S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  9771

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                              May 22, 2014
                               ___________

Introduced  by M. of A. ORTIZ -- read once and referred to the Committee
  on Higher Education

AN ACT to amend the education law, the  business  corporation  law,  the
  partnership  law and the limited liability company law, in relation to
  certified public accountants

  THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section  1.  Subdivision  2  of  section 7408 of the education law, as
amended by chapter 651 of the laws  of  2008,  is  amended  to  read  as
follows:
  2.  A.  No  firm  shall use the words "certified public accountant" or
"certified public  accountants"  or  the  letters  "CPA"  or  "CPAs"  in
connection with its name unless the sole proprietor of such firm or each
partner  of  a partnership or limited liability partnership, member of a
limited liability company  or  shareholder  of  a  professional  service
corporation  engaged  within the United States in the practice of public
accountancy is in good standing as a certified public accountant of  one
or  more  of the states of the United States.  NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER
PROVISIONS OF LAW, AN APPLICANT FOR INITIAL ISSUANCE  OR  RENEWAL  OF  A
FIRM PERMIT TO PRACTICE UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL BE REQUIRED TO SHOW (1)
THAT  A SIMPLE MAJORITY OF THE OWNERSHIP OF THE FIRM, IN TERMS OF FINAN-
CIAL  INTERESTS,  INCLUDING  OWNERSHIP-BASED  COMPENSATION,  AND  VOTING
RIGHTS  HELD  BY  THE  FIRM'S OWNERS, BELONGS TO INDIVIDUALS LICENSED TO
PRACTICE PUBLIC ACCOUNTANCY IN SOME STATE, AND (2) THAT ALL PARTNERS  OF
A  PARTNERSHIP OR LIMITED LIABILITY PARTNERSHIP, OR MEMBERS OF A LIMITED
LIABILITY COMPANY, OR SHAREHOLDERS OF A PROFESSIONAL SERVICE CORPORATION
WHOSE PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS IS IN THIS STATE, AND WHO ARE  ENGAGED
IN  THE  PRACTICE  OF  PUBLIC  ACCOUNTANCY  IN  THIS STATE, HOLD A VALID
LICENSE ISSUED UNDER SECTION SEVENTY-FOUR HUNDRED FOUR OF  THIS  ARTICLE
OR  ARE  PUBLIC  ACCOUNTANTS LICENSED UNDER SECTION SEVENTY-FOUR HUNDRED
FIVE OF THIS ARTICLE. ALTHOUGH FIRMS MAY  INCLUDE  NON-LICENSEE  OWNERS,
THE FIRM AND ITS OWNERS MUST COMPLY WITH RULES PROMULGATED BY THE BOARD.
NOTWITHSTANDING  THE FOREGOING, A FIRM REGISTERED UNDER THIS SECTION MAY
NOT HAVE NON-LICENSEE OWNERS IF  THE  FIRM'S  NAME  INCLUDES  THE  WORDS

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                           LBD10267-04-4

A. 9771                             2

"CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT," OR "CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS," OR THE
ABBREVIATIONS "CPA" OR "CPAS."
  B.  EACH  NON-LICENSEE  OWNER  OF A FIRM THAT IS REGISTERED UNDER THIS
SECTION SHALL BE (1) A NATURAL PERSON WHO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATES  IN  THE
BUSINESS  OF  THE  FIRM  OR  ITS  AFFILIATED ENTITIES, OR (2) AN ENTITY,
INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,  A  PARTNERSHIP  OR  PROFESSIONAL  CORPO-
RATION,  PROVIDED  EACH  BENEFICIAL  OWNER OF AN EQUITY INTEREST IN SUCH
ENTITY IS A NATURAL PERSON WHO ACTIVELY  PARTICIPATES  IN  THE  BUSINESS
CONDUCTED  BY THE FIRM OR ITS AFFILIATED ENTITIES.  FOR PURPOSES OF THIS
SUBDIVISION, "ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE" MEANS TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO CLIENTS
OR TO OTHERWISE INDIVIDUALLY TAKE PART IN  THE  DAY-TO-DAY  BUSINESS  OR
MANAGEMENT OF THE FIRM.
  S 2. Section 1503 of the business corporation law is amended by adding
a new paragraph (h) to read as follows:
  (H) ANY FIRM ESTABLISHED FOR THE BUSINESS PURPOSE OF LAWFULLY ENGAGING
IN  THE  PRACTICE OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTANCY THAT IS REGISTERED UNDER SECTION
SEVENTY-FOUR HUNDRED EIGHT OF THE EDUCATION LAW MAY BE INCORPORATED AS A
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE CORPORATION UNDER THIS ARTICLE.  SUCH A FIRM  SHALL
HAVE  ATTACHED  TO  ITS  CERTIFICATE  OF  INCORPORATION A CERTIFICATE OR
CERTIFICATES DEMONSTRATING THE FIRM'S COMPLIANCE  WITH  PARAGRAPH  A  OF
SUBDIVISION  TWO  OF SECTION SEVENTY-FOUR HUNDRED EIGHT OF THE EDUCATION
LAW, IN LIEU OF THE CERTIFICATE OR CERTIFICATES REQUIRED BY SUBPARAGRAPH
(II) OF PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS SECTION.
  S 3. Paragraph (d) of section 1525 of the business corporation law, as
added by chapter 505 of the laws of 1983, is amended to read as follows:
  (d) "Foreign professional service corporation"  means  a  professional
service corporation, whether or not denominated as such, organized under
the  laws of a jurisdiction other than this state, all of the sharehold-
ers, directors and officers of which  are  authorized  and  licensed  to
practice  the  profession  for  which such corporation is licensed to do
business; except that all shareholders,  directors  and  officers  of  a
foreign  professional service corporation which provides health services
in this state shall be licensed in this state.  ANY FIRM ESTABLISHED FOR
THE BUSINESS PURPOSE OF LAWFULLY ENGAGING  IN  THE  PRACTICE  OF  PUBLIC
ACCOUNTANCY THAT IS LICENSED UNDER SECTION SEVENTY-FOUR HUNDRED EIGHT OF
THE  EDUCATION LAW MAY BE INCORPORATED AS A FOREIGN PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
CORPORATION UNDER THIS ARTICLE.
  S 4. The fourteenth undesignated paragraph of section 2 of  the  part-
nership  law, as added by chapter 576 of the laws of 1994, is amended to
read as follows:
  "Professional partnership" means (1)  a  partnership  without  limited
partners  each  of whose partners is a professional authorized by law to
render a professional service within this state, (2) a partnership with-
out limited partners each of whose partners is a professional, at  least
one of whom is authorized by law to render a professional service within
this  state or (3) a partnership without limited partners authorized by,
or holding a license, certificate, registration or permit issued by  the
licensing  authority  pursuant  to the education law to render a profes-
sional service within this state; except that all partners of a  profes-
sional  partnership that provides medical services in this state must be
licensed pursuant to article 131 of the education law to practice  medi-
cine  in  this state and all partners of a professional partnership that
provides dental services in this state  must  be  licensed  pursuant  to
article  133  of  the education law to practice dentistry in this state;
[and further] except that all partners  of  a  professional  partnership
that  provides  professional  engineering, land surveying, architectural

A. 9771                             3

and/or landscape architectural services in this state must  be  licensed
pursuant to article 145, article 147 and/or article 148 of the education
law  to  practice  one  or  more  of such professions in this state; AND
FURTHER  EXCEPT  THAT  ALL  PARTNERS  OF A PROFESSIONAL PARTNERSHIP THAT
PROVIDES PUBLIC ACCOUNTANCY SERVICES, WHOSE PRINCIPAL PLACE OF  BUSINESS
IS  IN  THIS  STATE AND WHO PROVIDE PUBLIC ACCOUNTANCY SERVICES, MUST BE
LICENSED PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 149 OF THE EDUCATION LAW TO PRACTICE PUBLIC
ACCOUNTANCY IN THIS STATE.
  S 5. Subdivision (q) of section 121-1500 of the  partnership  law,  as
amended  by  chapter  554  of  the  laws  of 2013, is amended to read as
follows:
  (q) Each partner of a registered limited liability partnership  formed
to  provide  medical services in this state must be licensed pursuant to
article 131 of the education law to practice medicine in this state  and
each  partner  of  a  registered limited liability partnership formed to
provide dental services in this state must be licensed pursuant to arti-
cle 133 of the education law to practice dentistry in this state.   Each
partner  of a registered limited liability partnership formed to provide
veterinary services in this state must be licensed pursuant  to  article
135  of the education law to practice veterinary medicine in this state.
EACH PARTNER OF A REGISTERED LIMITED  LIABILITY  PARTNERSHIP  FORMED  TO
PROVIDE  PUBLIC  ACCOUNTANCY SERVICES, WHOSE PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS
IS IN THIS STATE AND WHO PROVIDES PUBLIC ACCOUNTANCY SERVICES,  MUST  BE
LICENSED PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 149 OF THE EDUCATION LAW TO PRACTICE PUBLIC
ACCOUNTANCY  IN THIS STATE. Each partner of a registered limited liabil-
ity partnership formed to provide professional engineering, land survey-
ing, architectural and/or landscape architectural services in this state
must be licensed pursuant to article 145, article 147 and/or article 148
of the education law to practice one or more of such professions in this
state. Each partner of a registered limited liability partnership formed
to provide licensed clinical social work services in this state must  be
licensed  pursuant to article 154 of the education law to practice clin-
ical social work in this state. Each partner  of  a  registered  limited
liability  partnership  formed to provide creative arts therapy services
in this state must be licensed pursuant to article 163 of the  education
law  to  practice creative arts therapy in this state. Each partner of a
registered limited liability partnership formed to provide marriage  and
family therapy services in this state must be licensed pursuant to arti-
cle  163 of the education law to practice marriage and family therapy in
this state. Each partner of a registered limited  liability  partnership
formed  to  provide mental health counseling services in this state must
be licensed pursuant to article 163 of the  education  law  to  practice
mental  health  counseling  in  this state. Each partner of a registered
limited liability partnership formed to provide psychoanalysis  services
in  this state must be licensed pursuant to article 163 of the education
law to practice psychoanalysis in this state. Each partner of  a  regis-
tered  limited  liability partnership formed to provide applied behavior
analysis service in this state must be licensed or certified pursuant to
article 167 of the education law to practice applied  behavior  analysis
in this state.
  S  6.  Subdivision  (q) of section 121-1502 of the partnership law, as
amended by chapter 554 of the laws  of  2013,  is  amended  to  read  as
follows:
  (q)  Each  partner  of  a  foreign limited liability partnership which
provides medical services in this state must  be  licensed  pursuant  to
article  131  of the education law to practice medicine in the state and

