SB2109eng 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB2109 Engrossed LRB093 14118 AMC 19585 b

AN ACT concerning accounting.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971 is amended by changing Section 3 as follows:

(5 ILCS 375/3) (from Ch. 127, par. 523)

Sec. 3. Definitions. Unless the context otherwise requires, the following words and phrases as used in this Act shall have the following meanings. The Department may define these and other words and phrases separately for the purpose of implementing specific programs providing benefits under this Act.

(a) "Administrative service organization" means any person, firm or corporation experienced in the handling of claims which is fully qualified, financially sound and capable of meeting the service requirements of a contract of administration executed with the Department.

(b) "Annuitant" means (1) an employee who retires, or has retired, on or after January 1, 1966 on an immediate annuity under the provisions of Articles 2, 14, 15 (including an employee who has retired under the optional retirement program established under Section 15-158.2), paragraphs (2), (3), or (5) of Section 16-106, or Article 18 of the Illinois Pension Code; (2) any person who was receiving group insurance coverage under this Act as of March 31, 1978 by reason of his status as an annuitant, even though the annuity in relation to which such coverage was provided is a proportional annuity based on less than the minimum period of service required for a retirement annuity in the system involved; (3) any person not otherwise covered by this Act who has retired as a participating member under Article 2 of the Illinois Pension Code but is ineligible for the retirement annuity under Section 2-119 of the Illinois Pension Code; (4) the spouse of any person who is receiving a retirement annuity under Article 18 of the Illinois Pension Code and who is covered under a group health insurance program sponsored by a governmental employer other than the State of Illinois and who has irrevocably elected to waive his or her coverage under this Act and to have his or her spouse considered as the "annuitant" under this Act and not as a "dependent"; or (5) an employee who retires, or has retired, from a qualified position, as determined according to rules promulgated by the Director, under a qualified local government or a qualified rehabilitation facility or a qualified domestic violence shelter or service. (For definition of "retired employee", see (p) post).

(b-5) "New SERS annuitant" means a person who, on or after January 1, 1998, becomes an annuitant, as defined in subsection (b), by virtue of beginning to receive a retirement annuity under Article 14 of the Illinois Pension Code, and is eligible to participate in the basic program of group health benefits provided for annuitants under this Act.

(b-6) "New SURS annuitant" means a person who (1) on or after January 1, 1998, becomes an annuitant, as defined in subsection (b), by virtue of beginning to receive a retirement annuity under Article 15 of the Illinois Pension Code, (2) has not made the election authorized under Section 15-135.1 of the Illinois Pension Code, and (3) is eligible to participate in the basic program of group health benefits provided for annuitants under this Act.

(b-7) "New TRS State annuitant" means a person who, on or after July 1, 1998, becomes an annuitant, as defined in subsection (b), by virtue of beginning to receive a retirement annuity under Article 16 of the Illinois Pension Code based on service as a teacher as defined in paragraph (2), (3), or (5) of Section 16-106 of that Code, and is eligible to participate in the basic program of group health benefits provided for annuitants under this Act.

(c) "Carrier" means (1) an insurance company, a corporation organized under the Limited Health Service Organization Act or the Voluntary Health Services Plan Act, a partnership, or other nongovernmental organization, which is authorized to do group life or group health insurance business in Illinois, or (2) the State of Illinois as a self-insurer.

(d) "Compensation" means salary or wages payable on a regular payroll by the State Treasurer on a warrant of the State Comptroller out of any State, trust or federal fund, or by the Governor of the State through a disbursing officer of the State out of a trust or out of federal funds, or by any Department out of State, trust, federal or other funds held by the State Treasurer or the Department, to any person for personal services currently performed, and ordinary or accidental disability benefits under Articles 2, 14, 15 (including ordinary or accidental disability benefits under the optional retirement program established under Section 15-158.2), paragraphs (2), (3), or (5) of Section 16-106, or Article 18 of the Illinois Pension Code, for disability incurred after January 1, 1966, or benefits payable under the Workers' Compensation or Occupational Diseases Act or benefits payable under a sick pay plan established in accordance with Section 36 of the State Finance Act. "Compensation" also means salary or wages paid to an employee of any qualified local government or qualified rehabilitation facility or a qualified domestic violence shelter or service.

