(a) The State Board of Accountancy shall issue a Connecticut Certified Public Accountant's Certificate to any person who has been granted the designation “certified public accountant” and who submits an application and pays the applicable fee for an initial certified public accountant certificate. No person issued an initial certificate, pursuant to this section, shall engage in the practice of public accountancy or use the title or designation “certified public accountant”, or the abbreviations “CPA”, or any other title, designation, words, letters, abbreviation, sign, card or device tending to indicate that such person is a certified public accountant, except as permitted in accordance with sections 20-280 and 20-281g.
(b) (1) Any individual who has been convicted of any criminal offense may request, at any time, that the board determine whether such individual's criminal conviction disqualifies the individual from obtaining a certificate or license issued or conferred by the board pursuant to this chapter based on (A) the nature of the conviction and its relationship to the individual's ability to safely or competently perform the duties or responsibilities associated with such license, (B) information pertaining to the degree of rehabilitation of the individual, and (C) the time elapsed since the conviction or release of the individual.
(2) An individual making such request shall include (A) details of the individual's criminal conviction, and (B) any payment required by the board. The board may charge a fee of not more than fifteen dollars for each request made under this subsection. The board may waive such fee.
(3) Not later than thirty days after receiving a request under this subsection, the board shall inform the individual making such request whether, based on the criminal record information submitted, such individual is disqualified from receiving or holding a license issued pursuant to this chapter.
(4) The board is not bound by a determination made under this section, if, upon further investigation, the board determines that the individual's criminal conviction differs from the information presented in the determination request.
(P.A. 06-31, S. 1; P.A. 08-52, S. 8; P.A. 22-88, S. 17.)
History: P.A. 08-52 replaced former provisions with requirements for issuance of a Connecticut Certified Public Account's Certificate, effective May 12, 2008; P.A. 22-88 designated existing provision as Subsec. (a) and added Subsec. (b) re provisions for individuals convicted of a criminal offense to request commissioner determination whether such conviction disqualifies them from receiving a license.
Structure Connecticut General Statutes
Chapter 389 - Public Accountants
Section 20-279 and 20-279a. - Board of Accountancy. Definitions.
Section 20-279b. - Definitions.
Section 20-280a. - Comptroller to perform fiscal duties of and provide clerical assistance to board.
Section 20-280b. - Hearing. Order to discontinue violation. Civil penalty.
Section 20-280c. - Investigation of complaints.
Section 20-281. - Permit to practice. Quality review.
Section 20-281h. - Violations. Fine or imprisonment.
Section 20-281j. - Confidentiality of client information.