A. 9771                             4

each partner of a foreign limited liability partnership  which  provides
dental services in the state must be licensed pursuant to article 133 of
the education law to practice dentistry in this state. Each partner of a
foreign  limited liability partnership which provides veterinary service
in the state shall be licensed pursuant to article 135 of the  education
law  to  practice  veterinary  medicine in this state. Each partner of a
foreign limited liability partnership which provides professional  engi-
neering,  land  surveying,  architectural and/or landscape architectural
services in this state must be licensed pursuant to article 145, article
147 and/or article 148 of the education law to practice one or  more  of
such  professions.  EACH PARTNER OF A REGISTERED FOREIGN LIMITED LIABIL-
ITY PARTNERSHIP FORMED TO PROVIDE  PUBLIC  ACCOUNTANCY  SERVICES,  WHOSE
PRINCIPAL  PLACE  OF  BUSINESS  IS IN THIS STATE AND WHO PROVIDES PUBLIC
ACCOUNTANCY SERVICES, MUST BE LICENSED PURSUANT TO ARTICLE  149  OF  THE
EDUCATION LAW TO PRACTICE PUBLIC ACCOUNTANCY IN THIS STATE. Each partner
of a foreign limited liability partnership which provides licensed clin-
ical  social  work  services  in this state must be licensed pursuant to
article 154 of the education law to practice  licensed  clinical  social
work in this state. Each partner of a foreign limited liability partner-
ship which provides creative arts therapy services in this state must be
licensed  pursuant to article 163 of the education law to practice crea-
tive arts therapy in this state.  Each  partner  of  a  foreign  limited
liability   partnership  which  provides  marriage  and  family  therapy
services in this state must be licensed pursuant to article 163  of  the
education  law  to  practice  marriage and family therapy in this state.
Each partner of a foreign limited liability partnership  which  provides
mental  health counseling services in this state must be licensed pursu-
ant to article 163 of the education law to practice mental health  coun-
seling  in this state. Each partner of a foreign limited liability part-
nership which provides psychoanalysis services in  this  state  must  be
licensed  pursuant  to  article  163  of  the  education law to practice
psychoanalysis in this state. Each partner of a foreign limited  liabil-
ity  partnership  which  provides  applied behavior analysis services in
this state must be licensed or certified pursuant to article 167 of  the
education law to practice applied behavior analysis in this state.
  S  7.  Subdivision  (h)  of section 121-101 of the partnership law, as
added by chapter 950 of the laws of 1990, is amended to read as follows:
  (h) "Limited partnership" and  "domestic  limited  partnership"  mean,
unless  the  context otherwise requires, a partnership (i) formed by two
or more persons pursuant to this article or which complies with subdivi-
sion (a) of section 121-1202 of this article and (ii) having one or more
general partners and one or more limited partners.  ANY FIRM ESTABLISHED
FOR THE BUSINESS PURPOSE OF LAWFULLY ENGAGING IN THE PRACTICE OF  PUBLIC
ACCOUNTANCY THAT IS LICENSED UNDER SECTION SEVENTY-FOUR HUNDRED EIGHT OF
THE  EDUCATION  LAW  MAY  BE  FORMED AS A LIMITED PARTNERSHIP UNDER THIS
ARTICLE.
  S 8. Subdivision (b) of section 1207 of the limited liability  company
law,  as  amended by chapter 554 of the laws of 2013, is amended to read
as follows:
  (b) With respect to a professional service limited  liability  company
formed to provide medical services as such services are defined in arti-
cle  131  of  the  education  law, each member of such limited liability
company must be licensed pursuant to article 131 of the education law to
practice medicine in this state. With respect to a professional  service
limited  liability  company  formed  to  provide dental services as such
services are defined in article 133 of the education law, each member of

A. 9771                             5

such limited liability company must be licensed pursuant to article  133
of  the  education law to practice dentistry in this state. With respect
to a professional service limited liability company  formed  to  provide
veterinary  services  as such services are defined in article 135 of the
education law, each member of such limited  liability  company  must  be
licensed pursuant to article 135 of the education law to practice veter-
inary  medicine  in  this  state. With respect to a professional service
limited liability company formed to  provide  professional  engineering,
land surveying, architectural and/or landscape architectural services as
such services are defined in article 145, article 147 and article 148 of
the education law, each member of such limited liability company must be
licensed  pursuant to article 145, article 147 and/or article 148 of the
education law to practice one or more of such professions in this state.
WITH RESPECT TO A PROFESSIONAL SERVICE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY  FORMED
TO  PROVIDE  PUBLIC ACCOUNTANCY SERVICES AS SUCH SERVICES ARE DEFINED IN
ARTICLE 149 OF THE EDUCATION LAW EACH MEMBER OF SUCH  LIMITED  LIABILITY
COMPANY  WHOSE  PRINCIPAL  PLACE  OF  BUSINESS  IS IN THIS STATE AND WHO
PROVIDES PUBLIC ACCOUNTANCY SERVICES, MUST BE LICENSED PURSUANT TO ARTI-
CLE 149 OF THE EDUCATION LAW TO  PRACTICE  PUBLIC  ACCOUNTANCY  IN  THIS
STATE.  With respect to a professional service limited liability company
formed to  provide  licensed  clinical  social  work  services  as  such
services are defined in article 154 of the education law, each member of
such limited liability company shall be licensed pursuant to article 154
of  the  education law to practice licensed clinical social work in this
state. With respect to a professional service limited liability  company
formed  to  provide  creative arts therapy services as such services are
defined in article 163 of the education law, each member of such limited
liability company must be licensed pursuant to article 163 of the educa-
tion law to practice creative arts therapy in this state.  With  respect
to  a  professional  service limited liability company formed to provide
marriage and family therapy services as such  services  are  defined  in
article  163 of the education law, each member of such limited liability
company must be licensed pursuant to article 163 of the education law to
practice marriage and family therapy in this state. With  respect  to  a
professional  service limited liability company formed to provide mental
health counseling services as such services are defined in  article  163
of the education law, each member of such limited liability company must
be  licensed  pursuant  to  article 163 of the education law to practice
mental health counseling in this state. With respect to  a  professional
service  limited  liability  company  formed  to  provide psychoanalysis
services as such services are defined in article 163  of  the  education
law,  each  member  of  such  limited liability company must be licensed
pursuant to article 163 of the education law to practice  psychoanalysis
in  this state. With respect to a professional service limited liability
company formed to provide applied behavior  analysis  services  as  such
services are defined in article 167 of the education law, each member of
such limited liability company must be licensed or certified pursuant to
article  167  of the education law to practice applied behavior analysis
in this state.
  S 9. Subdivisions (a) and (f) of section 1301 of the limited liability
company law, subdivision (a) as amended by chapter 554 of  the  laws  of
2013  and subdivision (f) as amended by chapter 170 of the laws of 1996,
are amended to read as follows:
  (a) "Foreign professional service limited liability company"  means  a
professional  service  limited liability company, whether or not denomi-
nated as such, organized under the laws of  a  jurisdiction  other  than

A. 9771                             6

this state, (i) each of whose members and managers, if any, is a profes-
sional  authorized  by  law to render a professional service within this
state and who is or has been engaged in the practice of such  profession
in  such professional service limited liability company or a predecessor
entity, or will engage in the practice of such profession in the profes-
sional service limited liability company within thirty days of the  date
such  professional becomes a member, or each of whose members and manag-
ers, if any, is a professional at least one of such members  is  author-
ized  by  law to render a professional service within this state and who
is or has been engaged in  the  practice  of  such  profession  in  such
professional  service limited liability company or a predecessor entity,
or will engage in the practice of such profession  in  the  professional
service  limited  liability  company within thirty days of the date such
professional becomes a member, or  (ii)  authorized  by,  or  holding  a
license,  certificate,  registration  or  permit issued by the licensing
authority pursuant to,  the  education  law  to  render  a  professional
service within this state; except that all members and managers, if any,
of  a  foreign  professional  service  limited  liability  company  that
provides health services in this state shall be licensed in this  state.
With respect to a foreign professional service limited liability company
which provides veterinary services as such services are defined in arti-
cle  135  of the education law, each member of such foreign professional
service limited liability company shall be licensed pursuant to  article
135  of  the education law to practice veterinary medicine. With respect
to a  foreign  professional  service  limited  liability  company  which
provides medical services as such services are defined in article 131 of
the  education  law,  each  member  of such foreign professional service
limited liability company must be licensed pursuant to  article  131  of
the education law to practice medicine in this state.  With respect to a
foreign  professional  service  limited liability company which provides
dental services as such services are  defined  in  article  133  of  the
education  law, each member of such foreign professional service limited
liability company must be licensed pursuant to article 133 of the educa-
tion law to practice dentistry in this state. With respect to a  foreign
professional  service  limited  liability company which provides profes-
sional  engineering,  land  surveying,  architectural  and/or  landscape
architectural  services  as  such  services  are defined in article 145,
article 147 and article 148 of the education law, each  member  of  such
foreign  professional service limited liability company must be licensed
pursuant to article 145, article 147 and/or article 148 of the education
law to practice one or more of such professions in  this  state.    WITH
RESPECT  TO  A  FOREIGN  PROFESSIONAL  SERVICE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
WHICH PROVIDES PUBLIC ACCOUNTANCY SERVICES AS SUCH SERVICES ARE  DEFINED
IN ARTICLE 149 OF THE EDUCATION LAW, EACH MEMBER OF SUCH FOREIGN PROFES-
SIONAL  SERVICE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY WHOSE PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSI-
NESS IS IN THIS STATE AND  WHO  PROVIDES  PUBLIC  ACCOUNTANCY  SERVICES,
SHALL  BE LICENSED PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 149 OF THE EDUCATION LAW TO PRAC-
TICE PUBLIC ACCOUNTANCY IN THIS STATE. With respect to a foreign profes-
sional service limited liability company which provides  licensed  clin-
ical social work services as such services are defined in article 154 of
the  education  law,  each  member  of such foreign professional service
limited liability company shall be licensed pursuant to article  154  of
the  education  law to practice clinical social work in this state. With
respect to a foreign  professional  service  limited  liability  company
which  provides  creative  arts  therapy  services  as such services are
defined in article 163 of the education law, each member of such foreign

