§ 17-12-601 — Grounds generally

(a) The following acts, conduct, or practices are prohibited, and any licensee or holder of a practice privilege found guilty by the Arkansas State Board of Public Accountancy of the acts, conducts, or practices shall be subject to disciplinary action as provided in § 17-12-602 after notice and hearing as provided in § 17-12-603 : (1) Fraud, dishonesty, or deceit in obtaining or attempting to obtain a certificate or registration as a certified public accountant or public accountant, registration of a firm, or a practice privilege under this chapter; (2) Dishonesty, fraud, or gross negligence in the practice of public accountancy; (3) Violation of any of the provisions of this chapter; (4) Violation of a rule of professional conduct or other rule promulgated by the board under the authority granted by this chapter; (5) Conviction of a felony under § 17-3-102 ; (6) Conviction of any crime an element of which is dishonesty or fraud under the law of any state or of the United States; (7) Imposition of any sanction or disciplinary action, other than for failure to pay annual fees, by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, Internal Revenue Service, or other federal or state agency or foreign authority or credentialing body that regulates public accounting regarding the licensee's conduct while rendering public accounting or other professional services; (8) Conduct discreditable to the public accounting profession; and (9) Violation of any board order or agreement for the resolution of asserted violations of this chapter, a board rule of professional conduct, or other board rule. (b) The board may deny an application for a license, registration, certificate, or practice privilege if it finds the applicant committed any of the acts, conduct, or practices prohibited by subsection (a) of this section. (c) In addition to the offenses listed in § 17-3-102 , the Arkansas State Board of Public Accountancy may refuse to issue a license to or reinstate a license of a person who has been convicted of a felony involving theft or fraud, regardless of the amount of time that has elapsed since the conviction.

Legislative History

Amended by Act 2019, No. 990,§ 11, eff. 7/24/2019. Amended by Act 2019, No. 990,§ 10, eff. 7/24/2019. Acts 1975, No. 160, § 12; 1979, No. 432, § 6; A.S.A. 1947, § 71-622; Acts 1997, No. 242, § 18; 1999, No. 180, § 38; 2005, No. 54, § 17.