(e) "Commission" means the State Employees Group Insurance Advisory Commission authorized by this Act. Commencing July 1, 1984, "Commission" as used in this Act means the Illinois Economic and Fiscal Commission as established by the Legislative Commission Reorganization Act of 1984.

(f) "Contributory", when referred to as contributory coverage, shall mean optional coverages or benefits elected by the member toward the cost of which such member makes contribution, or which are funded in whole or in part through the acceptance of a reduction in earnings or the foregoing of an increase in earnings by an employee, as distinguished from noncontributory coverage or benefits which are paid entirely by the State of Illinois without reduction of the member's salary.

(g) "Department" means any department, institution, board, commission, officer, court or any agency of the State government receiving appropriations and having power to certify payrolls to the Comptroller authorizing payments of salary and wages against such appropriations as are made by the General Assembly from any State fund, or against trust funds held by the State Treasurer and includes boards of trustees of the retirement systems created by Articles 2, 14, 15, 16 and 18 of the Illinois Pension Code. "Department" also includes the Illinois Comprehensive Health Insurance Board, the Board of Accountancy Examiners established under the Illinois Public Accounting Act, and the Illinois Finance Authority.

(h) "Dependent", when the term is used in the context of the health and life plan, means a member's spouse and any unmarried child (1) from birth to age 19 including an adopted child, a child who lives with the member from the time of the filing of a petition for adoption until entry of an order of adoption, a stepchild or recognized child who lives with the member in a parent-child relationship, or a child who lives with the member if such member is a court appointed guardian of the child, or (2) age 19 to 23 enrolled as a full-time student in any accredited school, financially dependent upon the member, and eligible to be claimed as a dependent for income tax purposes, or (3) age 19 or over who is mentally or physically handicapped. For the health plan only, the term "dependent" also includes any person enrolled prior to the effective date of this Section who is dependent upon the member to the extent that the member may claim such person as a dependent for income tax deduction purposes; no other such person may be enrolled. For the health plan only, the term "dependent" also includes any person who has received after June 30, 2000 an organ transplant and who is financially dependent upon the member and eligible to be claimed as a dependent for income tax purposes.

(i) "Director" means the Director of the Illinois Department of Central Management Services.

(j) "Eligibility period" means the period of time a member has to elect enrollment in programs or to select benefits without regard to age, sex or health.

(k) "Employee" means and includes each officer or employee in the service of a department who (1) receives his compensation for service rendered to the department on a warrant issued pursuant to a payroll certified by a department or on a warrant or check issued and drawn by a department upon a trust, federal or other fund or on a warrant issued pursuant to a payroll certified by an elected or duly appointed officer of the State or who receives payment of the performance of personal services on a warrant issued pursuant to a payroll certified by a Department and drawn by the Comptroller upon the State Treasurer against appropriations made by the General Assembly from any fund or against trust funds held by the State Treasurer, and (2) is employed full-time or part-time in a position normally requiring actual performance of duty during not less than 1/2 of a normal work period, as established by the Director in cooperation with each department, except that persons elected by popular vote will be considered employees during the entire term for which they are elected regardless of hours devoted to the service of the State, and (3) except that "employee" does not include any person who is not eligible by reason of such person's employment to participate in one of the State retirement systems under Articles 2, 14, 15 (either the regular Article 15 system or the optional retirement program established under Section 15-158.2) or 18, or under paragraph (2), (3), or (5) of Section 16-106, of the Illinois Pension Code, but such term does include persons who are employed during the 6 month qualifying period under Article 14 of the Illinois Pension Code. Such term also includes any person who (1) after January 1, 1966, is receiving ordinary or accidental disability benefits under Articles 2, 14, 15 (including ordinary or accidental disability benefits under the optional retirement program established under Section 15-158.2), paragraphs (2), (3), or (5) of Section 16-106, or Article 18 of the Illinois Pension Code, for disability incurred after January 1, 1966, (2) receives total permanent or total temporary disability under the Workers' Compensation Act or Occupational Disease Act as a result of injuries sustained or illness contracted in the course of employment with the State of Illinois, or (3) is not otherwise covered under this Act and has retired as a participating member under Article 2 of the Illinois Pension Code but is ineligible for the retirement annuity under Section 2-119 of the Illinois Pension Code. However, a person who satisfies the criteria of the foregoing definition of "employee" except that such person is made ineligible to participate in the State Universities Retirement System by clause (4) of subsection (a) of Section 15-107 of the Illinois Pension Code is also an "employee" for the purposes of this Act. "Employee" also includes any person receiving or eligible for benefits under a sick pay plan established in accordance with Section 36 of the State Finance Act. "Employee" also includes each officer or employee in the service of a qualified local government, including persons appointed as trustees of sanitary districts regardless of hours devoted to the service of the sanitary district, and each employee in the service of a qualified rehabilitation facility and each full-time employee in the service of a qualified domestic violence shelter or service, as determined according to rules promulgated by the Director.