A. 9771                             7

professional service limited liability company must be licensed pursuant
to article 163 of the education law to practice creative arts therapy in
this state. With respect  to  a  foreign  professional  service  limited
liability company which provides marriage and family therapy services as
such  services  are  defined  in  article 163 of the education law, each
member of such foreign professional service  limited  liability  company
must  be  licensed pursuant to article 163 of the education law to prac-
tice marriage and family therapy  in  this  state.  With  respect  to  a
foreign  professional  service  limited liability company which provides
mental health counseling services as such services are defined in  arti-
cle  163  of the education law, each member of such foreign professional
service limited liability company must be licensed pursuant  to  article
163  of  the  education law to practice mental health counseling in this
state. With respect to a foreign professional service limited  liability
company  which  provides  psychoanalysis  services  as such services are
defined in article 163 of the education law, each member of such foreign
professional service limited liability company must be licensed pursuant
to article 163 of the education law to practice psychoanalysis  in  this
state.  With respect to a foreign professional service limited liability
company which  provides  applied  behavior  analysis  services  as  such
services are defined in article 167 of the education law, each member of
such  foreign  professional  service  limited  liability company must be
licensed or certified pursuant to article 167 of the  education  law  to
practice applied behavior analysis in this state.
  (f) "Professional partnership" means (1) a partnership without limited
partners  each  of whose partners is a professional authorized by law to
render a professional service within this state, (2) a partnership with-
out limited partners each of whose partners is a professional, at  least
one of whom is authorized by law to render a professional service within
this  state or (3) a partnership without limited partners authorized by,
or holding a license, certificate, registration or permit issued by  the
licensing  authority  pursuant  to the education law to render a profes-
sional service within this state; except that all partners of a  profes-
sional  partnership that provides medical services in this state must be
licensed pursuant to article 131 of the education law to practice  medi-
cine  in  this state and all partners of a professional partnership that
provides dental services in this state  must  be  licensed  pursuant  to
article  133  of  the education law to practice dentistry in this state;
except that all partners of a  professional  partnership  that  provides
veterinary  services  in this state must be licensed pursuant to article
135 of the education law to practice veterinary medicine in this  state;
and  further except that all partners of a professional partnership that
provides professional engineering, land surveying, architectural, and/or
landscape architectural services in this state must be licensed pursuant
to article 145, article 147 and/or article 148 of the education  law  to
practice  one  or  more of such professions.   WITH RESPECT TO A PROFES-
SIONAL PARTNERSHIP WHICH PROVIDES PUBLIC ACCOUNTANCY  SERVICES  AS  SUCH
SERVICES ARE DEFINED IN ARTICLE 149 OF THE EDUCATION LAW, EACH MEMBER OF
SUCH  PROFESSIONAL  PARTNERSHIP  WHOSE PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS IS IN
THIS STATE AND  WHO  PROVIDES  PUBLIC  ACCOUNTANCY  SERVICES,  SHALL  BE
LICENSED PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 149 OF THE EDUCATION LAW TO PRACTICE PUBLIC
ACCOUNTANCY.
  S 10. This act shall take effect immediately.

                            
                    S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                 9771--A

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                              May 22, 2014
                               ___________

Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  ORTIZ, FAHY -- read once and referred to the
  Committee on Higher Education -- committee discharged,  bill  amended,
  ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee

AN  ACT  to  amend  the education law, the business corporation law, the
  partnership law and the limited liability company law, in relation  to
  certified public accountants

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. Section 7408 of the education law is amended  by  adding  a
new subdivision 6 to read as follows:
  6. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW, ANY FIRM ESTABLISHED TO
LAWFULLY  ENGAGE  IN THE PRACTICE OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTANCY AS DEFINED UNDER
ARTICLE FIFTEEN OF  THE  BUSINESS  CORPORATION  LAW,  ARTICLES  ONE  AND
EIGHT-B  OF  THE PARTNERSHIP LAW, OR ARTICLES TWELVE AND THIRTEEN OF THE
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY LAW SHALL BE  DEEMED  AUTHORIZED  TO  REGISTER
PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION.
  S 2. Section 1503 of the business corporation law is amended by adding
a new paragraph (h) to read as follows:
  (H)  ANY FIRM ESTABLISHED FOR THE BUSINESS PURPOSE OF INCORPORATING AS
A PROFESSIONAL SERVICE CORPORATION FORMED  TO  LAWFULLY  ENGAGE  IN  THE
PRACTICE OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTANCY, AS SUCH PRACTICE IS RESPECTIVELY DEFINED
UNDER  ARTICLE  ONE  HUNDRED  FORTY-NINE  OF  THE EDUCATION LAW SHALL BE
REQUIRED TO SHOW (1) THAT A SIMPLE MAJORITY  OF  THE  OWNERSHIP  OF  THE
FIRM, IN TERMS OF FINANCIAL INTERESTS, INCLUDING OWNERSHIP-BASED COMPEN-
SATION, AND VOTING RIGHTS HELD BY THE FIRM'S OWNERS, BELONGS TO INDIVID-
UALS LICENSED TO PRACTICE PUBLIC ACCOUNTANCY IN SOME STATE, AND (2) THAT
ALL  SHAREHOLDERS  OF A PROFESSIONAL SERVICE CORPORATION WHOSE PRINCIPAL
PLACE OF BUSINESS IS IN THIS STATE, AND WHO ARE ENGAGED IN THE  PRACTICE
OF  PUBLIC  ACCOUNTANCY IN THIS STATE, HOLD A VALID LICENSE ISSUED UNDER
SECTION SEVENTY-FOUR HUNDRED FOUR OF THE EDUCATION  LAW  OR  ARE  PUBLIC
ACCOUNTANTS  LICENSED  UNDER  SECTION  SEVENTY-FOUR  HUNDRED FIVE OF THE
EDUCATION LAW. ALTHOUGH FIRMS MAY INCLUDE NON-LICENSEE OWNERS, THE  FIRM
AND  ITS  OWNERS  MUST  COMPLY  WITH  RULES  PROMULGATED  BY  THE BOARD.
NOTWITHSTANDING THE PROVISIONS OF THIS PARAGRAPH,  A  FIRM  INCORPORATED

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                           LBD10267-06-4

A. 9771--A                          2

UNDER  THIS  SECTION MAY NOT HAVE NON-LICENSEE OWNERS IF THE FIRM'S NAME
INCLUDES THE WORDS "CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT," OR  "CERTIFIED  PUBLIC
ACCOUNTANTS,"  OR  THE ABBREVIATIONS "CPA" OR "CPAS".  EACH NON-LICENSEE
OWNER  OF  A FIRM THAT IS INCORPORATED UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL BE (1) A
NATURAL PERSON WHO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATES IN THE BUSINESS OF THE FIRM  OR
ITS  AFFILIATED  ENTITIES,  OR (2) AN ENTITY, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED
TO, A PARTNERSHIP OR PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION, PROVIDED EACH  BENEFICIAL
OWNER  OF  AN  EQUITY  INTEREST  IN  SUCH ENTITY IS A NATURAL PERSON WHO
ACTIVELY PARTICIPATES IN THE BUSINESS  CONDUCTED  BY  THE  FIRM  OR  ITS
AFFILIATED ENTITIES. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SUBDIVISION, "ACTIVELY PARTIC-
IPATE" MEANS TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO CLIENTS OR TO OTHERWISE INDIVIDUALLY
TAKE  PART  IN THE DAY-TO-DAY BUSINESS OR MANAGEMENT OF THE FIRM. SUCH A
FIRM SHALL HAVE ATTACHED TO ITS CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION  A  CERTIF-
ICATE  OR  CERTIFICATES  DEMONSTRATING  THE  FIRM'S COMPLIANCE WITH THIS
PARAGRAPH, IN LIEU  OF  THE  CERTIFICATE  OR  CERTIFICATES  REQUIRED  BY
SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS SECTION.
  S 3. Section 1507 of the business corporation law is amended by adding
a new paragraph (c) to read as follows:
  (C)  ANY FIRM ESTABLISHED FOR THE BUSINESS PURPOSE OF INCORPORATING AS
A PROFESSIONAL SERVICE CORPORATION PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (H) OF  SECTION
FIFTEEN  HUNDRED  THREE  OF THIS ARTICLE MAY ISSUE SHARES TO INDIVIDUALS
WHO ARE AUTHORIZED BY LAW TO PRACTICE IN THIS STATE A  PROFESSION  WHICH
SUCH  CORPORATION  IS  AUTHORIZED  TO  PRACTICE AND WHO ARE OR HAVE BEEN
ENGAGED IN THE PRACTICE OF SUCH PROFESSION  IN  SUCH  CORPORATION  OR  A
PREDECESSOR  ENTITY,  OR WHO WILL ENGAGE IN THE PRACTICE OF SUCH PROFES-
SION IN SUCH CORPORATION WITHIN THIRTY DAYS OF THE DATE SUCH SHARES  ARE
ISSUED  AND  MAY  ALSO  ISSUE SHARES TO EMPLOYEES OF THE CORPORATION NOT
LICENSED AS CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS, PROVIDED THAT:
  (I) AT LEAST FIFTY-ONE PERCENT OF THE OUTSTANDING SHARES OF  STOCK  OF
THE CORPORATION ARE OWNED BY CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS,
  (II)  AT LEAST FIFTY-ONE PERCENT OF THE DIRECTORS ARE CERTIFIED PUBLIC
ACCOUNTANTS,
  (III) AT LEAST FIFTY-ONE PERCENT OF THE OFFICERS ARE CERTIFIED  PUBLIC
ACCOUNTANTS,
  (IV)  THE PRESIDENT, THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THE
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OR OFFICERS ARE  CERTIFIED  PUBLIC  ACCOUNTANTS.
NO  SHAREHOLDER OF A FIRM ESTABLISHED FOR THE BUSINESS PURPOSE OF INCOR-
PORATING AS A PROFESSIONAL SERVICE CORPORATION PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (H)
OF SECTION FIFTEEN HUNDRED THREE OF THIS  ARTICLE  SHALL  ENTER  INTO  A
VOTING  TRUST AGREEMENT, PROXY OR ANY OTHER TYPE OF AGREEMENT VESTING IN
ANOTHER PERSON, OTHER THAN ANOTHER SHAREHOLDER OF THE SAME  CORPORATION,
THE  AUTHORITY  TO  EXERCISE  VOTING  POWER  OF ANY OR ALL OF HIS OR HER
SHARES. ALL  SHARES  ISSUED,  AGREEMENTS  MADE  OR  PROXIES  GRANTED  IN
VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION SHALL BE VOID.
  S 4. Section 1508 of the business corporation law is amended by adding
a new paragraph (c) to read as follows:
  (C)  THE  DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS OF ANY FIRM ESTABLISHED FOR THE BUSI-
NESS PURPOSE OF INCORPORATING  AS  A  PROFESSIONAL  SERVICE  CORPORATION
PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (H) OF SECTION FIFTEEN HUNDRED THREE OF THIS ARTI-
CLE  MAY  INCLUDE  INDIVIDUALS  WHO  ARE NOT LICENSED TO PRACTICE PUBLIC
ACCOUNTANCY, PROVIDED HOWEVER THAT AT LEAST  FIFTY-ONE  PERCENT  OF  THE
DIRECTORS, AT LEAST FIFTY-ONE PERCENT OF THE OFFICERS AND THE PRESIDENT,
THE  CHAIRPERSON OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFI-
CER OR OFFICERS ARE AUTHORIZED BY  LAW  TO  PRACTICE  IN  THIS  STATE  A
PROFESSION  WHICH  SUCH  CORPORATION  IS AUTHORIZED TO PRACTICE, AND ARE

