowledges his or
     3  her obligation to apply for conversion  of  the  privilege  to  practice
     4  public  accountancy pursuant to this section to a New York state license
     5  within thirty days of any time such individual establishes this state as
     6  his or her principal place of business. The commissioner shall establish
     7  in  regulation  a  procedure  for converting the right to practice under
     8  subdivision one of this section to a license pursuant to section  seven-
     9  ty-four hundred four of this article.
    10    3.  Disciplinary action for out-of-state practice. Notwithstanding any
    11  other provision of law, rule or regulation to the contrary,  a  licensee
    12  of  this state offering or rendering services or using the title "certi-
    13  fied public accountant" or the designation "CPA" in another state  shall
    14  be  subject to disciplinary action in this state for an act committed in
    15  another state for which the licensee would be subject to  discipline  if
    16  he or she was a licensee of such state, or would subject the licensee to
    17  discipline  in  New  York. Notwithstanding any provision of law, rule or
    18  regulation  to  the  contrary,  the  department  shall  investigate  any
    19  complaint made by the board of accountancy of another state.
    20    4.  Temporary  practice.  An  individual  who is the holder of a valid
    21  certification or license as a certified public accountant from any state
    22  or jurisdiction and who applies to the department for  a  license  as  a
    23  certified  public  accountant under section seventy-four hundred four of
    24  this article may, after submitting  an  application  for  licensure  and
    25  after providing evidence of qualifying continuing education, perform the
    26  services  defined  in  section  seventy-four hundred one of this article
    27  until the time his or  her  application  for  licensure  is  granted  or
    28  rejected.
    29    §  7412. Penalties for professional misconduct. 1. Notwithstanding any
    30  provision of section sixty-five hundred eleven  of  this  title  to  the
    31  contrary  and  except  as  otherwise provided in subdivision two of this
    32  section, a certified public accountant or public accountant or firm that
    33  is found guilty of professional misconduct may be subject to a fine  not
    34  to  exceed  twenty  thousand  dollars  for  a licensed individual or one
    35  hundred thousand dollars for a firm, upon each specification of  charges
    36  of which the respondent is determined to be guilty.
    37    2.  Notwithstanding  any  provision  of  law  to  the contrary, if the
    38  professional misconduct involved fraud or willful or  grossly  negligent
    39  failure to comply with substantial provisions of federal, state or local
    40  laws, rules or regulations governing the practice of public accountancy,
    41  the  amount  of  fine  for each specification of professional misconduct
    42  shall not exceed the greater of fifty thousand dollars  for  a  licensed
    43  individual or two hundred fifty thousand dollars for a firm.
    44    §  7413.  Public  accountancy oversight unit. 1. There shall be estab-
    45  lished within the department a public accountancy oversight unit  which,
    46  pursuant  to  the  provisions  of  this section, shall have the duty and
    47  power to administer the admission to the practice of public  accountancy
    48  and  regulation  of  such practice, including investigating, prosecuting
    49  and making determinations of alleged violations of professional conduct.
    50    2. Notwithstanding any  other  provision  of  law,  the  commissioner,
    51  subject  to  the  approval of the board of regents, shall have power, in
    52  conformity with their rules, to appoint and at  their  pleasure,  remove
    53  from  office,  such prosecutors, investigators and other persons as they
    54  deem necessary, fix their titles, duties and  salaries  consistent  with
    55  sections one hundred three and one hundred four of this chapter.

