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<ns0:Id>20250SCR_011199INT</ns0:Id>
<ns0:VersionNum>99</ns0:VersionNum>
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<ns0:Action>
<ns0:ActionText>INTRODUCED</ns0:ActionText>
<ns0:ActionDate>2026-01-15</ns0:ActionDate>
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<ns0:SessionYear>2025</ns0:SessionYear>
<ns0:SessionNum>0</ns0:SessionNum>
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<ns0:MeasureNum>111</ns0:MeasureNum>
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<ns0:AuthorText authorType="LEAD_AUTHOR">Introduced by Senator Niello</ns0:AuthorText>
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<ns0:Legislator>
<ns0:Contribution>LEAD_AUTHOR</ns0:Contribution>
<ns0:House>SENATE</ns0:House>
<ns0:Name>Niello</ns0:Name>
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<ns0:Title> Relative to certified public accountants. </ns0:Title>
<ns0:RelatingClause>certified public accountants</ns0:RelatingClause>
<ns0:GeneralSubject>
<ns0:Subject>Certified public accountants: 125th anniversary.</ns0:Subject>
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<html:p>This measure would commemorate, recognize, and celebrate the 125th anniversary of the certified public accountant profession, commend the California Board of Accountancy for its commitment to consumer protection and professional excellence, and honor the many certified public accountants who have contributed to California’s economic strength, public accountability, and community well-being.</html:p>
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<ns0:FiscalCommittee>NO</ns0:FiscalCommittee>
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<html:p>WHEREAS, In 1901, the California Legislature enacted Senate Bill 581, authored by Senator R. Porter Ashe and signed into law on March 23, 1901, by Governor Henry T. Gage, which authorized the licensing and regulation of the practice of public accountancy by certified public accountants and established state oversight of the profession; and</html:p>
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<ns0:Whereas id="id_D4B54FF7-3F40-4A2C-BAB9-620384ABACDC">
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<html:p>WHEREAS, The California Board of Accountancy is charged with protecting the public as its highest priority, and accomplishes this through its mission of ensuring that only qualified licensees practice public accountancy in accordance with established professional standards and its vision of consumers being well informed and receiving high-quality accounting services from professionals they can trust; and</html:p>
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</ns0:Whereas>
<ns0:Whereas id="id_EFB98888-7353-434C-BA73-E9F35E0B32BD">
<ns0:Content>
<html:p>WHEREAS, In furtherance of its consumer protection mandate, the California Board of Accountancy licenses and renews certified public accountants, registers accounting firms, enforces continuing education requirements, investigates complaints, and takes enforcement actions as necessary to engender public confidence in the practice of public accountancy; and</html:p>
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<ns0:Whereas id="id_072BC800-423D-4267-AAEC-84A4958EB039">
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<html:p>WHEREAS, The California Board of Accountancy is recognized as an effective and well-respected regulator that safeguards the public interest through strong, consumer protection focused initiatives and enforcement efforts, while proactively maintaining a balanced, modern, and responsive regulatory framework supported by appointed board members, committee members, volunteers, and dedicated staff; and </html:p>
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<ns0:Whereas id="id_76A5DD29-835C-4943-88F9-0D9C43B79C85">
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<html:p>WHEREAS, Certified public accountants are licensed and regulated by the California Board of Accountancy, having met comprehensive education requirements, passed a rigorous professional examination, and completed an experience requirement, and adhere to a code of professional conduct, ethical standards of practice, and applicable statutes and regulations for the protection of the public interest; and</html:p>
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<ns0:Whereas id="id_7A6DBF48-DF93-4138-B929-C137739E6C29">
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<html:p>WHEREAS, For 125 years, the certified public accountant profession, under the oversight of the California Board of Accountancy, has served the public interest by promoting integrity, objectivity, and due care, building trust in the systems relied upon by individuals, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and governments throughout California and the nation; and</html:p>
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</ns0:Whereas>
<ns0:Whereas id="id_9E7AF001-B98B-444E-B4E2-D23838ED4E29">
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<html:p>WHEREAS, Certified public accountants operate at the center of business, consumer, and financial decisionmaking, bringing knowledge, expertise, problem-solving skills, and independent judgment to address complex and evolving challenges facing California’s businesses, governments, nonprofit organizations, and communities, and providing objective assurance and insight that inform practical solutions, make sense of what comes next, and shape key operational and long-term planning decisions; and</html:p>
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<ns0:Whereas id="id_5472DD34-F962-4A35-AC4A-10318F30A2A4">
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<html:p>WHEREAS, The California Board of Accountancy recognizes the scope of its regulatory influence, regulating over 115,000 total licensees, including nearly 67,000 active certified public accountants and 5,900 accounting firms ranging from small individual proprietorships in rural towns to large entities with national and even worldwide footprints; and</html:p>
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</ns0:Whereas>
<ns0:Whereas id="id_85532FB6-738E-4242-A3DC-6CEE6BA880F3">
<ns0:Content>
<html:p>WHEREAS, According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in accounting and related fields is projected to grow 6 percent from 2021 to 2031, resulting in more than 81,000 job openings annually nationwide, with demand expected to remain strong as market needs expand and experienced professionals retire; and</html:p>
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</ns0:Whereas>
<ns0:Whereas id="id_E9461E4C-E862-46C5-9E3D-81F335DD0015">
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<html:p>WHEREAS, The California Society of Certified Public Accountants, established in 1903, represents and supports a diverse and dynamic community of over 40,000 professionals across public accounting, business and industry, education, and government, and serves as a leading voice for the profession by collaborating with other stakeholders to advance the public interest, shape sound public policy, provide timely information and practical guidance, promote the integrity and value of the certified public accountant profession, and strengthen trust among clients, employers, the public, and government throughout California; and</html:p>
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</ns0:Whereas>
<ns0:Whereas id="id_6559FEC1-C195-4026-9B16-96C9EB80A854">
<ns0:Content>
<html:p>WHEREAS, The California Board of Accountancy collaborates with the California Society of Certified Public Accountants to protect consumers and advance the certified public accountant profession through joint efforts to maintain an effective licensing and regulatory framework, conduct outreach to consumers, aspiring certified public accountants, and licensees, educate the profession on applicable statutes, regulations, and professional standards, develop practical regulations, and ensure fair and consistent enforcement; and</html:p>
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</ns0:Whereas>
<ns0:Whereas id="id_D3AF6B95-3E3F-4FEE-9B6E-0A96D31141CF">
<ns0:Content>
<html:p>WHEREAS, Through this ongoing collaboration, the California Board of Accountancy and the California Society of Certified Public Accountants foster a regulatory environment that upholds strong consumer protections while adapting to evolving business practices, technological advancements, workforce changes, and emerging areas of professional service, ensuring the certified public accountant profession remains trusted, relevant, and well positioned to serve the public interest now and in the future; now, therefore, be it</html:p>
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<html:i>Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly thereof concurring,</html:i>
That the Legislature hereby commemorates, recognizes, and celebrates the 125th anniversary of the certified public accountant profession, commends the California Board of Accountancy for its longstanding commitment to consumer protection and professional excellence, and honors the many certified public accountants who have contributed to California’s economic strength, public accountability, and community well-being; and be it further
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<html:i>Resolved,</html:i>
That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
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