A. 9771--A                          3

EITHER SHAREHOLDERS OF SUCH CORPORATION OR ENGAGED IN  THE  PRACTICE  OF
THEIR PROFESSIONS IN SUCH CORPORATION.
  S 5. Section 1509 of the business corporation law, as amended by chap-
ter 550 of the laws of 2011, is amended to read as follows:
S 1509. Disqualification   of   shareholders,  directors,  officers  and
          employees.
  If any shareholder, director, officer or employee  of  a  professional
service  corporation,  including  a  design  professional service corpo-
ration, OR ANY FIRM ESTABLISHED FOR THE BUSINESS PURPOSE OF  INCORPORAT-
ING  AS  A PROFESSIONAL SERVICE CORPORATION PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (H) OF
SECTION FIFTEEN HUNDRED THREE OF THIS ARTICLE, who  has  been  rendering
professional service to the public becomes legally disqualified to prac-
tice  his  profession  within  this state, he shall sever all employment
with, and financial interests (other than interests as a  creditor)  in,
such  corporation  forthwith or as otherwise provided in section 1510 of
this article. All provisions of law regulating the rendering of  profes-
sional  services  by  a  person  elected or appointed to a public office
shall be applicable to a shareholder, director, officer and employee  of
such  corporation  in the same manner and to the same extent as if fully
set forth herein. Such legal disqualification to practice his profession
within this state shall be deemed to constitute an irrevocable offer  by
the  disqualified  shareholder  to  sell  his shares to the corporation,
pursuant to the provisions of section 1510 of this  article  or  of  the
certificate of incorporation, by-laws or agreement among the corporation
and all shareholders, whichever is applicable. Compliance with the terms
of  such  offer  shall be specifically enforceable in the courts of this
state. A professional service corporation's failure to  enforce  compli-
ance with this provision shall constitute a ground for forfeiture of its
certificate of incorporation and its dissolution.
  S 6. Paragraph (a) of section 1511 of the business corporation law, as
amended by chapter 550 of the laws of 2011, is amended and new paragraph
(c) is added to read as follows:
  (a) No shareholder of a professional service corporation [or], INCLUD-
ING  a  design professional service corporation, OR ANY FIRM ESTABLISHED
FOR THE BUSINESS PURPOSE OF  INCORPORATING  AS  A  PROFESSIONAL  SERVICE
CORPORATION  PURSUANT  TO PARAGRAPH (H) OF SECTION FIFTEEN HUNDRED THREE
OF THIS ARTICLE, may sell or transfer his  shares  in  such  corporation
except  to  another  individual who is eligible to have shares issued to
him by such corporation or except in trust  to  another  individual  who
would  be  eligible  to receive shares if he were employed by the corpo-
ration. Nothing herein contained shall  be  construed  to  prohibit  the
transfer of shares by operation of law or by court decree.  No transfer-
ee of shares by operation of law or court decree may vote the shares for
any  purpose  whatsoever  except  with respect to corporate action under
sections 909 and 1001 of this chapter. The restriction in the  preceding
sentence shall not apply, however, where such transferee would be eligi-
ble  to  have  shares issued to him if he were an employee of the corpo-
ration and, if there are other shareholders, a majority  of  such  other
shareholders shall fail to redeem the shares so transferred, pursuant to
section  1510  of  this  article, within sixty days of receiving written
notice of such transfer. Any sale or transfer, except  by  operation  of
law  or  court decree or except for a corporation having only one share-
holder, may be made only after the same shall have been approved by  the
board  of  directors, or at a shareholders' meeting specially called for
such purpose by such proportion,  not  less  than  a  majority,  of  the
outstanding  shares  as  may  be provided in the certificate of incorpo-

A. 9771--A                          4

ration or in the by-laws of such professional  service  corporation.  At
such  shareholders' meeting the shares held by the shareholder proposing
to sell or transfer his shares may not  be  voted  or  counted  for  any
purpose,  unless  all  shareholders consent that such shares be voted or
counted. The certificate of incorporation or the by-laws of the  profes-
sional  service corporation, or the professional service corporation and
the shareholders by private agreement, may provide, in  lieu  of  or  in
addition  to  the foregoing provisions, for the alienation of shares and
may require the redemption or purchase of such  shares  by  such  corpo-
ration  at  prices  and  in a manner specifically set forth therein. The
existence of the restrictions on the sale  or  transfer  of  shares,  as
contained  in  this  article  and,  if applicable, in the certificate of
incorporation, by-laws, stock purchase or  stock  redemption  agreement,
shall  be  noted  conspicuously on the face or back of every certificate
for shares issued by a professional service  corporation.  Any  sale  or
transfer in violation of such restrictions shall be void.
  (C)  A FIRM ESTABLISHED FOR THE BUSINESS PURPOSE OF INCORPORATING AS A
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE CORPORATION PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH  (H)  OF  SECTION
FIFTEEN  HUNDRED  THREE  OF  THIS  ARTICLE, SHALL PURCHASE OR REDEEM THE
SHARES OF A NON-LICENSED PROFESSIONAL SHAREHOLDER IN THE CASE OF HIS  OR
HER TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT WITHIN THIRTY DAYS AFTER SUCH TERMINATION.
A  FIRM  ESTABLISHED  FOR  THE  BUSINESS  PURPOSE  OF INCORPORATING AS A
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE CORPORATION PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH  (H)  OF  SECTION
FIFTEEN HUNDRED THREE OF THIS ARTICLE, SHALL NOT BE REQUIRED TO PURCHASE
OR  REDEEM  THE  SHARES OF A TERMINATED NON-LICENSED PROFESSIONAL SHARE-
HOLDER IF SUCH SHARES, WITHIN THIRTY DAYS AFTER  SUCH  TERMINATION,  ARE
SOLD  OR  TRANSFERRED TO ANOTHER EMPLOYEE OF THE CORPORATION PURSUANT TO
THIS ARTICLE.
  S 7. Paragraph (a) of section 1512 of the business corporation law, as
amended by chapter 550 of the laws  of  2011,  is  amended  to  read  as
follows:
  (a) Notwithstanding  any other provision of law, the name of a profes-
sional service corporation,  including  a  design  professional  service
corporation  AND ANY FIRM ESTABLISHED FOR THE BUSINESS PURPOSE OF INCOR-
PORATING AS A PROFESSIONAL SERVICE CORPORATION PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (H)
OF SECTION FIFTEEN HUNDRED THREE OF THIS ARTICLE, may contain  any  word
which,  at  the  time  of  incorporation, could be used in the name of a
partnership practicing a profession which the corporation is  authorized
to  practice,  and  may  not contain any word which could not be used by
such a partnership.   Provided, however,  the  name  of  a  professional
service corporation may not contain the name of a deceased person unless
  (1) such  person's  name was part of the corporate name at the time of
such person's death; or
  (2) such person's name was part of the name of an existing partnership
and at least two-thirds of such partnership's partners become sharehold-
ers of the corporation.
  S 8. Section 1514 of the business corporation law is amended by adding
a new paragraph (c) to read as follows:
  (C) EACH FIRM ESTABLISHED FOR THE BUSINESS PURPOSE OF INCORPORATING AS
A PROFESSIONAL SERVICE CORPORATION PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (H) OF  SECTION
FIFTEEN  HUNDRED  THREE OF THIS ARTICLE SHALL, AT LEAST ONCE EVERY THREE
YEARS ON OR BEFORE THE  DATE  PRESCRIBED  BY  THE  LICENSING  AUTHORITY,
FURNISH  A  STATEMENT  TO  THE LICENSING AUTHORITY LISTING THE NAMES AND
RESIDENCE ADDRESSES OF EACH SHAREHOLDER, DIRECTOR AND  OFFICER  OF  SUCH
CORPORATION  AND  CERTIFY  AS THE DATE OF CERTIFICATION AND AT ALL TIMES
OVER THE ENTIRE THREE YEAR PERIOD THAT:

A. 9771--A                          5

  (I) AT LEAST FIFTY-ONE PERCENT OF THE OUTSTANDING SHARES OF  STOCK  OF
THE CORPORATION ARE AND WERE OWNED BY CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS,
  (II)  AT  LEAST FIFTY-ONE PERCENT OF THE DIRECTORS ARE AND WERE CERTI-
FIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS,
  (III) AT LEAST FIFTY-ONE PERCENT OF THE OFFICERS ARE AND  WERE  CERTI-
FIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS,
  (IV)  THE PRESIDENT, THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THE
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER  OR  OFFICERS  ARE  AND  WERE  CERTIFIED  PUBLIC
ACCOUNTANTS.
THE  STATEMENT  SHALL BE SIGNED BY THE PRESIDENT OR ANY CERTIFIED PUBLIC
ACCOUNTANT VICE-PRESIDENT AND  ATTESTED  TO  BY  THE  SECRETARY  OR  ANY
ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE CORPORATION.
  S 9. Paragraph (d) of section 1525 of the business corporation law, as
added by chapter 505 of the laws of 1983, is amended to read as follows:
  (d) "Foreign  professional  service  corporation" means a professional
service corporation, whether or not denominated as such, organized under
the laws of a jurisdiction other than this state, all of the  sharehold-
ers,  directors  and  officers  of  which are authorized and licensed to
practice the profession for which such corporation  is  licensed  to  do
business;  except  that  all  shareholders,  directors and officers of a
foreign professional service corporation which provides health  services
in this state shall be licensed in this state. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER
PROVISION  OF  LAW  A FOREIGN PROFESSIONAL SERVICE CORPORATION FORMED TO
LAWFULLY ENGAGE IN THE PRACTICE OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTANCY, AS SUCH  PRACTICE
IS  RESPECTIVELY  DEFINED  UNDER  ARTICLE  ONE HUNDRED FORTY-NINE OF THE
EDUCATION LAW, SHALL BE REQUIRED TO SHOW (1) THAT A SIMPLE  MAJORITY  OF
THE  OWNERSHIP  OF  THE FIRM, IN TERMS OF FINANCIAL INTERESTS, INCLUDING
OWNERSHIP-BASED COMPENSATION, AND  VOTING  RIGHTS  HELD  BY  THE  FIRM'S
OWNERS,  BELONGS  TO INDIVIDUALS LICENSED TO PRACTICE PUBLIC ACCOUNTANCY
IN SOME STATE, AND (2) THAT ALL SHAREHOLDERS OF A  FOREIGN  PROFESSIONAL
SERVICE  CORPORATION WHOSE PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS IS IN THIS STATE,
AND WHO ARE ENGAGED IN THE PRACTICE OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTANCY IN THIS STATE,
HOLD A VALID LICENSE ISSUED UNDER SECTION SEVENTY-FOUR HUNDRED  FOUR  OF
THE  EDUCATION  LAW  OR  ARE  PUBLIC  ACCOUNTANTS LICENSED UNDER SECTION
SEVENTY-FOUR HUNDRED FIVE OF  THE  EDUCATION  LAW.  ALTHOUGH  FIRMS  MAY
INCLUDE  NON-LICENSEE  OWNERS,  THE FIRM AND ITS OWNERS MUST COMPLY WITH
RULES PROMULGATED BY THE BOARD. NOTWITHSTANDING THE  FOREGOING,  A  FIRM
REGISTERED  UNDER  THIS  SECTION MAY NOT HAVE NON-LICENSEE OWNERS IF THE
FIRM'S NAME INCLUDES THE WORDS "CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT," OR "CERTI-
FIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS," OR THE ABBREVIATIONS  "CPA"  OR  "CPAS."  EACH
NON-LICENSEE  OWNER  OF  A  FIRM THAT IS INCORPORATED UNDER THIS SECTION
SHALL BE (1) A NATURAL PERSON WHO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATES IN THE  BUSINESS
OF THE FIRM OR ITS AFFILIATED ENTITIES, OR (2) AN ENTITY, INCLUDING, BUT
NOT LIMITED TO, A PARTNERSHIP OR PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION, PROVIDED EACH
BENEFICIAL  OWNER  OF  AN  EQUITY  INTEREST  IN SUCH ENTITY IS A NATURAL
PERSON WHO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATES IN THE BUSINESS CONDUCTED BY  THE  FIRM
OR  ITS AFFILIATED ENTITIES. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SUBDIVISION, "ACTIVELY
PARTICIPATE" MEANS TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO CLIENTS OR TO OTHERWISE  INDI-
VIDUALLY TAKE PART IN THE DAY-TO-DAY BUSINESS OR MANAGEMENT OF THE FIRM.
  S  10. The fourteenth undesignated paragraph of section 2 of the part-
nership law, as added by chapter 576 of the laws of 1994, is amended  to
read as follows:
  "Professional  partnership"  means  (1)  a partnership without limited
partners each of whose partners is a professional authorized by  law  to
render a professional service within this state, (2) a partnership with-
out  limited partners each of whose partners is a professional, at least

A. 9771--A                          6

one of whom is authorized by law to render a professional service within
this state or (3) a partnership without limited partners authorized  by,
or  holding a license, certificate, registration or permit issued by the
licensing  authority  pursuant  to the education law to render a profes-
sional service within this state; except that all partners of a  profes-
sional  partnership that provides medical services in this state must be
licensed pursuant to article 131 of the education law to practice  medi-
cine  in  this state and all partners of a professional partnership that
provides dental services in this state  must  be  licensed  pursuant  to
article  133  of  the education law to practice dentistry in this state;
[and further] except that all partners  of  a  professional  partnership
that  provides  professional  engineering, land surveying, architectural
and/or landscape architectural services in this state must  be  licensed
pursuant to article 145, article 147 and/or article 148 of the education
law  to  practice  one  or  more  of such professions in this state; AND
FURTHER EXCEPT THAT ALL PARTNERS  OF  A  PROFESSIONAL  PARTNERSHIP  THAT
PROVIDES  PUBLIC ACCOUNTANCY SERVICES, WHOSE PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS
IS IN THIS STATE AND WHO PROVIDE PUBLIC ACCOUNTANCY  SERVICES,  MUST  BE
LICENSED PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 149 OF THE EDUCATION LAW TO PRACTICE PUBLIC
ACCOUNTANCY  IN THIS STATE.  NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISIONS OF LAW
A PROFESSIONAL PARTNERSHIP FORMED TO LAWFULLY ENGAGE IN THE PRACTICE  OF
PUBLIC ACCOUNTANCY, AS SUCH PRACTICE IS RESPECTIVELY DEFINED UNDER ARTI-
CLE  149  OF  THE  EDUCATION  LAW,  SHALL BE REQUIRED TO SHOW (1) THAT A
SIMPLE MAJORITY OF THE OWNERSHIP OF THE  FIRM,  IN  TERMS  OF  FINANCIAL
INTERESTS,  INCLUDING  OWNERSHIP-BASED  COMPENSATION,  AND VOTING RIGHTS
HELD BY THE FIRM'S OWNERS, BELONGS TO INDIVIDUALS LICENSED  TO  PRACTICE
PUBLIC  ACCOUNTANCY  IN  SOME  STATE, AND (2) THAT ALL SHAREHOLDERS OF A
PROFESSIONAL PARTNERSHIP WHOSE PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS  IS  IN  THIS
STATE, AND WHO ARE ENGAGED IN THE PRACTICE OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTANCY IN THIS
STATE,  HOLD  A VALID LICENSE ISSUED UNDER SECTION 7404 OF THE EDUCATION
LAW OR ARE PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS LICENSED UNDER SECTION 7405 OF THE  EDUCA-
TION  LAW.  ALTHOUGH FIRMS MAY INCLUDE NON-LICENSEE OWNERS, THE FIRM AND
ITS OWNERS MUST COMPLY WITH RULES PROMULGATED  BY  THE  BOARD.  NOTWITH-
STANDING  THE  FOREGOING,  A  FIRM REGISTERED UNDER THIS SECTION MAY NOT
HAVE NON-LICENSEE OWNERS IF THE FIRM'S NAME INCLUDES THE  WORDS  "CERTI-
FIED  PUBLIC  ACCOUNTANT,"  OR  "CERTIFIED  PUBLIC  ACCOUNTANTS," OR THE
ABBREVIATIONS "CPA" OR "CPAS." EACH NON-LICENSEE OWNER OF A FIRM THAT IS
INCORPORATED UNDER THIS SECTION  SHALL  BE  (1)  A  NATURAL  PERSON  WHO
ACTIVELY  PARTICIPATES  IN  THE  BUSINESS  OF THE FIRM OR ITS AFFILIATED
ENTITIES, OR (2) AN ENTITY, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, A PARTNERSHIP
OR PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION, PROVIDED EACH BENEFICIAL OWNER OF AN EQUITY
INTEREST IN SUCH ENTITY IS A NATURAL PERSON WHO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATES IN
THE BUSINESS CONDUCTED BY THE  FIRM  OR  ITS  AFFILIATED  ENTITIES.  FOR
PURPOSES  OF  THIS  SUBDIVISION, "ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE" MEANS TO PROVIDE
SERVICES TO CLIENTS OR  TO  OTHERWISE  INDIVIDUALLY  TAKE  PART  IN  THE
DAY-TO-DAY BUSINESS OR MANAGEMENT OF THE FIRM.
  S  11.  Subdivision (q) of section 121-1500 of the partnership law, as
amended by chapter 554 of the laws  of  2013,  is  amended  to  read  as
follows:
  (q)  Each partner of a registered limited liability partnership formed
to provide medical services in this state must be licensed  pursuant  to
article  131 of the education law to practice medicine in this state and
each partner of a registered limited  liability  partnership  formed  to
provide dental services in this state must be licensed pursuant to arti-
cle  133 of the education law to practice dentistry in this state.  Each
partner of a registered limited liability partnership formed to  provide