        S. 4935--A                         11

     1    §  7414.  Public accountancy oversight account. Firm registration fees
     2  provided for in section seventy-four  hundred  eight  of  this  article,
     3  notification fees provided for in section seventy-four hundred eleven of
     4  this  article,  fines  for  professional  misconduct pursuant to section
     5  seventy-four hundred twelve of this article; and individual registration
     6  fees  provided  for in section seventy-four hundred four of this article
     7  up to an amount sufficient to support the public  accountancy  oversight
     8  unit as described in section seventy-four hundred thirteen of this arti-
     9  cle,  shall be paid into the New York state public accountancy oversight
    10  account pursuant to section ninety-nine-l of the state finance law.
    11    § 7. The state finance law is amended by adding a new section 99-l  to
    12  read as follows:
    13    § 99-l. New York state public accountancy oversight account. 1.  There
    14  is  hereby established in the custody of the comptroller, a special fund
    15  to be  known  as  the  "New  York  state  public  accountancy  oversight
    16  account".
    17    2.  The  account shall consist of all moneys received from firm regis-
    18  tration fees provided for in section seventy-four hundred eight  of  the
    19  education  law,  all moneys received from notification fees provided for
    20  in section seventy-four hundred eleven of the education law, all  moneys
    21  received  from  fines  for  professional  misconduct imposed pursuant to
    22  section seventy-four hundred twelve of the  education  law,  all  moneys
    23  transferred  to  such account pursuant to law and all moneys required by
    24  the provisions of this section or any other law to be paid into or cred-
    25  ited to such account, including all moneys received by  the  account  or
    26  donated  to  it.  Moneys in the account shall be kept separate and shall
    27  not be commingled  with  any  other  moneys  otherwise  appropriated  or
    28  received except as provided in this section.
    29    3.  Moneys  of  the  account  shall  be available to the department to
    30  support the public accountancy oversight unit as  described  in  section
    31  seventy-four hundred thirteen of the education law.
    32    4.   At the end of any fiscal year, any funds not encumbered for these
    33  purposes shall be reallocated for the following year for  the  costs  of
    34  carrying  out  the  purposes  of  article  one hundred forty-nine of the
    35  education law.
    36    5. Notwithstanding any other provision of  law  to  the  contrary,  if
    37  there  are  insufficient  funds  received  during a fiscal year from the
    38  sources designated in subdivision two of this section,  then  individual
    39  registration  fees  provided for in section seventy-four hundred four of
    40  the education law may be paid into or credited to the account up  to  an
    41  amount  sufficient  to  support the public accountancy oversight unit as
    42  certified by the commissioner of education.
    43    6. Nothing contained in this section shall prevent the  department  or
    44  the  comptroller  from  receiving  grants,  gifts  or  bequests  for the
    45  purposes of the fund as defined in this section and depositing them into
    46  the account according to law.
    47    § 8.  Subdivision (a) of section 1203 of the limited liability company
    48  law, as amended by chapter 420 of the laws of 2002, is amended  to  read
    49  as follows:
    50    (a)  notwithstanding  the education law or any other provision of law,
    51  one or more professionals each of whom is authorized by law to render  a
    52  professional  service within the state, or one or more professionals, at
    53  least one of whom is authorized by law to render a professional  service
    54  within  the  state,  may  form,  or  cause  to be formed, a professional
    55  service limited liability company for pecuniary profit under this  arti-
    56  cle for the purpose of rendering the professional service or services as

        S. 4935--A                         12

     1  such professionals are authorized to practice. With respect to a profes-
     2  sional  service  limited  liability  company  formed  to provide medical
     3  services as such services are defined in article 131  of  the  education
     4  law,  each  member  of  such  limited liability company must be licensed
     5  pursuant to article 131 of the education law  to  practice  medicine  in
     6  this  state.  With  respect  to a professional service limited liability
     7  company formed to provide dental services as such services  are  defined
     8  in article 133 of the education law, each member of such limited liabil-
     9  ity  company  must  be licensed pursuant to article 133 of the education
    10  law to practice dentistry in this state. With respect to a  professional
    11  service  limited liability company formed to provide veterinary services
    12  as such services are defined in article 135 of the education  law,  each
    13  member  of  such  limited liability company must be licensed pursuant to
    14  article 135 of the education law to practice veterinary medicine in this
    15  state. With respect to a professional service limited liability  company
    16  formed  to  provide  professional engineering, land surveying, architec-
    17  tural and/or landscape  architectural  services  as  such  services  are
    18  defined  in  article  145,  article 147 and article 148 of the education
    19  law, each member of such limited  liability  company  must  be  licensed
    20  pursuant to article 145, article 147 and/or article 148 of the education
    21  law  to  practice  one  or  more of such professions in this state. With
    22  respect to a professional service limited liability  company  formed  to
    23  provide  licensed  clinical  social  work  services as such services are
    24  defined in article 154 of the education law, each member of such limited
    25  liability company shall be licensed  pursuant  to  article  154  of  the
    26  education  law  to practice licensed clinical social work in this state.
    27  With respect to a professional service limited liability company  formed
    28  to  provide  public  accounting services as such services are defined in
    29  article 149 of the education law, each member of such limited  liability
    30  company who has a principal place of business in New York, as defined in
    31  subdivision  five of section seventy-four hundred one-a of the education
    32  law, shall be licensed pursuant to article 149 of the education  law  to
    33  practice public accountancy in this state, and all other members must be
    34  licensed and in good standing as public accountants in a duly authorized
    35  licensing  jurisdiction.  In  addition to engaging in such profession or
    36  professions, a professional service limited liability company may engage
    37  in any other business or activities as  to  which  a  limited  liability
    38  company  may  be  formed  under section two hundred one of this chapter.
    39  Notwithstanding any other provision  of  this  section,  a  professional
    40  service  limited  liability  company  (i) authorized to practice law may
    41  only engage in another profession or  business  or  activities  or  (ii)
    42  which  is  engaged in a profession or other business or activities other
    43  than law may only engage in the practice  of  law,  to  the  extent  not
    44  prohibited  by  any  other  law of this state or any rule adopted by the
    45  appropriate appellate division of the supreme  court  or  the  court  of
    46  appeals.
    47    § 9.  Subdivision (a) of section 1203 of the limited liability company
    48  law,  as separately amended by chapters 420 and 676 of the laws of 2002,
    49  is amended to read as follows:
    50    (a) Notwithstanding the education law or any other provision  of  law,
    51  one  or more professionals each of whom is authorized by law to render a
    52  professional service within the state, or one or more professionals,  at
    53  least  one of whom is authorized by law to render a professional service
    54  within the state, may form,  or  cause  to  be  formed,  a  professional
    55  service  limited liability company for pecuniary profit under this arti-
    56  cle for the purpose of rendering the professional service or services as