(l) "Member" means an employee, annuitant, retired employee or survivor.

(m) "Optional coverages or benefits" means those coverages or benefits available to the member on his or her voluntary election, and at his or her own expense.

(n) "Program" means the group life insurance, health benefits and other employee benefits designed and contracted for by the Director under this Act.

(o) "Health plan" means a health benefits program offered by the State of Illinois for persons eligible for the plan.

(p) "Retired employee" means any person who would be an annuitant as that term is defined herein but for the fact that such person retired prior to January 1, 1966. Such term also includes any person formerly employed by the University of Illinois in the Cooperative Extension Service who would be an annuitant but for the fact that such person was made ineligible to participate in the State Universities Retirement System by clause (4) of subsection (a) of Section 15-107 of the Illinois Pension Code.

(q) "Survivor" means a person receiving an annuity as a survivor of an employee or of an annuitant. "Survivor" also includes: (1) the surviving dependent of a person who satisfies the definition of "employee" except that such person is made ineligible to participate in the State Universities Retirement System by clause (4) of subsection (a) of Section 15-107 of the Illinois Pension Code; and (2) the surviving dependent of any person formerly employed by the University of Illinois in the Cooperative Extension Service who would be an annuitant except for the fact that such person was made ineligible to participate in the State Universities Retirement System by clause (4) of subsection (a) of Section 15-107 of the Illinois Pension Code.

(q-5) "New SERS survivor" means a survivor, as defined in subsection (q), whose annuity is paid under Article 14 of the Illinois Pension Code and is based on the death of (i) an employee whose death occurs on or after January 1, 1998, or (ii) a new SERS annuitant as defined in subsection (b-5).

(q-6) "New SURS survivor" means a survivor, as defined in subsection (q), whose annuity is paid under Article 15 of the Illinois Pension Code and is based on the death of (i) an employee whose death occurs on or after January 1, 1998, or (ii) a new SURS annuitant as defined in subsection (b-6).

(q-7) "New TRS State survivor" means a survivor, as defined in subsection (q), whose annuity is paid under Article 16 of the Illinois Pension Code and is based on the death of (i) an employee who is a teacher as defined in paragraph (2), (3), or (5) of Section 16-106 of that Code and whose death occurs on or after July 1, 1998, or (ii) a new TRS State annuitant as defined in subsection (b-7).

(r) "Medical services" means the services provided within the scope of their licenses by practitioners in all categories licensed under the Medical Practice Act of 1987.

(s) "Unit of local government" means any county, municipality, township, school district (including a combination of school districts under the Intergovernmental Cooperation Act), special district or other unit, designated as a unit of local government by law, which exercises limited governmental powers or powers in respect to limited governmental subjects, any not-for-profit association with a membership that primarily includes townships and township officials, that has duties that include provision of research service, dissemination of information, and other acts for the purpose of improving township government, and that is funded wholly or partly in accordance with Section 85-15 of the Township Code; any not-for-profit corporation or association, with a membership consisting primarily of municipalities, that operates its own utility system, and provides research, training, dissemination of information, or other acts to promote cooperation between and among municipalities that provide utility services and for the advancement of the goals and purposes of its membership; the Southern Illinois Collegiate Common Market, which is a consortium of higher education institutions in Southern Illinois; and the Illinois Association of Park Districts. "Qualified local government" means a unit of local government approved by the Director and participating in a program created under subsection (i) of Section 10 of this Act.

