Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of SB0565
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Full Text of SB0565  94th General Assembly

SB0565eng 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY


 


 
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1     AN ACT concerning regulation.
 
2     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
 
4     Section 5. The Illinois Public Accounting Act is amended by
5 changing Sections 0.03, 6.1, 16, 20.01, 20.1, and 27 as
6 follows:
 
7     (225 ILCS 450/0.03)  (from Ch. 111, par. 5500.03)
8     (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2014)
9     Sec. 0.03. Definitions. As used in this Act, unless the
10 context otherwise requires:
11     (a) "Registered Certified Public Accountant" means any
12 person who has been issued a registration under this Act as a
13 Registered Certified Public Accountant.
14     (b) "Licensed Certified Public Accountant" means any
15 person licensed under this Act as a Licensed Certified Public
16 Accountant.
17     (c) "Committee" means the Public Accountant Registration
18 Committee appointed by the Director.
19     (d) "Department" means the Department of Professional
20 Regulation.
21     (e) "Director" means the Director of Professional
22 Regulation.
23     (f) "License", "licensee" and "licensure" refers to the
24 authorization to practice under the provisions of this Act.
25     (g) "Peer review program" means a study, appraisal, or
26 review of one or more aspects of the professional work of a
27 person or firm or sole practitioner in the practice of public
28 accounting to determine the degree of compliance by the firm or
29 sole practitioner with professional standards and practices,
30 conducted by persons who hold current licenses to practice
31 public accounting under the laws of this or another state and
32 who are not affiliated with the firm or sole practitioner being

 

 

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1 reviewed certified or licensed under this Act, including
2 quality review, peer review, practice monitoring, quality
3 assurance, and similar programs undertaken voluntarily or as a
4 prerequisite to the providing of professional services under
5 government requirements, or any similar internal review or
6 inspection that is required by professional standards.
7     (h) "Review committee" means any person or persons
8 conducting, reviewing, administering, or supervising a peer
9 review program.
10     (i) "University" means the University of Illinois.
11     (j) "Board" means the Board of Examiners established under
12 Section 2.
13     (k) "Registration", "registrant", and "registered" refer
14 to the authorization to hold oneself out as or use the title
15 "Registered Certified Public Accountant" or "Certified Public
16 Accountant", unless the context otherwise requires.
17     (l) "Peer Review Administrator" means an organization
18 designated by the Department that meets the requirements of
19 subsection (f) of Section 16 of this Act and other rules that
20 the Department may adopt.
21 (Source: P.A. 92-457, eff. 7-1-04; 93-683, eff. 7-2-04.)
 
22     (225 ILCS 450/6.1)
23     (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2014)
24     Sec. 6.1. Examinations.
25     (a) The examination shall test the applicant's knowledge of
26 accounting, auditing, and other related subjects, if any, as
27 the Board may deem advisable. A candidate shall be required to
28 pass all sections of the examination in order to qualify for a
29 certificate. A candidate may take the required test sections
30 individually and in any order, as long as the examination is
31 taken within a timeframe established by Board rule.
32     (b) On and after January 1, 2005, applicants shall also be
33 required to pass an examination on the rules of professional
34 conduct, as determined by Board rule to be appropriate, before
35 they may be awarded a certificate as a Certified Public

 

 

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1 Accountant.
2     (c) Pursuant to compliance with the Americans with
3 Disabilities Act, the Board may provide alternative test
4 administration arrangements that are reasonable in the context
5 of the Certified Public Accountant examination for applicants
6 who are unable to take the examination under standard
7 conditions upon an applicant's submission of evidence as the
8 Board may require, which may include a signed statement from a
9 medical or other licensed medical professional, identifying
10 the applicant's disabilities and the specific alternative
11 accommodations the applicant may need. Any alteration in test
12 administration arrangements does not waive the requirement of
13 sitting for and passing the examination. The Board may in
14 certain cases waive or defer any of the requirements of this
15 Section regarding the circumstances in which the various
16 Sections of the examination must be passed upon a showing that,
17 by reasons of circumstances beyond the applicant's control, the
18 applicant was unable to meet the requirement.
19     (d) Any application, document, or other information filed
20 by or concerning an applicant and any examination grades of an
21 applicant shall be deemed confidential and shall not be
22 disclosed to anyone without the prior written permission of the
23 applicant, except that the names and addresses only of all
24 applicants shall be a public record and be released as public
25 information. Nothing in this subsection shall prevent the Board
26 from making public announcement of the names of persons
27 receiving certificates under this Act.
28 (Source: P.A. 93-683, eff. 7-2-04.)
 