        S. 4935--A                         13

     1  such professionals are authorized to practice. With respect to a profes-
     2  sional service limited  liability  company  formed  to  provide  medical
     3  services  as  such  services are defined in article 131 of the education
     4  law,  each  member  of  such  limited liability company must be licensed
     5  pursuant to article 131 of the education law  to  practice  medicine  in
     6  this  state.  With  respect  to a professional service limited liability
     7  company formed to provide dental services as such services  are  defined
     8  in article 133 of the education law, each member of such limited liabil-
     9  ity  company  must  be licensed pursuant to article 133 of the education
    10  law to practice dentistry in this state. With respect to a  professional
    11  service  limited liability company formed to provide veterinary services
    12  as such services are defined in article 135 of the education  law,  each
    13  member  of  such  limited liability company must be licensed pursuant to
    14  article 135 of the education law to practice veterinary medicine in this
    15  state. With respect to a professional service limited liability  company
    16  formed  to  provide  professional engineering, land surveying, architec-
    17  tural and/or landscape  architectural  services  as  such  services  are
    18  defined  in  article  145,  article 147 and article 148 of the education
    19  law, each member of such limited  liability  company  must  be  licensed
    20  pursuant to article 145, article 147 and/or article 148 of the education
    21  law  to  practice  one  or  more of such professions in this state. With
    22  respect to a professional service limited liability  company  formed  to
    23  provide  licensed  clinical  social  work  services as such services are
    24  defined in article 154 of the education law, each member of such limited
    25  liability company shall be licensed  pursuant  to  article  154  of  the
    26  education  law  to practice licensed clinical social work in this state.
    27  With respect to a professional service limited liability company  formed
    28  to  provide  creative arts therapy services as such services are defined
    29  in article 163 of the education law, each member of such limited liabil-
    30  ity company must be licensed pursuant to article 163  of  the  education
    31  law  to  practice creative arts therapy in this state. With respect to a
    32  professional  service  limited  liability  company  formed  to   provide
    33  marriage  and  family  therapy  services as such services are defined in
    34  article 163 of the education law, each member of such limited  liability
    35  company must be licensed pursuant to article 163 of the education law to
    36  practice  marriage  and family therapy in this state.  With respect to a
    37  professional service limited liability company formed to provide  mental
    38  health  counseling  services as such services are defined in article 163
    39  of the education law, each member of such limited liability company must
    40  be licensed pursuant to article 163 of the  education  law  to  practice
    41  mental  health  counseling in this state. With respect to a professional
    42  service limited  liability  company  formed  to  provide  psychoanalysis
    43  services  as  such  services are defined in article 163 of the education
    44  law, each member of such limited  liability  company  must  be  licensed
    45  pursuant  to article 163 of the education law to practice psychoanalysis
    46  in this state.  With respect to a professional service limited liability
    47  company formed to provide public accounting services  as  such  services
    48  are  defined  in  article  149 of the education law, each member of such
    49  limited liability company who has a principal place of business  in  New
    50  York,  as  defined  in  subdivision five of section seventy-four hundred
    51  one-a of the education law, shall be licensed pursuant to article 149 of
    52  the education law to practice public accountancy in this state, and  all
    53  other  members  must be licensed and in good standing as public account-
    54  ants in a duly authorized licensing jurisdiction. In addition to  engag-
    55  ing  in  such  profession or professions, a professional service limited
    56  liability company may engage in any other business or activities  as  to