(t) "Qualified rehabilitation facility" means any not-for-profit organization that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities or certified by the Department of Human Services (as successor to the Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities) to provide services to persons with disabilities and which receives funds from the State of Illinois for providing those services, approved by the Director and participating in a program created under subsection (j) of Section 10 of this Act.

(u) "Qualified domestic violence shelter or service" means any Illinois domestic violence shelter or service and its administrative offices funded by the Department of Human Services (as successor to the Illinois Department of Public Aid), approved by the Director and participating in a program created under subsection (k) of Section 10.

(v) "TRS benefit recipient" means a person who:

(1) is not a "member" as defined in this Section; and

(2) is receiving a monthly benefit or retirement annuity under Article 16 of the Illinois Pension Code; and

(3) either (i) has at least 8 years of creditable service under Article 16 of the Illinois Pension Code, or (ii) was enrolled in the health insurance program offered under that Article on January 1, 1996, or (iii) is the survivor of a benefit recipient who had at least 8 years of creditable service under Article 16 of the Illinois Pension Code or was enrolled in the health insurance program offered under that Article on the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1995, or (iv) is a recipient or survivor of a recipient of a disability benefit under Article 16 of the Illinois Pension Code.

(w) "TRS dependent beneficiary" means a person who:

(1) is not a "member" or "dependent" as defined in this Section; and

(2) is a TRS benefit recipient's: (A) spouse, (B) dependent parent who is receiving at least half of his or her support from the TRS benefit recipient, or (C) unmarried natural or adopted child who is (i) under age 19, or (ii) enrolled as a full-time student in an accredited school, financially dependent upon the TRS benefit recipient, eligible to be claimed as a dependent for income tax purposes, and either is under age 24 or was, on January 1, 1996, participating as a dependent beneficiary in the health insurance program offered under Article 16 of the Illinois Pension Code, or (iii) age 19 or over who is mentally or physically handicapped.

(x) "Military leave with pay and benefits" refers to individuals in basic training for reserves, special/advanced training, annual training, emergency call up, or activation by the President of the United States with approved pay and benefits.

(y) "Military leave without pay and benefits" refers to individuals who enlist for active duty in a regular component of the U.S. Armed Forces or other duty not specified or authorized under military leave with pay and benefits.

(z) "Community college benefit recipient" means a person who:

(1) is not a "member" as defined in this Section; and

(2) is receiving a monthly survivor's annuity or retirement annuity under Article 15 of the Illinois Pension Code; and

(3) either (i) was a full-time employee of a community college district or an association of community college boards created under the Public Community College Act (other than an employee whose last employer under Article 15 of the Illinois Pension Code was a community college district subject to Article VII of the Public Community College Act) and was eligible to participate in a group health benefit plan as an employee during the time of employment with a community college district (other than a community college district subject to Article VII of the Public Community College Act) or an association of community college boards, or (ii) is the survivor of a person described in item (i).

(aa) "Community college dependent beneficiary" means a person who:

(1) is not a "member" or "dependent" as defined in this Section; and

(2) is a community college benefit recipient's: (A) spouse, (B) dependent parent who is receiving at least half of his or her support from the community college benefit recipient, or (C) unmarried natural or adopted child who is (i) under age 19, or (ii) enrolled as a full-time student in an accredited school, financially dependent upon the community college benefit recipient, eligible to be claimed as a dependent for income tax purposes and under age 23, or (iii) age 19 or over and mentally or physically handicapped.

(Source: P.A. 92-16, eff. 6-28-01; 92-186, eff. 1-1-02; 92-204, eff. 8-1-01; 92-651, eff. 7-11-02; 93-205, eff. 1-1-04.)