29     (225 ILCS 450/16)  (from Ch. 111, par. 5517)
30     (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2014)
31     Sec. 16. Expiration and renewal of licenses; renewal of
32 registration; continuing education.
33     (a) The expiration date and renewal period for each license
34 issued under this Act shall be set by rule.
35     (b) Every holder of a license or registration under this

 

 

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1 Act may renew such license or registration before the
2 expiration date upon payment of the required renewal fee as set
3 by rule.
4     (c) Every application for renewal of a license by a
5 licensed certified public accountant who has been licensed
6 under this Act for 3 years or more shall be accompanied or
7 supported by any evidence the Department shall prescribe, in
8 satisfaction of completing, each 3 years, not less than 120
9 hours of continuing professional education programs in
10 subjects given by continuing education sponsors registered by
11 the Department upon recommendation of the Committee. Of the 120
12 hours, not less than 4 hours shall be courses covering the
13 subject of professional ethics. All continuing education
14 sponsors applying to the Department for registration shall be
15 required to submit an initial nonrefundable application fee set
16 by Department rule. Each registered continuing education
17 sponsor shall be required to pay an annual renewal fee set by
18 Department rule. Publicly supported colleges, universities,
19 and governmental agencies located in Illinois are exempt from
20 payment of any fees required for continuing education sponsor
21 registration. Failure by a continuing education sponsor to be
22 licensed or pay the fees prescribed in this Act, or to comply
23 with the rules and regulations established by the Department
24 under this Section regarding requirements for continuing
25 education courses or sponsors, shall constitute grounds for
26 revocation or denial of renewal of the sponsor's registration.
27     (d) Licensed Certified Public Accountants are exempt from
28 the continuing professional education requirement for the
29 first renewal period following the original issuance of the
30 license.
31     Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (c), the
32 Department may accept courses and sponsors approved by other
33 states, by the American Institute of Certified Public
34 Accountants, by other state CPA societies, or by national
35 accrediting organizations such as the National Association of
36 State Boards of Accountancy.

 

 

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1     Failure by an applicant for renewal of a license as a
2 licensed certified public accountant to furnish the evidence
3 shall constitute grounds for disciplinary action, unless the
4 Department in its discretion shall determine the failure to
5 have been due to reasonable cause. The Department, in its
6 discretion, may renew a license despite failure to furnish
7 evidence of satisfaction of requirements of continuing
8 education upon condition that the applicant follow a particular
9 program or schedule of continuing education. In issuing rules
10 and individual orders in respect of requirements of continuing
11 education, the Department in its discretion may, among other
12 things, use and rely upon guidelines and pronouncements of
13 recognized educational and professional associations; may
14 prescribe rules for the content, duration, and organization of
15 courses; shall take into account the accessibility to
16 applicants of such continuing education as it may require, and
17 any impediments to interstate practice of public accounting
18 that may result from differences in requirements in other
19 states; and may provide for relaxation or suspension of
20 requirements in regard to applicants who certify that they do
21 not intend to engage in the practice of public accounting, and
22 for instances of individual hardship.
23     The Department shall establish by rule a means for the
24 verification of completion of the continuing education
25 required by this Section. This verification may be accomplished
26 through audits of records maintained by licensees; by requiring
27 the filing of continuing education certificates with the
28 Department; or by other means established by the Department.
29     The Department may establish, by rule, guidelines for
30 acceptance of continuing education on behalf of licensed
31 certified public accountants taking continuing education
32 courses in other jurisdictions.
33     (e) For renewals on and after July 1, 2012, as a condition
34 for granting a renewal license to firms and sole practitioners
35 who provide services requiring a license under this Act, the
36 Department shall require that the firm or sole practitioner

 

 