        S. 4935--A                         14

     1  which  a  limited  liability  company  may  be  formed under section two
     2  hundred one of this chapter. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
     3  section, a professional service limited liability company (i) authorized
     4  to  practice  law  may  only engage in another profession or business or
     5  activities or (ii) which is engaged in a profession or other business or
     6  activities other than law may only engage in the practice of law, to the
     7  extent not prohibited by any other law of this state or any rule adopted
     8  by the appropriate appellate division of the supreme court or the  court
     9  of appeals.
    10    § 10.  Subdivision (a) of section 1301 of the limited liability compa-
    11  ny  law,  as  amended  by chapter 420 of the laws of 2002, is amended to
    12  read as follows:
    13    (a) "Foreign professional service limited liability company"  means  a
    14  professional  service  limited liability company, whether or not denomi-
    15  nated as such, organized under the laws of  a  jurisdiction  other  than
    16  this state, (i) each of whose members and managers, if any, is a profes-
    17  sional  authorized  by  law to render a professional service within this
    18  state and who is or has been engaged in the practice of such  profession
    19  in  such professional service limited liability company or a predecessor
    20  entity, or will engage in the practice of such profession in the profes-
    21  sional service limited liability company within thirty days of the  date
    22  such  professional becomes a member, or each of whose members and manag-
    23  ers, if any, is a professional at least one of such members  is  author-
    24  ized  by  law to render a professional service within this state and who
    25  is or has been engaged in  the  practice  of  such  profession  in  such
    26  professional  service limited liability company or a predecessor entity,
    27  or will engage in the practice of such profession  in  the  professional
    28  service  limited  liability  company within thirty days of the date such
    29  professional becomes a member, or  (ii)  authorized  by,  or  holding  a
    30  license,  certificate,  registration  or  permit issued by the licensing
    31  authority pursuant to,  the  education  law  to  render  a  professional
    32  service within this state; except that all members and managers, if any,
    33  of  a  foreign  professional  service  limited  liability  company  that
    34  provides health services in this state shall be licensed in this  state.
    35  With respect to a foreign professional service limited liability company
    36  which provides veterinary services as such services are defined in arti-
    37  cle  135  of the education law, each member of such foreign professional
    38  service limited liability company shall be licensed pursuant to  article
    39  135  of  the education law to practice veterinary medicine. With respect
    40  to a  foreign  professional  service  limited  liability  company  which
    41  provides medical services as such services are defined in article 131 of
    42  the  education  law,  each  member  of such foreign professional service
    43  limited liability company must be licensed pursuant to  article  131  of
    44  the education law to practice medicine in this state.  With respect to a
    45  foreign  professional  service  limited liability company which provides
    46  dental services as such services are  defined  in  article  133  of  the
    47  education  law, each member of such foreign professional service limited
    48  liability company must be licensed pursuant to article 133 of the educa-
    49  tion law to practice dentistry in this state. With respect to a  foreign
    50  professional  service  limited  liability company which provides profes-
    51  sional  engineering,  land  surveying,  architectural  and/or  landscape
    52  architectural  services  as  such  services  are defined in article 145,
    53  article 147 and article 148 of the education law, each  member  of  such
    54  foreign  professional service limited liability company must be licensed
    55  pursuant to article 145, article 147 and/or article 148 of the education
    56  law to practice one or more of such  professions  in  this  state.  With

        S. 4935--A                         15

     1  respect  to  a  foreign  professional  service limited liability company
     2  which provides licensed clinical social work services as  such  services
     3  are  defined  in  article  154 of the education law, each member of such
     4  foreign professional service limited liability company shall be licensed
     5  pursuant to article 154 of the education law to practice clinical social
     6  work  in  this  state.    With respect to a foreign professional service
     7  limited liability company formed to provide public accountancy  services
     8  as  such  services are defined in article 149 of the education law, each
     9  member of such foreign professional service  limited  liability  company
    10  who  has a principal place of business in New York, as defined in subdi-
    11  vision five of section seventy-four hundred one-a of the  education  law
    12  shall  be licensed pursuant to article 149 of the education law to prac-
    13  tice public accountancy in this state, and all members shall be licensed
    14  and in good standing as public accountants in a duly authorized  licens-
    15  ing jurisdiction.
    16    § 11.  Subdivision (a) of section 1301 of the limited liability compa-
    17  ny  law,  as  separately  amended by chapters 420 and 676 of the laws of
    18  2002, is amended to read as follows:
    19    (a) "Foreign professional service limited liability company"  means  a
    20  professional  service  limited liability company, whether or not denomi-
    21  nated as such, organized under the laws of  a  jurisdiction  other  than
    22  this state, (i) each of whose members and managers, if any, is a profes-
    23  sional  authorized  by  law to render a professional service within this
    24  state and who is or has been engaged in the practice of such  profession
    25  in  such professional service limited liability company or a predecessor
    26  entity, or will engage in the practice of such profession in the profes-
    27  sional service limited liability company within thirty days of the  date
    28  such  professional becomes a member, or each of whose members and manag-
    29  ers, if any, is a professional at least one of such members  is  author-
    30  ized  by  law to render a professional service within this state and who
    31  is or has been engaged in  the  practice  of  such  profession  in  such
    32  professional  service limited liability company or a predecessor entity,
    33  or will engage in the practice of such profession  in  the  professional
    34  service  limited  liability  company within thirty days of the date such
    35  professional becomes a member, or  (ii)  authorized  by,  or  holding  a
    36  license,  certificate,  registration  or  permit issued by the licensing
    37  authority pursuant to,  the  education  law  to  render  a  professional
    38  service within this state; except that all members and managers, if any,
    39  of  a  foreign  professional  service  limited  liability  company  that
    40  provides health services in this state shall be licensed in this  state.
    41  With respect to a foreign professional service limited liability company
    42  which provides veterinary services as such services are defined in arti-
    43  cle  135  of the education law, each member of such foreign professional
    44  service limited liability company shall be licensed pursuant to  article
    45  135  of  the education law to practice veterinary medicine. With respect
    46  to a  foreign  professional  service  limited  liability  company  which
    47  provides medical services as such services are defined in article 131 of
    48  the  education  law,  each  member  of such foreign professional service
    49  limited liability company must be licensed pursuant to  article  131  of
    50  the education law to practice medicine in this state.  With respect to a
    51  foreign  professional  service  limited liability company which provides
    52  dental services as such services are  defined  in  article  133  of  the
    53  education  law, each member of such foreign professional service limited
    54  liability company must be licensed pursuant to article 133 of the educa-
    55  tion law to practice dentistry in this state. With respect to a  foreign
    56  professional  service  limited  liability company which provides profes-