Section 10. The Illinois Pension Code is amended by changing Section 15-106 as follows:

(40 ILCS 5/15-106) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 15-106)

Sec. 15-106. Employer. "Employer": The University of Illinois, Southern Illinois University, Chicago State University, Eastern Illinois University, Governors State University, Illinois State University, Northeastern Illinois University, Northern Illinois University, Western Illinois University, the State Board of Higher Education, the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, the State Geological Survey Division of the Department of Natural Resources, the State Natural History Survey Division of the Department of Natural Resources, the State Water Survey Division of the Department of Natural Resources, the Waste Management and Research Center of the Department of Natural Resources, the University Civil Service Merit Board, the Board of Trustees of the State Universities Retirement System, the Illinois Community College Board, community college boards, any association of community college boards organized under Section 3-55 of the Public Community College Act, the Board of Accountancy Examiners established under the Illinois Public Accounting Act, and, only during the period for which employer contributions required under Section 15-155 are paid, the following organizations: the alumni associations, the foundations and the athletic associations which are affiliated with the universities and colleges included in this Section as employers. A department as defined in Section 14-103.04 is an employer for any person appointed by the Governor under the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois who is a participating employee as defined in Section 15-109. The cities of Champaign and Urbana shall be considered employers, but only during the period for which contributions are required to be made under subsection (b-1) of Section 15-155 and only with respect to individuals described in subsection (h) of Section 15-107.

(Source: P.A. 89-4, eff. 1-1-96; 89-445, eff. 2-7-96; 90-490, eff. 8-17-97; 90-511, eff. 8-22-97; 90-576, eff. 3-31-98; 90-655, eff. 7-30-98.)

Section 15. The Illinois Public Accounting Act is amended by changing Sections 0.03, 2, 3, 20.1, and 32 as follows:

(225 ILCS 450/0.03) (from Ch. 111, par. 5500.03)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2014)

(Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 92-457)

Sec. 0.03. Definitions. As used in this Act, unless the context otherwise requires:

(a) "Certified Public Accountant" means any person who has been issued a certificate as a certified public accountant from the University of Illinois.

(b) "Public Accountant" means any person licensed under this Act.

(c) "Department" means the Department of Professional Regulation.

(d) "Director" means the Director of Professional Regulation.

(e) "Committee" means the Illinois Public Accountants Registration Committee appointed by the Director.

(f) "License", "licensee" and "licensure" refers to the authorization to practice under the provisions of this Act.

(g) "Peer review program" means a study, appraisal, or review of one or more aspects of the professional work of a person or firm certified or licensed under this Act, including quality review, peer review, practice monitoring, quality assurance, and similar programs undertaken voluntarily or in response to membership requirements in a professional organization, or as a prerequisite to the providing of professional services under government requirements, or any similar internal review or inspection that is required by professional standards.

(h) "Review committee" means any person or persons conducting, reviewing, administering, or supervising a peer review program.

(i) "University" means the University of Illinois.

(j) "Board" means the Board of Accountancy Examiners established under Section 2.

(Source: P.A. 88-36.)

(Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 92-457)

Sec. 0.03. Definitions. As used in this Act, unless the context otherwise requires:

(a) "Certified Public Accountant" means any person who has been issued a certificate as a certified public accountant from the Board of Accountancy Examiners.

(b) "Licensed Certified Public Accountant" means any person licensed under this Act.

(c) (Blank).

(d) (Blank).

(e) (Blank).

(f) "License", "licensee" and "licensure" refers to the authorization to practice under the provisions of this Act.

(g) "Peer review program" means a study, appraisal, or review of one or more aspects of the professional work of a person or firm certified or licensed under this Act, including quality review, peer review, practice monitoring, quality assurance, and similar programs undertaken voluntarily or in response to membership requirements in a professional organization, or as a prerequisite to the providing of professional services under government requirements, or any similar internal review or inspection that is required by professional standards.

(h) "Review committee" means any person or persons conducting, reviewing, administering, or supervising a peer review program.

(i) "University" means the University of Illinois.

(j) "Board" means the Board of Accountancy Examiners established under Section 2.

(Source: P.A. 92-457, eff. 7-1-04.)

(225 ILCS 450/2) (from Ch. 111, par. 5502)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2014)

(Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 92-457)

Sec. 2. Examinations. The University shall appoint a Board of Accountancy Examiners that shall determine the qualifications of persons applying for certificates and shall make rules for and arrange for the conduct of examinations for determining the qualifications.

