The Florida Senate

473.309  Practice requirements for partnerships, corporations, and limited liability companies; business entities practicing public accounting.--

(1)  A partnership may not engage in the practice of public accounting, as defined in s. 473.302(7)(a), unless:

(a)  It is a form of partnership recognized by Florida law.

(b)  Partners owning at least 51 percent of the financial interest and voting rights of the partnership are certified public accountants in some state. However, each partner who is a certified public accountant in another state and is domiciled in this state must be a certified public accountant of this state and hold an active license.

(c)  At least one general partner is a certified public accountant of this state and holds an active license.

(d)  All partners who are not certified public accountants in any state are engaged in the business of the partnership as their principal occupation.

(e)  It is in compliance with rules adopted by the board pertaining to minimum capitalization, letters of credit, and adequate public liability insurance.

(f)  It is currently licensed as required by s. 473.3101

(2)  A corporation may not engage in the practice of public accounting, as defined in s. 473.302(7)(a), unless:

(a)  It is a corporation duly organized in this or some other state.

(b)  Shareholders of the corporation owning at least 51 percent of the financial interest and voting rights of the corporation are certified public accountants in some state and are principally engaged in the business of the corporation. However, each shareholder who is a certified public accountant in another state and is domiciled in this state must be a certified public accountant of this state and hold an active license.

(c)  The principal officer of the corporation is a certified public accountant in some state.

(d)  At least one shareholder of the corporation is a certified public accountant and holds an active license in this state.

(e)  All shareholders who are not certified public accountants in any state are engaged in the business of the corporation as their principal occupation.

(f)  It is in compliance with rules adopted by the board pertaining to minimum capitalization, letters of credit, and adequate public liability insurance.

(g)  It is currently licensed as required by s. 473.3101

(3)  A limited liability company may not engage in the practice of public accounting, as defined in s. 473.302(7)(a), unless:

(a)  It is a limited liability company duly organized in this or some other state.

(b)  Members of the limited liability company owning at least 51 percent of the financial interest and voting rights of the company are certified public accountants in some state. However, each member who is a certified public accountant in some state and is domiciled in this state must be a certified public accountant of this state and hold an active license.

(c)  At least one member of the limited liability company is a certified public accountant and holds an active license in this state.

(d)  All members who are not certified public accountants in any state are engaged in the business of the company as their principal occupation.

(e)  It is in compliance with rules adopted by the board pertaining to minimum capitalization, letters of credit, and adequate public liability insurance.

(f)  It is currently licensed as required by s. 473.3101

(4)  A partnership, corporation, limited liability company, or any other business entity is engaged in the practice of public accounting if its employees are engaged in the practice of public accounting. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a licensed audit firm may own all or part of another licensed audit firm.

History.--ss. 8, 25, ch. 79-202; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; ss. 10, 11, ch. 85-9; s. 22, ch. 89-374; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 16, ch. 93-110; s. 1, ch. 93-284; s. 1, ch. 97-35; s. 5, ch. 98-340; s. 2, ch. 2000-114.