        S. 4935--A                         16

     1  sional  engineering,  land  surveying,  architectural  and/or  landscape
     2  architectural  services  as  such  services  are defined in article 145,
     3  article 147 and article 148 of the education law, each  member  of  such
     4  foreign  professional service limited liability company must be licensed
     5  pursuant to article 145, article 147 and/or article 148 of the education
     6  law to practice one or more of such  professions  in  this  state.  With
     7  respect  to  a  foreign  professional  service limited liability company
     8  which provides licensed clinical social work services as  such  services
     9  are  defined  in  article  154 of the education law, each member of such
    10  foreign professional service limited liability company shall be licensed
    11  pursuant to article 154 of the education law to practice clinical social
    12  work in this state.   With respect to  a  foreign  professional  service
    13  limited  liability company which provides creative arts therapy services
    14  as such services are defined in article 163 of the education  law,  each
    15  member  of  such  foreign professional service limited liability company
    16  must be licensed pursuant to article 163 of the education law  to  prac-
    17  tice  creative  arts  therapy  in  this state. With respect to a foreign
    18  professional service limited liability company which  provides  marriage
    19  and  family therapy services as such services are defined in article 163
    20  of the education law, each member of such foreign  professional  service
    21  limited  liability  company  must be licensed pursuant to article 163 of
    22  the education law to practice marriage and family therapy in this state.
    23  With respect to a foreign professional service limited liability company
    24  which provides mental health counseling services as  such  services  are
    25  defined in article 163 of the education law, each member of such foreign
    26  professional service limited liability company must be licensed pursuant
    27  to article 163 of the education law to practice mental health counseling
    28  in  this  state.  With respect to a foreign professional service limited
    29  liability  company  which  provides  psychoanalysis  services  as   such
    30  services are defined in article 163 of the education law, each member of
    31  such  foreign  professional  service  limited  liability company must be
    32  licensed pursuant to article  163  of  the  education  law  to  practice
    33  psychoanalysis  in  this state.   With respect to a foreign professional
    34  service limited liability company formed to provide  public  accountancy
    35  services  as  such  services are defined in article 149 of the education
    36  law, each member of such foreign professional service limited  liability
    37  company who has a principal place of business in New York, as defined in
    38  subdivision  five of section seventy-four hundred one-a of the education
    39  law shall be licensed pursuant to article 149 of the  education  law  to
    40  practice  public  accountancy  in  this  state, and all members shall be
    41  licensed and in good standing as public accountants in a duly authorized
    42  licensing jurisdiction.
    43    § 12. Subdivision (f) of section 1301 of the limited liability company
    44  law, as amended by chapter 170 of the laws of 1996, is amended  to  read
    45  as follows:
    46    (f) "Professional partnership" means (1) a partnership without limited
    47  partners  each  of whose partners is a professional authorized by law to
    48  render a professional service within this state, (2) a partnership with-
    49  out limited partners each of whose partners is a professional, at  least
    50  one of whom is authorized by law to render a professional service within
    51  this  state or (3) a partnership without limited partners authorized by,
    52  or holding a license, certificate, registration or permit issued by  the
    53  licensing  authority  pursuant  to the education law to render a profes-
    54  sional service within this state; except that all partners of a  profes-
    55  sional  partnership that provides medical services in this state must be
    56  licensed pursuant to article 131 of the education law to practice  medi-

