Section 5-3.1-1. – Short title.
§ 5-3.1-1. Short title. This chapter may be cited as the “Accountancy Act.” History of Section.P.L. 1995, ch. 159, § 2; P.L. 2001, ch. 336, § 1.
Section 5-3.1-10. – Peer reviews.
§ 5-3.1-10. Peer reviews. (a) The board shall require, as a condition to the renewal of permits for practice units under § 5-3.1-9, that applicants undergo peer reviews conducted no more frequently than once every three (3) years in any manner and with any satisfactory result that the board specifies. The review shall include verification […]
Section 5-3.1-11. – Hearing on denial by board.
§ 5-3.1-11. Hearing on denial by board. Any person or practice unit aggrieved by a decision of the board not to: (1) issue a certificate under § 5-3.1-5, (2) issue a permit to practice under § 5-3.1-7, § 5-3.1-8, or § 5-3.1-9, or (3) renew any permit, as the case may be, may request a […]
Section 5-3.1-12. – Revocation or suspension of certificate, authority, or permit.
§ 5-3.1-12. Revocation or suspension of certificate, authority, or permit. (a) After notice and a hearing as provided in § 5-3.1-14, the board may: (1) Suspend or revoke any certificate issued under § 5-3.1-5, or any predecessor provision, and any authority as a public accountant issued under the prior laws of this state; (2) Revoke […]
Section 5-3.1-13. – Revocation or suspension of practice unit permit.
§ 5-3.1-13. Revocation or suspension of practice unit permit. After notice and a hearing as provided in § 5-3.1-14, the board may revoke or suspend the permit of any practice unit issued under § 5-3.1-9 if at any time the practice unit fails to meet all the qualifications prescribed under § 5-3.1-9. After notice and […]
Section 5-3.1-14. – Initiation of proceedings — Hearings before board — Appeals — Notice to other states.
§ 5-3.1-14. Initiation of proceedings — Hearings before board — Appeals — Notice to other states. (a) The board may initiate proceedings under this chapter against a licensee either on its own motion, on the complaint of any person, upon the finding of probable cause by a probable-cause committee appointed by the board pursuant to […]
Section 5-3.1-15. – Reinstatement.
§ 5-3.1-15. Reinstatement. (a) Upon application in writing or after hearing pursuant to notice, the board may: (1) Reissue a certificate to a certified public accountant whose certificate has been revoked or suspended; (2) Reissue an authority to a public accountant whose authority has been revoked or suspended; and (3) Modify the suspension of or […]
Section 5-3.1-16. – Acts declared unlawful.
§ 5-3.1-16. Acts declared unlawful. (a) Except as permitted by the board pursuant to § 5-3.1-18(b), no person shall hold himself or herself out to the public as a certified public accountant or assume or use the designation “certified public accountant” or “CPA” or any other title, designation, words, letters, abbreviation, sign, card, or device […]
Section 5-3.1-17. – Other activities.
§ 5-3.1-17. Other activities. In addition to the activities set out in § 5-3.1-3(13), a licensee may engage in one or more kinds of management, advisory, or consulting services, and in the preparation of tax returns and the furnishing of advice on tax matters. History of Section.P.L. 1995, ch. 159, § 2.
Section 5-3.1-18. – Exceptions — Acts not prohibited.
§ 5-3.1-18. Exceptions — Acts not prohibited. (a) Nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed as prohibiting any person not a certified public accountant or public accountant from serving as an employee of or an assistant to a licensee; provided, that the employee or assistant shall not issue any accounting or financial statement or […]
Section 5-3.1-19. – Injunction against unlawful acts.
§ 5-3.1-19. Injunction against unlawful acts. Whenever, in the judgment of the board, any person or entity has engaged, or is about to engage, in any acts or practices that constitute, or will constitute, a violation of this chapter, the board may make application to the superior court for an order enjoining those acts or […]
Section 5-3.1-2. – Policy and purpose.
§ 5-3.1-2. Policy and purpose. It is the policy of this state and the purpose of this chapter: (1) To promote the dependability of information that is used for guidance in financial transactions or for accounting for or assessing the financial status or performance of commercial, noncommercial, and governmental enterprises; (2) To protect the public […]
Section 5-3.1-20. – Penalty for violations.
§ 5-3.1-20. Penalty for violations. (a) Any person or entity who or that violates any provision of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction, shall be subject to: (1) In the case of an individual, a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or imprisonment for not more than […]
Section 5-3.1-21. – Use of card, sign, or advertisement as evidence — Single act sufficient evidence.
§ 5-3.1-21. Use of card, sign, or advertisement as evidence — Single act sufficient evidence. The display or presentation of a card, sign, advertisement, or other printed, engraved, or written instrument or device bearing a person’s or entity’s name in conjunction with the words “certified public accountant,” “certified public accountants,” “public accountant,” or “public accountants,” […]
Section 5-3.1-22. – Ownership of accountants’ working papers.
§ 5-3.1-22. Ownership of accountants’ working papers. All statements, records, schedules, working papers, memoranda, and any other data, including, but not limited to, a data bank, that are retained by a practice unit incident to or in the course of professional services rendered to clients, except reports submitted by the practice unit to a client, […]
Section 5-3.1-23. – Confidential communications.
§ 5-3.1-23. Confidential communications. (a) No licensee or any employee of a licensee, including, but not limited to, clerks, paraprofessionals, and students under work-study programs on a paid or pro bono basis, shall disclose any confidential information obtained in the course of a professional engagement except with the written consent of the client or former […]
Section 5-3.1-24. – Construction.
§ 5-3.1-24. Construction. If any provision of this chapter or the application of this chapter to anyone or to any circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of this chapter, or the application of that provision to others or other circumstances shall not be affected. History of Section.P.L. 1995, ch. 159, § 2.
Section 5-3.1-25. – Repeal provisions — Effect of prior laws, rules, and regulations.
§ 5-3.1-25. Repeal provisions — Effect of prior laws, rules, and regulations. All other acts or parts of acts in conflict with this chapter are repealed; provided, that nothing contained in this chapter invalidates or affects any action taken under any law in effect prior to January 1, 2000; nor does it invalidate or affect […]
Section 5-3.1-3. – Definitions.
§ 5-3.1-3. Definitions. As used in this chapter, unless the context requires otherwise, the following terms are construed as follows: (1) “Attest” means providing the following services: (i) Any audit or other engagement to be performed in accordance with the Statements on Auditing Standards (SAS); (ii) Any review of a financial statement to be performed […]
Section 5-3.1-4. – Board of accountancy.
§ 5-3.1-4. Board of accountancy. (a) There is created a board of accountancy in and for the state of Rhode Island, to be known as the Rhode Island board of accountancy. The board shall consist of five (5) members. All members shall be appointed by the governor. Membership of the board shall consist of three […]