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1 satisfactorily complete a peer review during the immediately
2 preceding 3-year period, accepted by a Peer Review
3 Administrator in accordance with established standards for
4 performing and reporting on peer reviews, unless the firm or
5 sole practitioner is exempted under the provisions of
6 subsection (i) of this Section. A firm or sole practitioner
7 shall, at the request of the Department, submit to the
8 Department a letter from the Peer Review Administrator stating
9 the date on which the peer review was satisfactorily completed.
10     A new firm or sole practitioner not subject to subsection
11 (l) of this Section shall undergo its first peer review during
12 the first full renewal cycle after it is granted its initial
13 license.
14     (f) The Department shall approve only Peer Review
15 Administrators that the Department finds comply with
16 established standards for performing and reporting on peer
17 reviews. The Department may adopt rules establishing
18 guidelines for peer reviews, which shall do all of the
19 following:
20         (1) Require that a peer review be conducted by a
21     reviewer that is independent of the firm reviewed and
22     approved by the Peer Review Administrator under
23     established standards.
24         (2) Other than in the peer review process, prohibit the
25     use or public disclosure of information obtained by the
26     reviewer, the Peer Review Administrator, or the Department
27     during or in connection with the peer review process. The
28     requirement that information not be publicly disclosed
29     shall not apply to a hearing before the Department that the
30     firm or sole practitioner requests be public or to the
31     information described in paragraph (3) of subsection (i) of
32     this Section.
33     (g) If a firm or sole practitioner fails to satisfactorily
34 complete a peer review as required by subsection (e) of this
35 Section or does not comply with any remedial actions determined
36 necessary by the Peer Review Administrator, the Peer Review

 

 

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1 Administrator shall notify the Department of the failure and
2 shall submit a record with specific references to the rule,
3 statutory provision, professional standards, or other
4 applicable authority upon which the Peer Review Administrator
5 made its determination and the specific actions taken or failed
6 to be taken by the licensee that in the opinion of the Peer
7 Review Administrator constitutes a failure to comply. The
8 Department may at its discretion or shall upon submission of a
9 written application by the firm or sole practitioner hold a
10 hearing under Section 20.1 of this Act to determine whether the
11 firm or sole practitioner has complied with subsection (e) of
12 this Section. The hearing shall be confidential and shall not
13 be open to the public unless requested by the firm or sole
14 practitioner.
15     (h) The firm or sole practitioner reviewed shall pay for
16 any peer review performed. The Peer Review Administrator may
17 charge a fee to each firm and sole practitioner sufficient to
18 cover costs of administering the peer review program.
19     (i) A firm or sole practitioner shall be exempt from the
20 requirement to undergo a peer review if:
21         (1) Within 3 years before the date of application for
22     renewal licensure, the sole practitioner or firm has
23     undergone a peer review conducted in another state or
24     foreign jurisdiction that meets the requirements of
25     paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (f) of this Section.
26     The sole practitioner or firm shall submit to the
27     Department a letter from the organization administering
28     the most recent peer review stating the date on which the
29     peer review was completed.
30         (2) The sole practitioner or firm satisfies all of the
31     following conditions:
32             (A) during the preceding 2 years, the firm or sole
33         practitioner has not accepted or performed any
34         services requiring a license under this Act;
35             (B) the firm or sole practitioner agrees to notify
36         the Department within 30 days of accepting an

 

 

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1         engagement for services requiring a license under this
2         Act and to undergo a peer review within 18 months after
3         the end of the period covered by the engagement.
4         (3) For reasons of personal health, military service,
5     or other good cause, the Department determines that the
6     sole practitioner or firm is entitled to an exemption,
7     which may be granted for a period of time not to exceed 12
8     months.
9     (j) In any civil action, arbitration, or administrative
10 proceeding, regardless of whether a licensee is a party
11 thereto, all of the following shall apply:
12         (1) The proceedings, records (including, without
13     limitation, letters of acceptance, peer review reports,
14     letters of comment, and letters of response), and working
15     papers related to the peer review process of any reviewer,
16     administering organization, or board member are privileged
17     and not subject to discovery, subpoena, or other means of
18     legal process and may not be introduced into evidence.
19         (2) No employee, member, or agent of a Peer Review
20     Administrator or reviewer shall be permitted or required to
21     testify as to any matters produced, presented, disclosed,
22     or discussed during or in connection with the peer review
23     process or be required to testify to any finding,
24     recommendation, evaluation, opinion, or other actions of
25     any person in connection with the peer review process.
26         (3) No privilege exists under this subsection (j):
27             (A) for information presented or considered in the
28         peer review process that was otherwise available to the
29         public;
30             (B) for materials not prepared in connection with a
31         peer review merely because the materials subsequently
32         are presented or considered as part of the peer review
33         process; or
34             (C) in connection with an administrative
35         proceeding or related civil action brought for the
36         purpose of enforcing this Section.