        S. 4935--A                         17

     1  cine  in  this state and all partners of a professional partnership that
     2  provides dental services in this state  must  be  licensed  pursuant  to
     3  article  133  of  the education law to practice dentistry in this state;
     4  except  that  all  partners  of a professional partnership that provides
     5  veterinary services in this state must be licensed pursuant  to  article
     6  135  of the education law to practice veterinary medicine in this state;
     7  and further except that all partners of a professional partnership  that
     8  provides professional engineering, land surveying, architectural, and/or
     9  landscape architectural services in this state must be licensed pursuant
    10  to  article  145, article 147 and/or article 148 of the education law to
    11  practice one or more of such professions, and further  except  that  all
    12  partners  of a professional partnership formed to provide public accoun-
    13  tancy services as such services are defined in article 149 of the educa-
    14  tion law who have a principal place of business in New York, as  defined
    15  in  subdivision five of section seventy-four hundred one-a of the educa-
    16  tion law must be licensed pursuant to article 149 of the  education  law
    17  to practice public accountancy, and all partners must be licensed and in
    18  good  standing  as  public  accountants  in  a duly authorized licensing
    19  jurisdiction.
    20    § 13. The eighth undesignated paragraph of section 2 of  the  partner-
    21  ship  law,  as amended by chapter 643 of the laws of 1995, is amended to
    22  read as follows:
    23    "Foreign limited liability  partnership"  means  (i)  any  partnership
    24  without  limited  partners  operating under an agreement governed by the
    25  laws of any jurisdiction, other than this state, each of whose  partners
    26  is  a  professional  authorized  by law to render a professional service
    27  within this state and who is or has been engaged in the practice of such
    28  profession in such partnership or a predecessor entity, or  will  engage
    29  in  the  practice  of  such  profession in the foreign limited liability
    30  partnership within thirty days of the date of the effectiveness  of  the
    31  notice provided for in subdivision (a) of section 121-1502 of this chap-
    32  ter or each of whose partners is a professional, at least one of whom is
    33  authorized by law to render a professional service within this state and
    34  who  is  or  has been engaged in the practice of such profession in such
    35  partnership or a predecessor entity, or will engage in the  practice  of
    36  such  profession  in  the  foreign  limited liability partnership within
    37  thirty days of the date of the effectiveness of the notice provided  for
    38  in  subdivision  (a) of section 121-1502 of this chapter, (ii) any part-
    39  nership without limited partners operating under an  agreement  governed
    40  by  the  laws of any jurisdiction, other than this state, authorized by,
    41  or holding a license, certificate, registration or permit issued by  the
    42  licensing  authority  pursuant to, the education law to render a profes-
    43  sional service within this state, which renders  or  intends  to  render
    44  professional  services  within  this state and which is denominated as a
    45  registered limited liability partnership or limited  liability  partner-
    46  ship under such laws, regardless of any difference between such laws and
    47  the  laws  of  this  state, or (iii) a foreign related limited liability
    48  partnership; except that all partners of  a  foreign  limited  liability
    49  partnership that provides health, professional engineering, land survey-
    50  ing, architectural and/or landscape architectural services in this state
    51  shall  be licensed in this state; and further excepted that all partners
    52  of a foreign limited liability  partnership  formed  to  provide  public
    53  accountancy  services as such services are defined in article 149 of the
    54  education law who have a principal place of business  in  New  York,  as
    55  defined in subdivision five of section seventy-four hundred one-a of the
    56  education  law shall be licensed in this state, and all partners must be

        S. 4935--A                         18

     1  licensed and in good standing as public accountants in a duly authorized
     2  licensing jurisdiction.
     3    §  14. The fourteenth undesignated paragraph of section 2 of the part-
     4  nership law, as added by chapter 576 of the laws of 1994, is amended  to
     5  read as follows:
     6    "Professional  partnership"  means  (1)  a partnership without limited
     7  partners each of whose partners is a professional authorized by  law  to
     8  render a professional service within this state, (2) a partnership with-
     9  out  limited partners each of whose partners is a professional, at least
    10  one of whom is authorized by law to render a professional service within
    11  this state or (3) a partnership without limited partners authorized  by,
    12  or  holding a license, certificate, registration or permit issued by the
    13  licensing authority pursuant to the education law to  render  a  profes-
    14  sional  service within this state; except that all partners of a profes-
    15  sional partnership that provides medical services in this state must  be
    16  licensed  pursuant to article 131 of the education law to practice medi-
    17  cine in this state and all partners of a professional  partnership  that
    18  provides  dental  services  in  this  state must be licensed pursuant to
    19  article 133 of the education law to practice dentistry  in  this  state;
    20  and  further except that all partners of a professional partnership that
    21  provides professional engineering, land surveying, architectural  and/or
    22  landscape architectural services in this state must be licensed pursuant
    23  to  article  145, article 147 and/or article 148 of the education law to
    24  practice one or more of such professions  in  this  state;  and  further
    25  excepted  that  all  partners of a foreign limited liability partnership
    26  formed to provide public  accountancy  services  as  such  services  are
    27  defined  in  article 149 of the education law who have a principal place
    28  of business in New York, as  defined  in  subdivision  five  of  section
    29  seventy-four  hundred  one-a  of the education law, shall be licensed in
    30  this state, and all partners shall be licensed and in good  standing  as
    31  public accountants in a duly authorized licensing jurisdiction.
    32    §  15.  Subdivision (q) of section 121-1500 of the partnership law, as
    33  amended by chapter 420 of the laws  of  2002,  is  amended  to  read  as
    34  follows:
    35    (q)  Each partner of a registered limited liability partnership formed
    36  to provide medical services in this state must be licensed  pursuant  to
    37  article  131 of the education law to practice medicine in this state and
    38  each partner of a registered limited  liability  partnership  formed  to
    39  provide dental services in this state must be licensed pursuant to arti-
    40  cle  133 of the education law to practice dentistry in this state.  Each
    41  partner of a registered limited liability partnership formed to  provide
    42  veterinary  services  in this state must be licensed pursuant to article
    43  135 of the education law to practice veterinary medicine in this  state.
    44  Each  partner  of  a  registered limited liability partnership formed to
    45  provide professional engineering, land surveying,  architectural  and/or
    46  landscape architectural services in this state must be licensed pursuant
    47  to  article  145, article 147 and/or article 148 of the education law to
    48  practice one or more of such professions in this state. Each partner  of
    49  a  registered  limited  liability partnership formed to provide licensed
    50  clinical social work services in this state must be licensed pursuant to
    51  article 154 of the education law to practice  clinical  social  work  in
    52  this  state.  Each partner of a registered limited liability partnership
    53  formed to provide licensed public accountancy services as such  services
    54  are  defined  in  article  149  of the education law who has a principal
    55  place of business in New York, as defined in subdivision five of section
    56  seventy-four hundred one-a of the education law shall be licensed pursu-

