In this global economy, interstate mobility issues have become a reality for CPA firms of all sizes, including sole practitioners. Personally, I have been involved in the preparation of returns with reporting responsibilities in up to 30 other states. Mobility and uniformity issues are important to California CPAs with clients or client interests that cross state lines. Recently, the CalCPA Council met and discussed issues of mobility and important potential changes in California requirements that would better match the Uniform Accountancy Act. In case you missed it, check out the Government Relations column from the December issue of California CPA.
   California, along with Colorado, Vermont, New Hampshire and Delaware, has not yet adopted the 150-hour education requirement for CPA licensing. California has two paths to CPA licensure: Pathway 1 requires a bachelor’s degree with 24 units of accounting and 24 units in business, while Pathway 2 requires a bachelor’s degree with 24 units of accounting and 24 units of business, plus 30 additional hours of college credit.
   The AICPA and National Association of State Boards of Accountancy have revised the Uniform Accountancy Act to allow CPAs to provide services across state lines with fewer restrictions. However, one of the issues still hindering California CPAs in providing client services outside of California is the requirement of California CPA licensing laws and these two separate pathways.
   To ease mobility across borders, CalCPA is supporting a change in legislation to conform to UAA’s mobility provisions where Pathway 1 may be eliminated, which would make California a substantially equivalent state for purposes of mobility. Don’t worry current candidates—this provision is scheduled for an effective date of 2012.
   As I stated last month, the Central Coast continues to be underrepresented and we need to have our voices heard and help support CalCPA’s initiative that California conform to UAA to ease mobility. Several CalCPA members will be headed to Sacramento May 13 for CPA Day at the Capitol. We will have the opportunity to meet with our state representatives and discuss why we believe these changes in California law are good for the accounting profession—and good for the California. Please consider joining us and if you have any questions, contact your board members.
   In April I will pass along some of the other issues and changes that are being proposed in this year of change. Until then, make sure you eat right, get some sleep and exercise and don't forget to thank those wonderful staff and family members for enjoying tax season along with us ... it's what we do!
   Be good to yourselves.
—S. Dana Senes, CPA
[Back to top]

CHAPTER NEWS

New Members

On behalf of the Central Coast Chapter’s officers, directors and members, we extend our warmest of welcomes to our new members: William Hadley, Catherine Curry, Diana Lavorato... [see all new members]

Welcome Our New Board Members

We want to congratulate our 2008-09 board of directors and thank our longtime board member, Debbie Wacker, who has completed her term.
Debbie has been on our board for five years as a director, treasurer, vice president, president and past president. We know we will still see her at meetings and she is continuing her service as a member of the CalCPA Committee on Taxation. We will miss her insight and fun spirit on the board!
We are happy that so many directors decided to continue their service to CalCPA and the chapter. Kevin Jackson has moved into the vice president position and we welcome Brooke Salvini as a director for 2008-10. Thank you to our entire board!

Officers:
President: Rusty Roy, Roy & O’Connor, CPAs
Vice President: Kevin Jackson, CygNet Software
Secretary: Tania Arnold, San Luis Obispo Regional Transit Authority
Treasurer: Terri Harris, Lapp Fatch Myers & Gallagher
Past President: Dana Senes, GBP&B Tax and Business Advisors

Directors
(first year of two-year term)
Greg Peters (second term), RRM Design Group
Karan Pohl (second term), Coast National Bank
Brooke Salvini, Salvini Financial Planning
(second year of two-year term)
Sue Cosper, Barbich Longcrier Hooper & King
Phil Hasel, Philip L. Hasel, CPA
Polly Mead, Polly Mead, CPA

January Meeting a Success!

Our January meeting was well attended and we want to thank Susan Waag, Esq., Waag and Co. for speaking to us regarding new issues in employment law as well as what to think about when investigating an embezzlement case. We also want to thank Teresa Mason, CalCPA Chair and her husband Keith for attending our January meeting. It was a treat to host such wonderful people and to hear about all the positive things that are happening with CalCPA.
The central coast chapter would also like to thank CharityDeductions.com for sponsoring our January chapter event. We love having quality sponsors who can provide valuable services to our members and their clients.
[Back to top]

CalCPA NEWS

Find a CPA: Update Your Profile and Make Yourself Known

Have you moved recently? Changed contact information? Then be sure to update your records online. And while you’re there, take advantage of the opportunity to increase your visibility and show your expertise to the world by listing or updating your information in Find a CPA—CalCPA’s exclusive database of California financial experts.
Find a CPA receives thousands of views each month, making it one of CalCPA.org’s most visited web pages.
Don’t be left out. Update your profile today.
[Back to top]

RESOURCES:

Central Coast Chapter Leadership

Contact Your Program Associate:

Sherri Parkinson

Contact Your Program Director:

Vince Chin

California CPA Education Foundation CPE in the Central Coast Chapter