 

 

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1     (k) If a peer review report indicates that a firm or sole
2 practitioner complies with the appropriate professional
3 standards and practices set forth in the rules of the
4 Department and no further remedial action is required, the Peer
5 Review Administrator shall destroy all working papers and
6 documents, other than report-related documents, related to the
7 peer review within 90 days after issuance of the letter of
8 acceptance by the Peer Review Administrator. If a peer review
9 letter of acceptance indicates that corrective action is
10 required, the Peer Review Administrator may retain documents
11 and reports related to the peer review until completion of the
12 next peer review or other agreed-to corrective actions.
13     (l) In the event the practices of 2 or more firms or sole
14 practitioners are merged or otherwise combined, the surviving
15 firm shall retain the peer review year of the largest firm, as
16 determined by the number of accounting and auditing hours of
17 each of the practices. In the event that the practice of a firm
18 is divided or a portion of its practice is sold or otherwise
19 transferred, any firm or sole practitioner acquiring some or
20 all of the practice that does not already have its own review
21 year shall retain the review year of the former firm. In the
22 event that the first peer review of a firm that would otherwise
23 be required by this subsection (l) would be less than 12 months
24 after its previous review, a review year shall be assigned by
25 Peer Review Administrator so that the firm's next peer review
26 occurs after not less than 12 months of operation, but not
27 later than 18 months of operation.
28     (m) No Peer Review Administrator or reviewer, or any of its
29 members, employees, agents, or any person furnishing
30 professional counsel or services shall be civilly liable by
31 reason of the performance of any duty, function, or activity
32 under this Section so long as the person or entity has not
33 engaged in willful or wanton misconduct.
34 (Source: P.A. 92-457, eff. 7-1-04; 93-683, eff. 7-2-04.)
 
35     (225 ILCS 450/20.01)  (from Ch. 111, par. 5521.01)

 

 

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1     (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2014)
2     Sec. 20.01. Grounds for discipline; license or
3 registration.
4     (a) The Department may refuse to issue or renew, or may
5 revoke, suspend, or reprimand any registration or registrant,
6 any license or licensee, place a licensee or registrant on
7 probation for a period of time subject to any conditions the
8 Department may specify including requiring the licensee or
9 registrant to attend continuing education courses or to work
10 under the supervision of another licensee or registrant, impose
11 a fine not to exceed $5,000 for each violation, restrict the
12 authorized scope of practice, or require a licensee or
13 registrant to undergo a peer review program, for any one or
14 more of the following:
15         (1) Violation of any provision of this Act.
16         (2) Attempting to procure a license or registration to
17     practice under this Act by bribery or fraudulent
18     misrepresentations.
19         (3) Having a license to practice public accounting or
20     registration revoked, suspended, or otherwise acted
21     against, including the denial of licensure or
22     registration, by the licensing or registering authority of
23     another state, territory, or country, including but not
24     limited to the District of Columbia, or any United States
25     territory. No disciplinary action shall be taken in
26     Illinois if the action taken in another jurisdiction was
27     based upon failure to meet the continuing professional
28     education requirements of that jurisdiction and the
29     applicable Illinois continuing professional education
30     requirements are met.
31         (4) Being convicted or found guilty, regardless of
32     adjudication, of a crime in any jurisdiction which directly
33     relates to the practice of public accounting or the ability
34     to practice public accounting or as a Registered Certified
35     Public Accountant.
36         (5) Making or filing a report or record which the

 

 