        S. 4935--A                         19

     1  ant to article 149 of the education  law  to  practice  licensed  public
     2  accountancy  in  this  state,  and all partners shall be licensed and in
     3  good standing as public  accountants  in  a  duly  authorized  licensing
     4  jurisdiction.
     5    §  16.  Subdivision (q) of section 121-1500 of the partnership law, as
     6  separately amended by chapters 420 and 676  of  the  laws  of  2002,  is
     7  amended to read as follows:
     8    (q)  Each partner of a registered limited liability partnership formed
     9  to provide medical services in this state must be licensed  pursuant  to
    10  article  131 of the education law to practice medicine in this state and
    11  each partner of a registered limited  liability  partnership  formed  to
    12  provide dental services in this state must be licensed pursuant to arti-
    13  cle  133 of the education law to practice dentistry in this state.  Each
    14  partner of a registered limited liability partnership formed to  provide
    15  veterinary  services  in this state must be licensed pursuant to article
    16  135 of the education law to practice veterinary medicine in this  state.
    17  Each  partner  of  a  registered limited liability partnership formed to
    18  provide professional engineering, land surveying,  architectural  and/or
    19  landscape architectural services in this state must be licensed pursuant
    20  to  article  145, article 147 and/or article 148 of the education law to
    21  practice one or more of such professions in this state. Each partner  of
    22  a  registered  limited  liability partnership formed to provide licensed
    23  clinical social work services in this state must be licensed pursuant to
    24  article 154 of the education law to practice  clinical  social  work  in
    25  this  state.  Each partner of a registered limited liability partnership
    26  formed to provide creative arts therapy services in this state  must  be
    27  licensed  pursuant to article 163 of the education law to practice crea-
    28  tive arts therapy in this state. Each partner of  a  registered  limited
    29  liability  partnership  formed  to  provide  marriage and family therapy
    30  services in this state must be licensed pursuant to article 163  of  the
    31  education  law  to  practice  marriage and family therapy in this state.
    32  Each partner of a registered limited  liability  partnership  formed  to
    33  provide mental health counseling services in this state must be licensed
    34  pursuant  to  article 163 of the education law to practice mental health
    35  counseling in this state. Each partner of a registered limited liability
    36  partnership formed to provide psychoanalysis services in this state must
    37  be licensed pursuant to article 163 of the  education  law  to  practice
    38  psychoanalysis  in  this  state.    Each partner of a registered limited
    39  liability partnership formed  to  provide  licensed  public  accountancy
    40  services  as  such  services are defined in article 149 of the education
    41  law who has a principal place of business in New  York,  as  defined  in
    42  subdivision  five of section seventy-four hundred one-a of the education
    43  law shall be licensed pursuant to article 149 of the  education  law  to
    44  practice  licensed  public  accountancy  in this state, and all partners
    45  shall be licensed and in good standing as public accountants in  a  duly
    46  authorized licensing jurisdiction.
    47    §  17.  Subdivision (q) of section 121-1502 of the partnership law, as
    48  amended by chapter 643 of the laws  of  1995,  is  amended  to  read  as
    49  follows:
    50    (q)  Each  partner  of  a  foreign limited liability partnership which
    51  provides medical services in this state must  be  licensed  pursuant  to
    52  article  131  of the education law to practice medicine in the state and
    53  each partner of a foreign limited liability partnership  which  provides
    54  dental services in the state must be licensed pursuant to article 133 of
    55  the education law to practice dentistry in this state. Each partner of a
    56  foreign  limited liability partnership which provides veterinary service