The Board shall consist of 9 members examiners, at least 7 of whom shall be certified public accountants in this State who have been residents of this State for at least 5 years immediately preceding their appointment. One shall be either an accountant of the grade herein described or an attorney licensed and residing in this State and one shall be a certified public accountant who is an active or retired educator residing in this State. The term of office of each member examiner shall be 3 years, except that upon the enactment of this amendatory Act of 1993, those members currently serving on the Board shall continue to serve the duration of their terms, one additional member examiner shall be appointed for a term of one year and , one additional member examiner for a term of 2 years, and 2 additional examiners for a term of 3 years. As the term of each member examiner expires, the appointment shall be filled for a term of 3 years from the date of expiration. Any Board member who has served as a member for 6 consecutive years shall not be eligible for reappointment until 2 years after the end of the term in which the sixth consecutive year of service occurred.

The Board shall have an audit of its books and accounts made at least once a year by the Auditor General.

Information regarding educational requirements, the application process, the examination, and fees shall be available on the the Board's Internet web site as well as in printed documents available from the Board's office. The time and place of holding the examinations shall be determined by the Board and shall be duly advertised by the Board.

The examination shall test the applicant's knowledge of accounting, auditing, and other related subjects, if any, as the Board may deem advisable. Prior to implementation of a computer-based examination, a candidate must be examined in all subjects except that a candidate who has passed in 2 or more subjects and who attained a minimum grade in each subject failed as may be established by Board regulations shall have the right to be re-examined in the remaining subjects at one or more of the next 6 succeeding examinations. Upon implementation of a computer-based examination, a candidate shall be required to pass all sections of the examination in order to qualify for a certificate. A candidate may take the required test sections individually and in any order, as long as the examination is taken within a timeframe established by Board rule.

The Board may in certain cases waive or defer any of the requirements of this Section regarding the circumstances in which the various Sections of the examination must be passed upon a showing that, by reasons of circumstances beyond the applicant's control, the applicant was unable to meet the requirement.

Applicants may also be required to pass an examination on the rules of professional conduct, as determined by Board rule to be appropriate.

The examinations shall be given at least twice a year.

Any application, document or other information filed by or concerning an applicant and any examination grades of an applicant shall be deemed confidential and shall not be disclosed to anyone without the prior written permission of the applicant, except that it is hereby deemed in the public interest that the names and addresses only of all applicants shall be a public record and be released as public information. Nothing herein shall prevent the Board from making public announcement of the names of persons receiving certificates under this Act.

The Board shall adopt all necessary and reasonable rules and regulations, employ staff, enter into contracts, and take such other actions as may be necessary for the effective administration of the Sections of this Act for which it is charged with administering. Without limiting the foregoing, the Board shall adopt and prescribe rules and regulations for a fair and wholly and impartial method of determining the qualifications of applicants for examination and for a fair and wholly and impartial method of examination of persons under Section 2 and may establish rules for subjects conditioned and for the transfer of credits from other jurisdictions with respect to subjects passed.

(Source: P.A. 88-36.)

(Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 92-457)

Sec. 2. Examinations. The Governor shall appoint a Board of Accountancy Examiners that shall determine the qualifications of persons applying for certificates and shall make rules for and arrange for the conduct of examinations for determining the qualifications. The Board shall consist of not less than 9 nor more than 11 members examiners, as determined by Board rule, including 2 public members. The remainder shall be certified public accountants in this State who have been residents of this State for at least 5 years immediately preceding their appointment, except that one shall be either a certified public accountant of the grade herein described or an attorney licensed and residing in this State and one shall be a certified public accountant who is an active or retired educator residing in this State. The term of office of each member examiner shall be 3 years, except that upon the enactment of this amendatory Act of the 92nd General Assembly, those members currently serving on the Board shall continue to serve the duration of their terms, one additional member examiner shall be appointed for a term of one year and , one additional member examiner for a term of 2 years, and any additional examiners for terms of 3 years. As the term of each member examiner expires, the appointment shall be filled for a term of 3 years from the date of expiration. Any Board member who has served as a member for 6 consecutive years shall not be eligible for reappointment until 2 years after the end of the term in which the sixth consecutive year of service occurred, except that members of the Board serving on the effective date of this Section shall be eligible for appointment to one additional 3-year term. Where the expiration of any member's term shall result in less than 9 11 members then serving on the Board, the member shall continue to serve until his or her successor is appointed and has qualified. The Governor may terminate the term of any member of the Board at any time for cause.