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1     registrant or licensee knows to be false, willfully failing
2     to file a report or record required by state or federal
3     law, willfully impeding or obstructing the filing, or
4     inducing another person to impede or obstruct the filing.
5     The reports or records shall include only those that are
6     signed in the capacity of a licensed certified public
7     accountant or a registered certified public accountant.
8         (6) Conviction in this or another State or the District
9     of Columbia, or any United States Territory, of any crime
10     that is punishable by one year or more in prison or
11     conviction of a crime in a federal court that is punishable
12     by one year or more in prison.
13         (7) Proof that the licensee or registrant is guilty of
14     fraud or deceit, or of gross negligence, incompetency, or
15     misconduct, in the practice of public accounting.
16         (8) Violation of any rule adopted under this Act.
17         (9) Practicing on a revoked, suspended, or inactive
18     license or registration.
19         (10) Suspension or revocation of the right to practice
20     before any state or federal agency.
21         (11) Conviction of any crime under the laws of the
22     United States or any state or territory of the United
23     States that is a felony or misdemeanor and has dishonesty
24     as an essential element, or of any crime that is directly
25     related to the practice of the profession.
26         (12) Making any misrepresentation for the purpose of
27     obtaining a license, or registration or material
28     misstatement in furnishing information to the Department.
29         (13) Aiding or assisting another person in violating
30     any provision of this Act or rules promulgated hereunder.
31         (14) Engaging in dishonorable, unethical, or
32     unprofessional conduct of a character likely to deceive,
33     defraud, or harm the public and violating the rules of
34     professional conduct adopted by the Department.
35         (15) Habitual or excessive use or addiction to alcohol,
36     narcotics, stimulants, or any other chemical agent or drug

 

 

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1     that results in the inability to practice with reasonable
2     skill, judgment, or safety.
3         (16) Directly or indirectly giving to or receiving from
4     any person, firm, corporation, partnership, or association
5     any fee, commission, rebate, or other form of compensation
6     for any professional service not actually rendered.
7         (17) Physical or mental disability, including
8     deterioration through the aging process or loss of
9     abilities and skills that results in the inability to
10     practice the profession with reasonable judgment, skill or
11     safety.
12         (18) Solicitation of professional services by using
13     false or misleading advertising.
14         (19) Failure to file a return, or pay the tax, penalty
15     or interest shown in a filed return, or to pay any final
16     assessment of tax, penalty or interest, as required by any
17     tax Act administered by the Illinois Department of Revenue
18     or any successor agency or the Internal Revenue Service or
19     any successor agency.
20         (20) Practicing or attempting to practice under a name
21     other than the full name as shown on the license or
22     registration or any other legally authorized name.
23         (21) A finding by the Department that a licensee or
24     registrant has not complied with a provision of any lawful
25     order issued by the Department.
26         (22) Making a false statement to the Department
27     regarding compliance with continuing professional
28     education or peer review requirements.
29         (23) Failing to make a substantive response to a
30     request for information by the Department within 30 days of
31     the request.
32     (b) (Blank).
33     (c) In rendering an order, the Department shall take into
34 consideration the facts and circumstances involving the type of
35 acts or omissions in subsection (a) including, but not limited
36 to:

 

 

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1         (1) the extent to which public confidence in the public
2     accounting profession was, might have been, or may be
3     injured;
4         (2) the degree of trust and dependence among the
5     involved parties;
6         (3) the character and degree of financial or economic
7     harm which did or might have resulted; and
8         (4) the intent or mental state of the person charged at
9     the time of the acts or omissions.
10     (d) The Department shall reissue the license or
11 registration upon a showing that the disciplined licensee or
12 registrant has complied with all of the terms and conditions
13 set forth in the final order.
14     (e) The Department shall deny any application for a
15 license, registration, or renewal, without hearing, to any
16 person who has defaulted on an educational loan guaranteed by
17 the Illinois Student Assistance Commission; however, the
18 Department may issue a license, registration, or renewal if the
19 person in default has established a satisfactory repayment
20 record as determined by the Illinois Student Assistance
21 Commission.
22     (f) The determination by a court that a licensee or
23 registrant is subject to involuntary admission or judicial
24 admission as provided in the Mental Health and Developmental
25 Disabilities Code will result in the automatic suspension of
26 his or her license or registration. The licensee or registrant
27 shall be responsible for notifying the Department of the
28 determination by the court that the licensee or registrant is
29 subject to involuntary admission or judicial admission as
30 provided in the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities
31 Code. The licensee or registrant shall also notify the
32 Department upon discharge so that a determination may be made
33 under item (17) of subsection (a) whether the licensee or
34 registrant may resume practice.
35 (Source: P.A. 92-457, eff. 7-1-04; 93-629, eff. 12-23-03;
36 93-683, eff. 7-2-04.)
 