        S. 4935--A                         20

     1  in the state shall be licensed pursuant to article 135 of the  education
     2  law  to  practice  veterinary  medicine in this state. Each partner of a
     3  foreign limited liability partnership which provides professional  engi-
     4  neering,  land  surveying,  architectural and/or landscape architectural
     5  services in this state must be licensed pursuant to article 145, article
     6  147 and/or article 148 of the education law to practice one or  more  of
     7  such  professions.  Each partner of a foreign limited liability partner-
     8  ship formed to provide public accountancy services as such services  are
     9  defined in article 149 of the education law who has a principal place of
    10  business  in  New York, as defined in subdivision five of section seven-
    11  ty-four hundred one-a of the education law shall be licensed pursuant to
    12  article 149 of the education law to practice public accountancy, and all
    13  partners shall be licensed and in good standing as public accountants in
    14  a duly authorized licensing jurisdiction.
    15    § 18. Subdivision (q) of section 121-1502 of the partnership  law,  as
    16  amended  by  chapter  676  of  the  laws  of 2002, is amended to read as
    17  follows:
    18    (q) Each partner of a  foreign  limited  liability  partnership  which
    19  provides  medical  services  in  this state must be licensed pursuant to
    20  article 131 of the education law to practice medicine in the  state  and
    21  each  partner  of a foreign limited liability partnership which provides
    22  dental services in the state must be licensed pursuant to article 133 of
    23  the education law to practice dentistry in this state. Each partner of a
    24  foreign limited liability partnership which provides veterinary  service
    25  in  the state shall be licensed pursuant to article 135 of the education
    26  law to practice veterinary medicine in this state.  Each  partner  of  a
    27  foreign  limited liability partnership which provides professional engi-
    28  neering, land surveying, architectural  and/or  landscape  architectural
    29  services in this state must be licensed pursuant to article 145, article
    30  147  and/or  article 148 of the education law to practice one or more of
    31  such professions. Each partner of a foreign limited  liability  partner-
    32  ship which provides creative arts therapy services in this state must be
    33  licensed  pursuant to article 163 of the education law to practice crea-
    34  tive arts therapy in this state.  Each  partner  of  a  foreign  limited
    35  liability   partnership  which  provides  marriage  and  family  therapy
    36  services in this state must be licensed pursuant to article 163  of  the
    37  education  law  to  practice  marriage and family therapy in this state.
    38  Each partner of a foreign limited liability partnership  which  provides
    39  mental  health counseling services in this state must be licensed pursu-
    40  ant to article 163 of the education law to practice mental health  coun-
    41  seling  in this state. Each partner of a foreign limited liability part-
    42  nership which provides psychoanalysis services in  this  state  must  be
    43  licensed  pursuant  to  article  163  of  the  education law to practice
    44  psychoanalysis in this state.  Each partner of a foreign limited liabil-
    45  ity partnership formed to provide public accountancy  services  as  such
    46  services are defined in article 149 of the education law who has a prin-
    47  cipal  place  of business in New York, as defined in subdivision five of
    48  section seventy-four  hundred  one-a  of  the  education  law  shall  be
    49  licensed pursuant to article 149 of the education law to practice public
    50  accountancy,  and all partners shall be licensed and in good standing as
    51  public accountants in a duly authorized licensing jurisdiction.
    52    § 19. This act shall take effect on  the  one  hundred  eightieth  day
    53  after it shall have become a law;
    54    (a)  provided,  however,  that  paragraphs a and b of subdivision 1 of
    55  section 7410 of the education law, as added by section six of this  act,
    56  shall take effect January 1, 2005;

        S. 4935--A                         21

     1    (b)  provided  further,  that  the  amendments  to  subdivision (a) of
     2  section 1203 of the limited liability company law made by section  eight
     3  of  this  act  shall remain in effect until section 13 of chapter 676 of
     4  the laws of 2002 takes effect, when upon such  date  the  provisions  of
     5  section nine of this act shall take effect;
     6    (c)  provided  further,  that  the  amendments  to  subdivision (a) of
     7  section 1301 of the limited liability company law made by section ten of
     8  this act shall remain in effect until section 15 of chapter 676  of  the
     9  laws of 2002 takes effect, when upon such date the provisions of section
    10  eleven of this act shall take effect;
    11    (d)  provided  further,  that  the  amendments  to  subdivision (q) of
    12  section 121-1500 of the partnership law made by section fifteen of  this
    13  act  shall  remain in effect until section 16 of chapter 676 of the laws
    14  of 2002 takes effect, when upon such  date  the  provisions  of  section
    15  sixteen of this act shall take effect; and
    16    (e)  provided  further,  that  the  amendments  to  subdivision (q) of
    17  section 121-1502 of the partnership law made  by  section  seventeen  of
    18  this  act  shall remain in effect until section 17 of chapter 676 of the
    19  laws of 2002 takes effect, when upon such date the provisions of section
    20  eighteen of this act shall take effect.