A. 9771--A                          7

veterinary  services  in this state must be licensed pursuant to article
135 of the education law to practice veterinary medicine in this  state.
EACH  PARTNER  OF  A  REGISTERED LIMITED LIABILITY PARTNERSHIP FORMED TO
PROVIDE  PUBLIC  ACCOUNTANCY SERVICES, WHOSE PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS
IS IN THIS STATE AND WHO PROVIDES PUBLIC ACCOUNTANCY SERVICES,  MUST  BE
LICENSED PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 149 OF THE EDUCATION LAW TO PRACTICE PUBLIC
ACCOUNTANCY  IN THIS STATE. Each partner of a registered limited liabil-
ity partnership formed to provide professional engineering, land survey-
ing, architectural and/or landscape architectural services in this state
must be licensed pursuant to article 145, article 147 and/or article 148
of the education law to practice one or more of such professions in this
state. Each partner of a registered limited liability partnership formed
to provide licensed clinical social work services in this state must  be
licensed  pursuant to article 154 of the education law to practice clin-
ical social work in this state. Each partner  of  a  registered  limited
liability  partnership  formed to provide creative arts therapy services
in this state must be licensed pursuant to article 163 of the  education
law  to  practice creative arts therapy in this state. Each partner of a
registered limited liability partnership formed to provide marriage  and
family therapy services in this state must be licensed pursuant to arti-
cle  163 of the education law to practice marriage and family therapy in
this state. Each partner of a registered limited  liability  partnership
formed  to  provide mental health counseling services in this state must
be licensed pursuant to article 163 of the  education  law  to  practice
mental  health  counseling  in  this state. Each partner of a registered
limited liability partnership formed to provide psychoanalysis  services
in  this state must be licensed pursuant to article 163 of the education
law to practice psychoanalysis in this state. Each partner of  a  regis-
tered  limited  liability partnership formed to provide applied behavior
analysis service in this state must be licensed or certified pursuant to
article 167 of the education law to practice applied  behavior  analysis
in  this  state.   NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISIONS OF LAW A LIMITED
LIABILITY PARTNERSHIP FORMED TO  LAWFULLY  ENGAGE  IN  THE  PRACTICE  OF
PUBLIC ACCOUNTANCY, AS SUCH PRACTICE IS RESPECTIVELY DEFINED UNDER ARTI-
CLE  149  OF  THE  EDUCATION  LAW,  SHALL BE REQUIRED TO SHOW (1) THAT A
SIMPLE MAJORITY OF THE OWNERSHIP OF THE  FIRM,  IN  TERMS  OF  FINANCIAL
INTERESTS,  INCLUDING  OWNERSHIP-BASED  COMPENSATION,  AND VOTING RIGHTS
HELD BY THE FIRM'S OWNERS, BELONGS TO INDIVIDUALS LICENSED  TO  PRACTICE
PUBLIC  ACCOUNTANCY  IN  SOME  STATE, AND (2) THAT ALL SHAREHOLDERS OF A
LIMITED LIABILITY PARTNERSHIP WHOSE PRINCIPAL PLACE OF  BUSINESS  IS  IN
THIS STATE, AND WHO ARE ENGAGED IN THE PRACTICE OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTANCY IN
THIS STATE, HOLD A VALID LICENSE ISSUED UNDER SECTION 7404 OF THE EDUCA-
TION  LAW  OR  ARE PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS LICENSED UNDER SECTION 7405 OF THE
EDUCATION LAW.  ALTHOUGH FIRMS MAY INCLUDE NON-LICENSEE OWNERS, THE FIRM
AND ITS OWNERS MUST COMPLY WITH RULES PROMULGATED BY THE BOARD. NOTWITH-
STANDING THE FOREGOING, A FIRM REGISTERED UNDER  THIS  SECTION  MAY  NOT
HAVE  NON-LICENSEE  OWNERS IF THE FIRM'S NAME INCLUDES THE WORDS "CERTI-
FIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT,"  OR  "CERTIFIED  PUBLIC  ACCOUNTANTS,"  OR  THE
ABBREVIATIONS "CPA" OR "CPAS." EACH NON-LICENSEE OWNER OF A FIRM THAT IS
INCORPORATED  UNDER  THIS  SECTION  SHALL  BE  (1)  A NATURAL PERSON WHO
ACTIVELY PARTICIPATES IN THE BUSINESS OF  THE  FIRM  OR  ITS  AFFILIATED
ENTITIES, OR (2) AN ENTITY, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, A PARTNERSHIP
OR PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION, PROVIDED EACH BENEFICIAL OWNER OF AN EQUITY
INTEREST IN SUCH ENTITY IS A NATURAL PERSON WHO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATES IN
THE  BUSINESS  CONDUCTED  BY  THE  FIRM  OR ITS AFFILIATED ENTITIES. FOR
PURPOSES OF THIS SUBDIVISION, "ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE"  MEANS  TO  PROVIDE

A. 9771--A                          8

SERVICES  TO  CLIENTS  OR  TO  OTHERWISE  INDIVIDUALLY  TAKE PART IN THE
DAY-TO-DAY BUSINESS OR MANAGEMENT OF THE FIRM.
  S  12.  Subdivision (q) of section 121-1502 of the partnership law, as
amended by chapter 554 of the laws  of  2013,  is  amended  to  read  as
follows:
  (q)  Each  partner  of  a  foreign limited liability partnership which
provides medical services in this state must  be  licensed  pursuant  to
article  131  of the education law to practice medicine in the state and
each partner of a foreign limited liability partnership  which  provides
dental services in the state must be licensed pursuant to article 133 of
the education law to practice dentistry in this state. Each partner of a
foreign  limited liability partnership which provides veterinary service
in the state shall be licensed pursuant to article 135 of the  education
law  to  practice  veterinary  medicine in this state. Each partner of a
foreign limited liability partnership which provides professional  engi-
neering,  land  surveying,  architectural and/or landscape architectural
services in this state must be licensed pursuant to article 145, article
147 and/or article 148 of the education law to practice one or  more  of
such professions. EACH PARTNER OF A REGISTERED FOREIGN LIMITED LIABILITY
PARTNERSHIP FORMED TO PROVIDE PUBLIC ACCOUNTANCY SERVICES, WHOSE PRINCI-
PAL  PLACE  OF BUSINESS IS IN THIS STATE AND WHO PROVIDES PUBLIC ACCOUN-
TANCY SERVICES, MUST BE LICENSED PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 149 OF  THE  EDUCA-
TION LAW TO PRACTICE PUBLIC ACCOUNTANCY IN THIS STATE. Each partner of a
foreign  limited  liability partnership which provides licensed clinical
social work services in this state must be licensed pursuant to  article
154  of  the  education law to practice licensed clinical social work in
this state. Each partner of  a  foreign  limited  liability  partnership
which  provides  creative  arts  therapy  services in this state must be
licensed pursuant to article 163 of the education law to practice  crea-
tive  arts  therapy  in  this  state.  Each partner of a foreign limited
liability  partnership  which  provides  marriage  and  family   therapy
services  in  this state must be licensed pursuant to article 163 of the
education law to practice marriage and family  therapy  in  this  state.
Each  partner  of a foreign limited liability partnership which provides
mental health counseling services in this state must be licensed  pursu-
ant  to article 163 of the education law to practice mental health coun-
seling in this state. Each partner of a foreign limited liability  part-
nership  which  provides  psychoanalysis  services in this state must be
licensed pursuant to article  163  of  the  education  law  to  practice
psychoanalysis  in this state. Each partner of a foreign limited liabil-
ity partnership which provides applied  behavior  analysis  services  in
this  state must be licensed or certified pursuant to article 167 of the
education law to practice  applied  behavior  analysis  in  this  state.
NOTWITHSTANDING  ANY OTHER PROVISIONS OF LAW A FOREIGN LIMITED LIABILITY
PARTNERSHIP FORMED TO LAWFULLY ENGAGE IN THE PRACTICE OF PUBLIC  ACCOUN-
TANCY, AS SUCH PRACTICE IS RESPECTIVELY DEFINED UNDER ARTICLE 149 OF THE
EDUCATION  LAW,  SHALL BE REQUIRED TO SHOW (1) THAT A SIMPLE MAJORITY OF
THE OWNERSHIP OF THE FIRM, IN TERMS OF  FINANCIAL  INTERESTS,  INCLUDING
OWNERSHIP-BASED  COMPENSATION,  AND  VOTING  RIGHTS  HELD  BY THE FIRM'S
OWNERS, BELONGS TO INDIVIDUALS LICENSED TO PRACTICE  PUBLIC  ACCOUNTANCY
IN  SOME  STATE,  AND  (2)  THAT  ALL  SHAREHOLDERS OF A FOREIGN LIMITED
LIABILITY PARTNERSHIP WHOSE PRINCIPAL  PLACE  OF  BUSINESS  IS  IN  THIS
STATE, AND WHO ARE ENGAGED IN THE PRACTICE OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTANCY IN THIS
STATE,  HOLD  A VALID LICENSE ISSUED UNDER SECTION 7404 OF THE EDUCATION
LAW OR ARE PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS LICENSED UNDER SECTION 7405 OF THE  EDUCA-
TION  LAW.  ALTHOUGH FIRMS MAY INCLUDE NON-LICENSEE OWNERS, THE FIRM AND

A. 9771--A                          9

ITS OWNERS MUST COMPLY WITH RULES PROMULGATED BY THE  BOARD.    NOTWITH-
STANDING  THE  FOREGOING,  A  FIRM REGISTERED UNDER THIS SECTION MAY NOT
HAVE NON-LICENSEE OWNERS IF THE FIRM'S NAME INCLUDES THE  WORDS  "CERTI-
FIED  PUBLIC  ACCOUNTANT,"  OR  "CERTIFIED  PUBLIC  ACCOUNTANTS," OR THE
ABBREVIATIONS "CPA" OR "CPAS." EACH NON-LICENSEE OWNER OF A FIRM THAT IS
INCORPORATED UNDER THIS SECTION  SHALL  BE  (1)  A  NATURAL  PERSON  WHO
ACTIVELY  PARTICIPATES  IN  THE  BUSINESS  OF THE FIRM OR ITS AFFILIATED
ENTITIES, OR (2) AN ENTITY, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, A PARTNERSHIP
OR PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION, PROVIDED EACH BENEFICIAL OWNER OF AN EQUITY
INTEREST IN SUCH ENTITY IS A NATURAL PERSON WHO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATES IN
THE BUSINESS CONDUCTED BY THE FIRM OR  ITS  AFFILIATED  ENTITIES.    FOR
PURPOSES  OF  THIS  SUBDIVISION, "ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE" MEANS TO PROVIDE
SERVICES TO CLIENTS OR  TO  OTHERWISE  INDIVIDUALLY  TAKE  PART  IN  THE
DAY-TO-DAY BUSINESS OR MANAGEMENT OF THE FIRM.
  S  13.  Subdivision  (h) of section 121-101 of the partnership law, as
added by chapter 950 of the laws of 1990, is amended to read as follows:
  (h) "Limited partnership" and  "domestic  limited  partnership"  mean,
unless  the  context otherwise requires, a partnership (i) formed by two
or more persons pursuant to this article or which complies with subdivi-
sion (a) of section 121-1202 of this article and (ii) having one or more
general partners and one or more limited partners.  NOTWITHSTANDING  ANY
OTHER  PROVISIONS OF LAW A LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OR DOMESTIC LIMITED PART-
NERSHIP FORMED TO LAWFULLY ENGAGE IN THE PRACTICE OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTANCY,
AS SUCH PRACTICE IS RESPECTIVELY DEFINED UNDER ARTICLE 149 OF THE EDUCA-
TION LAW SHALL BE REQUIRED TO SHOW (1) THAT A  SIMPLE  MAJORITY  OF  THE
OWNERSHIP OF THE FIRM, IN TERMS OF FINANCIAL INTERESTS, INCLUDING OWNER-
SHIP-BASED  COMPENSATION,  AND  VOTING RIGHTS HELD BY THE FIRM'S OWNERS,
BELONGS TO INDIVIDUALS LICENSED TO PRACTICE PUBLIC ACCOUNTANCY  IN  SOME
STATE,  AND  (2)  THAT ALL PARTNERS OF A LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OR DOMESTIC
LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, WHOSE PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS IS IN THIS STATE,
AND WHO ARE ENGAGED IN THE PRACTICE OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTANCY IN THIS STATE,
HOLD A VALID LICENSE ISSUED UNDER SECTION 7404 OF THE EDUCATION  LAW  OR
ARE PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS LICENSED UNDER SECTION 7405 OF THE EDUCATION LAW.
ALTHOUGH  FIRMS MAY INCLUDE NON-LICENSEE OWNERS, THE FIRM AND ITS OWNERS
MUST COMPLY WITH RULES PROMULGATED BY  THE  BOARD.  NOTWITHSTANDING  THE
FOREGOING,  A FIRM REGISTERED UNDER THIS SECTION MAY NOT HAVE NON-LICEN-
SEE OWNERS IF THE FIRM'S  NAME  INCLUDES  THE  WORDS  "CERTIFIED  PUBLIC
ACCOUNTANT,"  OR  "CERTIFIED  PUBLIC  ACCOUNTANTS," OR THE ABBREVIATIONS
"CPA" OR "CPAS." EACH NON-LICENSEE OWNER OF A FIRM  THAT  IS  REGISTERED
UNDER  THIS  SECTION  SHALL BE (1) A NATURAL PERSON WHO ACTIVELY PARTIC-
IPATES IN THE BUSINESS OF THE FIRM OR ITS AFFILIATED ENTITIES, OR (2) AN
ENTITY, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,  A  PARTNERSHIP  OR  PROFESSIONAL
CORPORATION,  PROVIDED  EACH  BENEFICIAL  OWNER OF AN EQUITY INTEREST IN
SUCH ENTITY IS A NATURAL PERSON WHO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATES IN  THE  BUSI-
NESS  CONDUCTED  BY THE FIRM OR ITS AFFILIATED ENTITIES. FOR PURPOSES OF
THIS SUBDIVISION, "ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE" MEANS TO  PROVIDE  SERVICES  TO
CLIENTS  OR  TO OTHERWISE INDIVIDUALLY TAKE PART IN THE DAY-TO-DAY BUSI-
NESS OR MANAGEMENT OF THE FIRM.
  S 14. Subdivision (b) of section 1207 of the limited liability company
law, as amended by chapter 554 of the laws of 2013, is amended  to  read
as follows:
  (b)  With  respect to a professional service limited liability company
formed to provide medical services as such services are defined in arti-
cle 131 of the education law, each  member  of  such  limited  liability
company must be licensed pursuant to article 131 of the education law to
practice  medicine in this state. With respect to a professional service

