Code Section

Business and Professions Code - BPC

DIVISION 3. PROFESSIONS AND VOCATIONS GENERALLY [5000 - 9998.11]

  ( Heading of Division 3 added by Stats. 1939, Ch. 30. )
  

CHAPTER 1. Accountants [5000 - 5158]

  ( Chapter 1 repealed and added by Stats. 1945, Ch. 1353. )
  

ARTICLE 5.1. Practice Privileges [5096 - 5096.22]
  ( Article 5.1 added by Stats. 2004, Ch. 921, Sec. 11. )

  
5096.2.  

(a) (1) Practice privileges may be revoked for any of the following reasons:

(A) If an individual no longer qualifies under, or complies with, the provisions of this article, including, but not limited to, Section 5096, or implementing regulations.

(B) If an individual commits any act that if committed by an applicant for licensure would be grounds for denial of a license under Section 480.

(C) If an individual commits any act that if committed by a licensee would be grounds for discipline under Section 5100.

(D) If an individual commits any act outside of this state that would be a violation if committed within this state.

(E) If an individual acquires at any time, while exercising the practice privilege, any disqualifying condition under paragraph (2).

(2) Disqualifying conditions include:

(A) Conviction of any crime other than a minor traffic violation.

(B) Revocation, suspension, denial, surrender, or other discipline or sanctions involving any license, permit, registration, certificate, or other authority to practice any profession in this or any other state or foreign country or to practice before any state, federal, or local court or agency, or the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.

(C) Any judgment or arbitration award against the individual involving the professional conduct of the individual in the amount of thirty thousand dollars ($30,000) or greater.

(D) Any other conditions as specified by the board in regulation.

(3) The board may adopt regulations exempting specified minor occurrences of the conditions listed in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2) from being disqualifying conditions under this subdivision.

(b) The board may revoke practice privileges using either of the following procedures:

(1) Notifying the individual in writing of all of the following:

(A) That the practice privilege is revoked.

(B) The reasons for revocation.

(C) The earliest date on which the individual may qualify for a practice privilege.

(D) That the individual has a right to appeal the notice and request a hearing under the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code) if a written notice of appeal and request for hearing is made within 60 days.

(E) That, if the individual does not submit a notice of appeal and request for hearing within 60 days, the board’s action set forth in the notice shall become final.

(2) Filing a statement of issues under the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code).

(c) An individual whose practice privilege has been revoked may only subsequently exercise the practice privilege upon application to the board for reinstatement of the practice privilege not less than one year after the effective date of the notice or decision revoking the practice privilege, unless a longer time period is specified in the notice or decision revoking the practice privilege.

(d) Holders of practice privileges are subject to suspension, citations, fines, or other disciplinary actions for any conduct that would be grounds for discipline against a licensee of the board or for any conduct in violation of this article or regulations adopted thereunder.

(e) The board may recover its costs pursuant to Section 5107 as part of any disciplinary proceeding against the holder of a practice privilege.

(f) The provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), including, but not limited to, the commencement of a disciplinary proceeding by the filing of an accusation by the board, shall apply under this article.

(g) If the board revokes or otherwise limits an individual’s practice privilege, the board shall promptly notify the regulatory agency of the state or states in which the individual is licensed, and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, and the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy.

(Amended (as amended by Stats. 2013, Ch. 319, Sec. 4) by Stats. 2018, Ch. 447, Sec. 7. (SB 795) Effective January 1, 2019.)