Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 19, September 20, 2024
A. In this chapter,
the following terms have the meanings indicated:
(1) "Client" means the person that retains a
licensee for the performance of professional services.
(2) Contingent Fee.
(a) "Contingent fee" means a fee established
for the performance of any service pursuant to an arrangement in which no fee
will be charged unless a specified finding or result is attained, or in which
the amount of the fee is otherwise dependent upon the finding or result of the
service.
(b) "Contingent fee" does
not apply to professional services:
(i)
Involving tax matters, if the fee is determined based on the results of
judicial proceedings or the findings of governmental agencies; and
(ii) For which the fees are to be fixed by
the courts or other public authorities.
(3) "Financial statements" means statements
and related footnotes that purport to show actual or anticipated financial
position which relates to a point in time or results of operations, cash flow,
or changes in financial position which relate to a period of time, on the basis
of generally accepted accounting principles or another comprehensive basis of
accounting. The term includes specific elements, accounts, or items of the
financial statements, but does not include incidental financial data included
in management advisory services reports to support recommendations to a client,
nor does it include tax returns and supporting schedules.
(4) "Management course" means a course in
business-related subjects of 3 semester hours taken to fulfill the requirement
for a major in accounting and includes the study of:
(a) Controlling;
(b) Decision making;
(c) Leadership;
(d) Organization; and
(e) Planning.
(5) Other Compensation.
(a) "Other compensation" means compensation
received by a licensee who is engaged in the practice of certified public
accountancy other than for the performance of professional services, including
compensation for the sale of products other than the work product of the
licensee, or for referral of products or services of others.
(b) "Other compensation" does not include
gifts valued at $100 or less in a single calendar year.
(6) "Practice of certified public
accountancy" means to perform any of the following accountancy services:
(a) Conducting an audit or an examination of
financial statements; or
(b)
Providing a written certificate or opinion as to the correctness of the
information or the fairness of the presentation of the information in any
financial statement, schedule, report or exhibit.
(7) Practice of Public Accountancy.
(a) "Practice of public accountancy" means
the offering to perform or the performance by a person while holding out to the
public as a licensee, for a client or potential client:
(i) Services involving the use of accounting
or auditing skills, including the issuance of reports on financial
statements;
(ii) One or more types
of management advisory services, consulting, or financial planning services;
or
(iii) The preparation of tax
returns or the furnishing of advice on tax matters.
(b) "Practice of public accountancy" includes
the practice of certified public accountancy.
(8) "Professional services" means any
services performed or offered to be performed by a licensed certified public
accountant or permit holder for a client in the course of the practice of
public accountancy.
(9) "U.S.
business law" means a course in accounting education of 3 or more semester
hours taken to fulfill the requirement for a major in accounting, and includes
the analysis and study of the law regarding:
(a) Agency;
(b) Contracts;
(c) Employment;
(d) Insurance;
(e) Negotiable instruments;
(f) Personal or real property; and
(g) Sales.
(10) Written Certificate or Opinion as to the
Correctness of the Financial Statement or as to the Fairness of the
Presentation.
(a) "Written certificate or
opinion as to the correctness of the financial statement or as to the fairness
of the presentation" means an opinion, report, or other form of language that
states or implies assurance as to the reliability of any financial statements,
and that also includes or is accompanied by any statement or implication that
the person or firm issuing the written certificate or opinion has special
knowledge or competence in accounting or auditing. This statement or
implication of special knowledge or competence may arise from use by the issuer
of the report of names or titles indicating that the person is a certified
public accountant or auditor, or may arise from the language of the certificate
or opinion itself.
(b) "Written
certificate or opinion as to the correctness of the financial statement or as
to the fairness of the presentation" includes any:
(i) Form of language which expressly
disclaims an opinion when that form of language is conventionally understood to
imply any positive assurance as to the reliability of the financial statements
referred to; and
(ii) Other form of
language that is conventionally understood to imply positive assurance or
special knowledge or competence.
(c) "Written certificate or opinion as to the
correctness of the financial statement or as to the fairness of the
presentation" may include special competence on the part of the person or firm
issuing the language in this subsection.
B. The Board shall hold an annual meeting in
July of each year or at such other time as the members of the Board may vote
upon, for the purpose of electing officers. Monthly meetings may be held on
dates mutually convenient to the members of the Board. Special meetings shall
be held, after reasonable notice, at the call of the Chairman or of any two
Board members. Notice of all meetings and hearings shall be published in the
Maryland Register.
C. The Chairman
shall preside at all meetings and shall perform such duties as the Board may
direct. At any meeting at which the Chairman is absent, the Secretary-Treasurer
shall act in the Chairman's place.