Donna Hiller

The Qualifications Committee meeting focused on several agenda items. Key discussions included the Rule Review of Chapter 511 concerning Eligibility of the Board's Rules, consideration of amendments to the Work Experience Form to ensure alignment with Board Rules, and discussion regarding the potential offering of a webinar to accounting educators and students to provide information on pathways to CPA certification.

The Rules Committee meeting involved discussion, consideration, and possible action on several regulatory matters. Key topics included the Board's response to the National Association of Boards of Accountancy request regarding Alternate Business Structures & Private Equity. Additionally, the committee addressed the rule review process for Chapter 502 (Peer Assistance), Chapter 518 (Unauthorized Practice of Public Accountancy), and Chapter 520 (Provisions for the Accounting Students Scholarship Program). Further items for consideration involved Board Rules 501.51 (Preamble and General Principles) and 501.75 (Confidential Client Communications), as well as Board Rule 505.10 (Board Committees), and scheduling the next meeting.

The Board meeting addressed several key areas, commencing with reports and recommendations from various committees. The Executive Committee agenda included review of the Board's financial statements, discussion of the Equal Employment Opportunity Report for CY 2025, reporting on the Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) Expenditure Summary for FY 2025, consideration of a professional service contract with Jackson Walker Law Firm regarding the Legacy Modernization Project, and an update on that modernization project. The Executive Committee also reviewed matters related to NASBA/AICPA conferences and response letters concerning accounting degree reclassification. The Rules Committee section covered discussion and possible action on rule reviews for Chapter 502 (Peer Assistance), Chapter 518 (Unauthorized Practice of Public Accountancy), Chapter 520 (Scholarship Program), and specific Board Rules including 501.51, 501.75, and 505.10. The joint Continuing Professional Education and Licensing Committees' report included discussion on NASBA's white paper regarding Alternative Practice Structures, firm licensing rules, and the amount of continuing professional education required for Texas CPAs. The Qualifications Committee agenda involved rule review of Chapter 511 (Eligibility) and amendments to the Work Experience Form. The Behavioral Enforcement Committee report involved status updates on various investigation dismissals and granting early termination of probation. Finally, administrative disciplinary actions were considered, specifically addressing nonpayment of licensing fees, CPE delinquencies, and failure to complete license notices, alongside action on proposed agreed consent orders.

The agenda includes a review of the Board's financial statements, discussion of fiscal matters such as the fee schedule for FY 2026, contract lists, and updates on other funds collected. There will be an update on the Legacy System Modernization Project, a review of NASBA/AICPA matters, and consideration of committee and board meeting dates for CY 2026. Additionally, the board will discuss revisions to Chapter 516 of the Board's Rules, responses from Ethics Course instructors regarding common rule violations, and rule reviews for Chapters 514, 521, 525, and 526.

The agenda includes calling the meeting to order, roll call, public comments, and a report from the Executive Committee meeting. The Executive Committee report covers financial statements, the budget plan for Fiscal Year 2026, penalties transferred to the General Revenue, an update on the 89th Texas Legislative Session, and reports from the Ad Hoc Computer Utilization Committee. Also includes review of NASBA/AICPA matters, general correspondence, and the proposed process for the annual evaluation of the executive director. Further agenda items include reports and recommendations from the Rules Committee and the Qualifications Committee meetings, the Peer Review Committee meeting, a report of the licensing program, recommendations from the Behavioral Enforcement Committee and the Technical Standards Review Committee meetings, proposed agreed consent orders and administrative disciplinary actions, proposed adoption of revisions to board rules, and a review of the future meeting schedule.