A. 9771--A                         10

limited liability company formed to  provide  dental  services  as  such
services are defined in article 133 of the education law, each member of
such  limited liability company must be licensed pursuant to article 133
of  the  education law to practice dentistry in this state. With respect
to a professional service limited liability company  formed  to  provide
veterinary  services  as such services are defined in article 135 of the
education law, each member of such limited  liability  company  must  be
licensed pursuant to article 135 of the education law to practice veter-
inary  medicine  in  this  state. With respect to a professional service
limited liability company formed to  provide  professional  engineering,
land surveying, architectural and/or landscape architectural services as
such services are defined in article 145, article 147 and article 148 of
the education law, each member of such limited liability company must be
licensed  pursuant to article 145, article 147 and/or article 148 of the
education law to practice one or more of such professions in this state.
WITH RESPECT TO A PROFESSIONAL SERVICE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY  FORMED
TO  PROVIDE  PUBLIC ACCOUNTANCY SERVICES AS SUCH SERVICES ARE DEFINED IN
ARTICLE 149 OF THE EDUCATION LAW EACH MEMBER OF SUCH  LIMITED  LIABILITY
COMPANY  WHOSE  PRINCIPAL  PLACE  OF  BUSINESS  IS IN THIS STATE AND WHO
PROVIDES PUBLIC ACCOUNTANCY SERVICES, MUST BE LICENSED PURSUANT TO ARTI-
CLE 149 OF THE EDUCATION LAW TO  PRACTICE  PUBLIC  ACCOUNTANCY  IN  THIS
STATE.  With respect to a professional service limited liability company
formed to  provide  licensed  clinical  social  work  services  as  such
services are defined in article 154 of the education law, each member of
such limited liability company shall be licensed pursuant to article 154
of  the  education law to practice licensed clinical social work in this
state. With respect to a professional service limited liability  company
formed  to  provide  creative arts therapy services as such services are
defined in article 163 of the education law, each member of such limited
liability company must be licensed pursuant to article 163 of the educa-
tion law to practice creative arts therapy in this state.  With  respect
to  a  professional  service limited liability company formed to provide
marriage and family therapy services as such  services  are  defined  in
article  163 of the education law, each member of such limited liability
company must be licensed pursuant to article 163 of the education law to
practice marriage and family therapy in this state. With  respect  to  a
professional  service limited liability company formed to provide mental
health counseling services as such services are defined in  article  163
of the education law, each member of such limited liability company must
be  licensed  pursuant  to  article 163 of the education law to practice
mental health counseling in this state. With respect to  a  professional
service  limited  liability  company  formed  to  provide psychoanalysis
services as such services are defined in article 163  of  the  education
law,  each  member  of  such  limited liability company must be licensed
pursuant to article 163 of the education law to practice  psychoanalysis
in  this state. With respect to a professional service limited liability
company formed to provide applied behavior  analysis  services  as  such
services are defined in article 167 of the education law, each member of
such limited liability company must be licensed or certified pursuant to
article  167  of the education law to practice applied behavior analysis
in this state. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISIONS  OF  LAW  A  PROFES-
SIONAL  SERVICE  LIMITED  LIABILITY COMPANY FORMED TO LAWFULLY ENGAGE IN
THE PRACTICE OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTANCY, AS  SUCH  PRACTICE  IS  RESPECTIVELY
DEFINED UNDER ARTICLE 149 OF THE EDUCATION LAW SHALL BE REQUIRED TO SHOW
(1)  THAT  A  SIMPLE  MAJORITY OF THE OWNERSHIP OF THE FIRM, IN TERMS OF
FINANCIAL INTERESTS, INCLUDING OWNERSHIP-BASED COMPENSATION, AND  VOTING

A. 9771--A                         11

RIGHTS  HELD  BY  THE  FIRM'S OWNERS, BELONGS TO INDIVIDUALS LICENSED TO
PRACTICE PUBLIC ACCOUNTANCY IN SOME STATE, AND (2) THAT ALL MEMBERS OF A
LIMITED PROFESSIONAL SERVICE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, WHOSE  PRINCIPAL
PLACE  OF BUSINESS IS IN THIS STATE, AND WHO ARE ENGAGED IN THE PRACTICE
OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTANCY IN THIS STATE, HOLD A VALID LICENSE  ISSUED  UNDER
SECTION  7404 OF ARTICLE 149 OF THE EDUCATION LAW OR ARE PUBLIC ACCOUNT-
ANTS LICENSED UNDER SECTION 7405 OF ARTICLE 149 OF  THE  EDUCATION  LAW.
ALTHOUGH  FIRMS MAY INCLUDE NON-LICENSEE OWNERS, THE FIRM AND ITS OWNERS
MUST COMPLY WITH RULES PROMULGATED BY  THE  BOARD.  NOTWITHSTANDING  THE
FOREGOING,  A FIRM REGISTERED UNDER THIS SECTION MAY NOT HAVE NON-LICEN-
SEE OWNERS IF THE FIRM'S  NAME  INCLUDES  THE  WORDS  "CERTIFIED  PUBLIC
ACCOUNTANT,"  OR  "CERTIFIED  PUBLIC  ACCOUNTANTS," OR THE ABBREVIATIONS
"CPA" OR "CPAS." EACH NON-LICENSEE OWNER OF A FIRM  THAT  IS  REGISTERED
UNDER  THIS  SECTION  SHALL BE (1) A NATURAL PERSON WHO ACTIVELY PARTIC-
IPATES IN THE BUSINESS OF THE FIRM OR ITS AFFILIATED ENTITIES, OR (2) AN
ENTITY, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,  A  PARTNERSHIP  OR  PROFESSIONAL
CORPORATION,  PROVIDED  EACH  BENEFICIAL  OWNER OF AN EQUITY INTEREST IN
SUCH ENTITY IS A NATURAL PERSON WHO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATES IN  THE  BUSI-
NESS  CONDUCTED  BY THE FIRM OR ITS AFFILIATED ENTITIES. FOR PURPOSES OF
THIS SUBDIVISION, "ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE" MEANS TO  PROVIDE  SERVICES  TO
CLIENTS  OR  TO OTHERWISE INDIVIDUALLY TAKE PART IN THE DAY-TO-DAY BUSI-
NESS OR MANAGEMENT OF THE FIRM.
  S 15. Subdivisions (a) and (f) of section 1301 of the limited  liabil-
ity  company  law, subdivision (a) as amended by chapter 554 of the laws
of 2013 and subdivision (f) as amended by chapter 170  of  the  laws  of
1996, are amended to read as follows:
  (a)  "Foreign  professional service limited liability company" means a
professional service limited liability company, whether or  not  denomi-
nated  as  such,  organized  under the laws of a jurisdiction other than
this state, (i) each of whose members and managers, if any, is a profes-
sional authorized by law to render a professional  service  within  this
state  and who is or has been engaged in the practice of such profession
in such professional service limited liability company or a  predecessor
entity, or will engage in the practice of such profession in the profes-
sional  service limited liability company within thirty days of the date
such professional becomes a member, or each of whose members and  manag-
ers,  if  any, is a professional at least one of such members is author-
ized by law to render a professional service within this state  and  who
is  or  has  been  engaged  in  the  practice of such profession in such
professional service limited liability company or a predecessor  entity,
or  will  engage  in the practice of such profession in the professional
service limited liability company within thirty days of  the  date  such
professional  becomes  a  member,  or  (ii)  authorized by, or holding a
license, certificate, registration or permit  issued  by  the  licensing
authority  pursuant  to,  the  education  law  to  render a professional
service within this state; except that all members and managers, if any,
of  a  foreign  professional  service  limited  liability  company  that
provides  health services in this state shall be licensed in this state.
With respect to a foreign professional service limited liability company
which provides veterinary services as such services are defined in arti-
cle 135 of the education law, each member of such  foreign  professional
service  limited liability company shall be licensed pursuant to article
135 of the education law to practice veterinary medicine.  With  respect
to  a  foreign  professional  service  limited  liability  company which
provides medical services as such services are defined in article 131 of
the education law, each member  of  such  foreign  professional  service