The Board shall have an audit of its books and accounts made at least once a year by the Auditor General.

Information regarding educational requirements, the application process, the examination, and fees shall be available on the Board's Internet web site as well as in printed documents available from the Board's office. The time and place of holding the examinations shall be determined by the Board and shall be duly advertised by the Board.

The examination shall test the applicant's knowledge of accounting, auditing, and other related subjects, if any, as the Board may deem advisable. Prior to implementation of a computer-based examination, a candidate must be examined in all subjects except that a candidate who has passed in 2 or more subjects and who attained a minimum grade in each subject failed as may be established by Board regulations shall have the right to be re-examined in the remaining subjects at one or more of the next 6 succeeding examinations. Upon implementation of a computer-based examination, a candidate shall be required to pass all sections of the examination in order to qualify for a certificate. A candidate may take the required test sections individually and in any order, as long as the examination is taken within a timeframe established by Board rule.

The Board may in certain cases waive or defer any of the requirements of this Section regarding the circumstances in which the various Sections of the examination must be passed upon a showing that, by reasons of circumstances beyond the applicant's control, the applicant was unable to meet the requirement.

Applicants may also be required to pass an examination on the rules of professional conduct, as determined by Board rule to be appropriate.

The examinations shall be given at least twice a year.

Any application, document or other information filed by or concerning an applicant and any examination grades of an applicant shall be deemed confidential and shall not be disclosed to anyone without the prior written permission of the applicant, except that it is hereby deemed in the public interest that the names and addresses only of all applicants shall be a public record and be released as public information. Nothing herein shall prevent the Board from making public announcement of the names of persons receiving certificates under this Act.

The Board shall adopt all necessary and reasonable rules and regulations, employ staff, enter into contracts, and take such other actions as may be necessary for the effective administration of this Act. Without limiting the foregoing, the Board shall adopt and prescribe rules and regulations for a fair and wholly and impartial method of determining the qualifications of applicants for examination and for a fair and wholly and impartial method of examination of persons under Section 2 and may establish rules for subjects conditioned and for the transfer of credits from other jurisdictions with respect to subjects passed.

(Source: P.A. 92-457, eff. 7-1-04.)

(225 ILCS 450/3) (from Ch. 111, par. 5504)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2014)

(Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 92-457)

Sec. 3. Qualifications of applicants. To be admitted to take the examination given before January 1, 2001, for the purpose of determining the qualifications of applicants for certificates as certified public accountants under this Act, the applicants shall be required to present proof of the successful completion of 120 college or university semester hours of study or their equivalent from a school or schools acceptable to the Board. Of the 120 semester hours, at least 27 semester hours shall be in the study of accounting, auditing and business law, provided that of the 27 hours not more than 6 shall be in business law. To be admitted to take the examination after the year 2000, for the purpose of determining the qualifications of applicants for certificates as certified public accountants under this Act, the applicants shall be required to present proof of the successful completion of 150 college or university semester hours of study or other credit-hour their equivalent, to include a baccalaureate or higher degree conferred by a college or university acceptable to the Board of Accountancy Examiners, the total educational program to include an accounting concentration or equivalent as determined by Board rules to be appropriate. In adopting those rules, the Board shall consider, among other things, any impediments to the interstate practice of public accounting that may result from differences in the requirements in other states.

Candidates who have taken the examination at least once before January 1, 2001, may take the examination under the qualifications in effect when they first took the examination.

(Source: P.A. 87-726; 88-36.)

(Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 92-457)

Sec. 3. Qualifications of applicants. To be admitted to take the examination after the year 2000, for the purpose of determining the qualifications of applicants for certificates as certified public accountants under this Act, the applicants shall be required to present proof of the successful completion of 150 college or university semester hours of study or other credit-hour their equivalent, to include a baccalaureate or higher degree conferred by a college or university acceptable to the Board of Accountancy Examiners, the total educational program to include an accounting concentration or equivalent as determined by Board rules to be appropriate. In adopting those rules, the Board shall consider, among other things, any impediments to the interstate practice of public accounting that may result from differences in the requirements in other states.

Candidates who have taken the examination at least once before January 1, 2001, may take the examination under the qualifications in effect when they first took the examination.

(Source: P.A. 92-457, eff. 7-1-04.)

(225 ILCS 450/32) (from Ch. 111, par. 5537)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2014)

Sec. 32. (a) This subsection (a) applies only until July 1, 2004.

All moneys received by the Department of Professional Regulation under this Act shall be deposited into the Registered Certified Public Accountants' Administration and Disciplinary Fund, which is hereby created as a special fund in the State Treasury. The funds in the account shall be used by the Department or the Board, as appropriated, exclusively for expenses of the Department of Professional Regulation, the Public Accountants' Registration Committee, or the Board in the administration of this Act.

Moneys in the Registered Certified Public Accountants' Administration and Disciplinary Fund may be invested and reinvested, with all earnings received from the investments to be deposited into the Registered Certified Public Accountants' Administration and Disciplinary Fund.

Moneys from the Fund may also be used for direct and allocable indirect costs related to the public purposes of the Department of Professional Regulation or the Board. Moneys in the Fund may be transferred to the Professions Indirect Cost Fund as authorized by Section 2105-300 of the Department of Professional Regulation Law (20 ILCS 2105/2105-300).

(b) This subsection (b) applies beginning July 1, 2004.

The Board shall establish and maintain a fund called the Examination Fund, which shall consist of and in which there shall be deposited (i) fees received or charges made by the Board for the CPA or other examinations and (ii) fees received or charges made by the Board relating to the issuance of CPA certificates. Any money available in the Examination Fund may be used for the payment of the costs related to the examinations offered pursuant to this Act and to the issuance of certificates as Certified Public Accountants. Any money determined by the Board to be in excess of the amount determined to be needed for the future costs of the examinations may be transferred to the General Accounting Fund.

The Board shall establish and maintain a fund called the General Accounting Fund, which shall consist of and in which there shall be deposited (i) fees received or charges made by the Board for issuing, renewing, disciplining, or restoring licenses, (ii) fees received or charges made by the Board relating to the registration of continuing education sponsors, and (iii) any money transferred to from any other fund or made available by the State for the purpose of the General Accounting Fund or for the operating expenses of the Board. Any money available in the General Fund may be used for the payment of the expenses of the Board other than those paid from the Examination Fund.

No amount may be expended for the Board's expenses in any year out of the General Accounting Fund or Examination Fund or from any account in those funds in excess of the amount provided for the Board's operating expenses by the annual budget for that year or any amendment of the annual budget in effect at the time of the payment or expenditure for operating expenses.

The Board may establish any accounts in the Examination Fund or the General Accounting Fund that are, in its discretion, necessary, desirable, or convenient to further the accomplishments of the Board under this Act. All moneys received by the Board under this Act shall be deposited into the Registered Certified Public Accountants' Administration and Disciplinary Fund, a special fund in the State treasury. The moneys in the Fund shall be used by the Board, as appropriated, exclusively for expenses of the Department of Professional Regulation and the Board in the administration of this Act.

Moneys in the Registered Certified Public Accountants' Administration and Disciplinary Fund may be invested and reinvested, with all earnings received from the investments to be deposited into the Registered Certified Public Accountants' Administration and Disciplinary Fund.

(Source: P.A. 91-239, eff. 1-1-00; 92-457, eff. 8-21-01.)

Section 95. No acceleration or delay. Where this Act makes changes in a statute that is represented in this Act by text that is not yet or no longer in effect (for example, a Section represented by multiple versions), the use of that text does not accelerate or delay the taking effect of (i) the changes made by this Act or (ii) provisions derived from any other Public Act.

Section 97. Severability. The provisions of this Act are severable under Section 1.31 of the Statute on Statutes.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.