 

 

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1     (225 ILCS 450/20.1)  (from Ch. 111, par. 5522)
2     (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2014)
3     Sec. 20.1. Investigations; notice; hearing. The Department
4 may, upon its own motion, and shall, upon the verified
5 complaint in writing of any person setting forth facts which,
6 if proved, would constitute grounds for disciplinary action as
7 set forth in Section 20.01, investigate the actions of any
8 person or entity. The Department may refer complaints and
9 investigations to a disciplinary body of the accounting
10 profession for technical assistance. The results of an
11 investigation and recommendations of the disciplinary body may
12 be considered by the Department, but shall not be considered
13 determinative and the Department shall not in any way be
14 obligated to take any action or be bound by the results of the
15 accounting profession's disciplinary proceedings. The
16 Department, before taking disciplinary action, shall afford
17 the concerned party or parties an opportunity to request a
18 hearing and if so requested shall set a time and place for a
19 hearing of the complaint. With respect to determinations by a
20 Peer Review Administrator duly appointed by the Department
21 under subsection (f) of Section 16 of this Act that a licensee
22 has failed to satisfactorily complete a peer review as required
23 under subsection (e) of Section 16, the Department may consider
24 the Peer Review Administrator's findings of fact as prima facie
25 evidence, and upon request by a licensee for a hearing the
26 Department shall review the record presented and hear arguments
27 by the licensee or the licensee's counsel but need not conduct
28 a trial or hearing de novo or accept additional evidence. The
29 Department shall notify the applicant or the licensed or
30 registered person or entity of any charges made and the date
31 and place of the hearing of those charges by mailing notice
32 thereof to that person or entity by registered or certified
33 mail to the place last specified by the accused person or
34 entity in the last notification to the Department, at least 30
35 days prior to the date set for the hearing or by serving a

 

 

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1 written notice by delivery of the notice to the accused person
2 or entity at least 15 days prior to the date set for the
3 hearing, and shall direct the applicant or licensee or
4 registrant to file a written answer to the Department under
5 oath within 20 days after the service of the notice and inform
6 the applicant or licensee or registrant that failure to file an
7 answer will result in default being taken against the applicant
8 or licensee or registrant and that the license or registration
9 may be suspended, revoked, placed on probationary status, or
10 other disciplinary action may be taken, including limiting the
11 scope, nature or extent of practice, as the Director may deem
12 proper. In case the person fails to file an answer after
13 receiving notice, his or her license or registration may, in
14 the discretion of the Department, be suspended, revoked, or
15 placed on probationary status, or the Department may take
16 whatever disciplinary action deemed proper, including limiting
17 the scope, nature, or extent of the person's practice or the
18 imposition of a fine, without a hearing, if the act or acts
19 charged constitute sufficient grounds for such action under
20 this Act. The Department shall afford the accused person or
21 entity an opportunity to be heard in person or by counsel at
22 the hearing. At the conclusion of the hearing the Committee
23 shall present to the Director a written report setting forth
24 its finding of facts, conclusions of law, and recommendations.
25 The report shall contain a finding whether or not the accused
26 person violated this Act or failed to comply with the
27 conditions required in this Act. If the Director disagrees in
28 any regard with the report, he or she may issue an order in
29 contravention of the report. The Director shall provide a
30 written explanation to the Committee of any such deviations and
31 shall specify with particularity the reasons for the
32 deviations.
33     The finding is not admissible in evidence against the
34 person in a criminal prosecution brought for the violation of
35 this Act, but the hearing and findings are not a bar to a
36 criminal prosecution brought for the violation of this Act.

 

 

SB0565 Engrossed - 16 - LRB094 10891 LJB 41439 b

1 (Source: P.A. 92-457, eff. 7-1-04; 93-683, eff. 7-2-04.)
 
2     (225 ILCS 450/27)  (from Ch. 111, par. 5533)
3     (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2014)
4     Sec. 27. A licensed or registered certified public
5 accountant shall not be required by any court to divulge
6 information or evidence which has been obtained by him in his
7 confidential capacity as a licensed or registered certified
8 public accountant. This Section shall not apply to any
9 investigation or hearing undertaken pursuant to this Act.
10 (Source: P.A. 92-457, eff. 7-1-04.)
 
11     Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
12 becoming law.