A. 9771--A                         12

limited  liability  company  must be licensed pursuant to article 131 of
the education law to practice medicine in this state.  With respect to a
foreign professional service limited liability  company  which  provides
dental  services  as  such  services  are  defined in article 133 of the
education law, each member of such foreign professional service  limited
liability company must be licensed pursuant to article 133 of the educa-
tion  law to practice dentistry in this state. With respect to a foreign
professional service limited liability company  which  provides  profes-
sional  engineering,  land  surveying,  architectural  and/or  landscape
architectural services as such services  are  defined  in  article  145,
article  147  and  article 148 of the education law, each member of such
foreign professional service limited liability company must be  licensed
pursuant to article 145, article 147 and/or article 148 of the education
law  to  practice  one  or  more of such professions in this state. WITH
RESPECT TO A FOREIGN  PROFESSIONAL  SERVICE  LIMITED  LIABILITY  COMPANY
WHICH  PROVIDES PUBLIC ACCOUNTANCY SERVICES AS SUCH SERVICES ARE DEFINED
IN ARTICLE 149 OF THE EDUCATION LAW, EACH MEMBER OF SUCH FOREIGN PROFES-
SIONAL SERVICE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY WHOSE PRINCIPAL PLACE OF  BUSI-
NESS  IS  IN  THIS  STATE  AND WHO PROVIDES PUBLIC ACCOUNTANCY SERVICES,
SHALL BE LICENSED PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 149 OF THE EDUCATION LAW TO  PRAC-
TICE PUBLIC ACCOUNTANCY IN THIS STATE. With respect to a foreign profes-
sional  service  limited liability company which provides licensed clin-
ical social work services as such services are defined in article 154 of
the education law, each member  of  such  foreign  professional  service
limited  liability  company shall be licensed pursuant to article 154 of
the education law to practice clinical social work in this  state.  With
respect  to  a  foreign  professional  service limited liability company
which provides creative arts  therapy  services  as  such  services  are
defined in article 163 of the education law, each member of such foreign
professional service limited liability company must be licensed pursuant
to article 163 of the education law to practice creative arts therapy in
this  state.  With  respect  to  a  foreign professional service limited
liability company which provides marriage and family therapy services as
such services are defined in article 163  of  the  education  law,  each
member  of  such  foreign professional service limited liability company
must be licensed pursuant to article 163 of the education law  to  prac-
tice  marriage  and  family  therapy  in  this  state. With respect to a
foreign professional service limited liability  company  which  provides
mental  health counseling services as such services are defined in arti-
cle 163 of the education law, each member of such  foreign  professional
service  limited  liability company must be licensed pursuant to article
163 of the education law to practice mental health  counseling  in  this
state.  With respect to a foreign professional service limited liability
company which provides psychoanalysis  services  as  such  services  are
defined in article 163 of the education law, each member of such foreign
professional service limited liability company must be licensed pursuant
to  article  163 of the education law to practice psychoanalysis in this
state. With respect to a foreign professional service limited  liability
company  which  provides  applied  behavior  analysis  services  as such
services are defined in article 167 of the education law, each member of
such foreign professional service  limited  liability  company  must  be
licensed  or  certified  pursuant to article 167 of the education law to
practice applied behavior analysis in this state.   NOTWITHSTANDING  ANY
OTHER PROVISIONS OF LAW A FOREIGN PROFESSIONAL SERVICE LIMITED LIABILITY
COMPANY FORMED TO LAWFULLY ENGAGE IN THE PRACTICE OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTANCY,
AS SUCH PRACTICE IS RESPECTIVELY DEFINED UNDER ARTICLE 149 OF THE EDUCA-

A. 9771--A                         13

TION  LAW  SHALL  BE  REQUIRED TO SHOW (1) THAT A SIMPLE MAJORITY OF THE
OWNERSHIP OF THE FIRM, IN TERMS OF FINANCIAL INTERESTS, INCLUDING OWNER-
SHIP-BASED COMPENSATION, AND VOTING RIGHTS HELD BY  THE  FIRM'S  OWNERS,
BELONGS  TO  INDIVIDUALS LICENSED TO PRACTICE PUBLIC ACCOUNTANCY IN SOME
STATE, AND (2) THAT  ALL  MEMBERS  OF  A  FOREIGN  LIMITED  PROFESSIONAL
SERVICE  LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, WHOSE PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS IS
IN THIS STATE, AND WHO ARE ENGAGED IN THE PRACTICE OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTANCY
IN THIS STATE, HOLD A VALID LICENSE ISSUED UNDER  SECTION  7404  OF  THE
EDUCATION  LAW  OR ARE PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS LICENSED UNDER SECTION 7405 OF
THE EDUCATION LAW. ALTHOUGH FIRMS MAY INCLUDE NON-LICENSEE  OWNERS,  THE
FIRM  AND  ITS  OWNERS  MUST COMPLY WITH RULES PROMULGATED BY THE BOARD.
NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, A FIRM REGISTERED UNDER THIS SECTION  MAY
NOT  HAVE  NON-LICENSEE  OWNERS  IF  THE  FIRM'S NAME INCLUDES THE WORDS
"CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT," OR "CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS," OR THE
ABBREVIATIONS "CPA" OR "CPAS."  EACH NON-LICENSEE OWNER OF A  FIRM  THAT
IS  REGISTERED  UNDER  THIS  SECTION  SHALL  BE (1) A NATURAL PERSON WHO
ACTIVELY PARTICIPATES IN THE BUSINESS OF  THE  FIRM  OR  ITS  AFFILIATED
ENTITIES, OR (2) AN ENTITY, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, A PARTNERSHIP
OR PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION, PROVIDED EACH BENEFICIAL OWNER OF AN EQUITY
INTEREST IN SUCH ENTITY IS A NATURAL PERSON WHO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATES IN
THE  BUSINESS  CONDUCTED  BY  THE  FIRM  OR ITS AFFILIATED ENTITIES. FOR
PURPOSES OF THIS SUBDIVISION, "ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE"  MEANS  TO  PROVIDE
SERVICES  TO  CLIENTS  OR  TO  OTHERWISE  INDIVIDUALLY  TAKE PART IN THE
DAY-TO-DAY BUSINESS OR MANAGEMENT OF THE FIRM.
  (f) "Professional partnership" means (1) a partnership without limited
partners each of whose partners is a professional authorized by  law  to
render a professional service within this state, (2) a partnership with-
out  limited partners each of whose partners is a professional, at least
one of whom is authorized by law to render a professional service within
this state or (3) a partnership without limited partners authorized  by,
or  holding a license, certificate, registration or permit issued by the
licensing authority pursuant to the education law to  render  a  profes-
sional  service within this state; except that all partners of a profes-
sional partnership that provides medical services in this state must  be
licensed  pursuant to article 131 of the education law to practice medi-
cine in this state and all partners of a professional  partnership  that
provides  dental  services  in  this  state must be licensed pursuant to
article 133 of the education law to practice dentistry  in  this  state;
except  that  all  partners  of a professional partnership that provides
veterinary services in this state must be licensed pursuant  to  article
135  of the education law to practice veterinary medicine in this state;
and further except that all partners of a professional partnership  that
provides professional engineering, land surveying, architectural, and/or
landscape architectural services in this state must be licensed pursuant
to  article  145, article 147 and/or article 148 of the education law to
practice one or more of such professions.   WITH RESPECT  TO  A  PROFES-
SIONAL  PARTNERSHIP  WHICH  PROVIDES PUBLIC ACCOUNTANCY SERVICES AS SUCH
SERVICES ARE DEFINED IN ARTICLE 149 OF THE EDUCATION LAW, EACH MEMBER OF
SUCH PROFESSIONAL PARTNERSHIP WHOSE PRINCIPAL PLACE OF  BUSINESS  IS  IN
THIS  STATE  AND  WHO  PROVIDES  PUBLIC  ACCOUNTANCY  SERVICES, SHALL BE
LICENSED PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 149 OF THE EDUCATION LAW TO PRACTICE PUBLIC
ACCOUNTANCY. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISIONS OF LAW A  PROFESSIONAL
PARTNERSHIP  FORMED TO LAWFULLY ENGAGE IN THE PRACTICE OF PUBLIC ACCOUN-
TANCY, AS SUCH PRACTICE IS RESPECTIVELY DEFINED UNDER ARTICLE 149 OF THE
EDUCATION LAW SHALL BE REQUIRED TO SHOW (1) THAT A  SIMPLE  MAJORITY  OF
THE  OWNERSHIP  OF  THE FIRM, IN TERMS OF FINANCIAL INTERESTS, INCLUDING

A. 9771--A                         14

OWNERSHIP-BASED COMPENSATION, AND  VOTING  RIGHTS  HELD  BY  THE  FIRM'S
OWNERS,  BELONGS  TO INDIVIDUALS LICENSED TO PRACTICE PUBLIC ACCOUNTANCY
IN SOME STATE, AND (2) THAT ALL MEMBERS OF A LIMITED PROFESSIONAL  PART-
NERSHIP, WHOSE PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS IS IN THIS STATE, AND WHO ARE
ENGAGED  IN  THE  PRACTICE  OF  PUBLIC ACCOUNTANCY IN THIS STATE, HOLD A
VALID LICENSE ISSUED UNDER SECTION 7404 OF  THE  EDUCATION  LAW  OR  ARE
PUBLIC  ACCOUNTANTS  LICENSED  UNDER  SECTION 7405 OF THE EDUCATION LAW.
ALTHOUGH FIRMS MAY INCLUDE NON-LICENSEE OWNERS, THE FIRM AND ITS  OWNERS
MUST  COMPLY  WITH  RULES  PROMULGATED BY THE BOARD. NOTWITHSTANDING THE
FOREGOING, A FIRM REGISTERED UNDER THIS SECTION MAY NOT HAVE  NON-LICEN-
SEE  OWNERS  IF  THE  FIRM'S  NAME  INCLUDES THE WORDS "CERTIFIED PUBLIC
ACCOUNTANT," OR "CERTIFIED PUBLIC  ACCOUNTANTS,"  OR  THE  ABBREVIATIONS
"CPA"  OR "CPAS."   EACH NON-LICENSEE OWNER OF A FIRM THAT IS REGISTERED
UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL BE (1) A NATURAL PERSON  WHO  ACTIVELY  PARTIC-
IPATES IN THE BUSINESS OF THE FIRM OR ITS AFFILIATED ENTITIES, OR (2) AN
ENTITY,  INCLUDING,  BUT  NOT  LIMITED TO, A PARTNERSHIP OR PROFESSIONAL
CORPORATION, PROVIDED EACH BENEFICIAL OWNER OF  AN  EQUITY  INTEREST  IN
SUCH  ENTITY  IS A NATURAL PERSON WHO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATES IN THE BUSI-
NESS CONDUCTED BY THE FIRM OR ITS AFFILIATED ENTITIES. FOR  PURPOSES  OF
THIS  SUBDIVISION,  "ACTIVELY  PARTICIPATE" MEANS TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO
CLIENTS OR TO OTHERWISE INDIVIDUALLY TAKE PART IN THE  DAY-TO-DAY  BUSI-
NESS OR MANAGEMENT OF THE FIRM.
  S 16. This act shall take effect immediately.