An Act Regarding the Experience Requirement for Auditors Working in the Office of the State Auditor Who Are Seeking Licensure as Certified Public Accountants (AFTER DEADLINE)
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 2023
Committee: Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business
Sponsors: HERBIG
Amends: 32 MRSA §12228

Legislative Document
No. 2023
S.P. 713
In Senate, January 14, 2020
An Act Regarding the Experience Requirement for Auditors 
Working in the Office of the State Auditor Who Are Seeking 
Licensure as Certified Public Accountants
(AFTER DEADLINE)
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
205.
Reference to the Committee on Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and 
Business suggested and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator HERBIG of Waldo.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  32 MRSA §12228, sub-§10, as amended by PL 2015, c. 110, §7, is 
further amended to read:
10.  Experience.  For initial issuance of a license under section 12230, an applicant 
must demonstrate 2 years of experience under the direction of a certified public 
accountant licensed by any state or territory of the United States or equivalent direction, 
as determined by the board, by a licensed professional in another country and must meet 
the other requirements prescribed by the board by rule.  The applicant's experience must 
include the use of accounting or auditing skills, including the issuance of reports, and at 
least one of the following:  the provision of management advisory, financial advisory or 
consulting services; the preparation of tax returns; the furnishing of advice on tax matters; 
or equivalent activities defined by the board by rule.  Board rules adopted pursuant to this 
subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.  
To the extent the applicant's experience is as a revenue agent or in a similar position 
engaged in the examination of personal and corporate income tax returns for the Bureau 
of Revenue Services, the applicant receives credit at the rate of 50% toward the 
experience required by this subsection.  To the extent the applicant's experience is as an 
examiner engaged in financial examinations for the Bureau of Insurance, the applicant 
receives credit under this subsection if that experience meets the following standards:
A.  Examinations are performed in conformity with the Examiners' Handbook 
published by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners or its successor or 
other organization approved by the board;
B.  Working papers prepared by the examiners are in conformity with generally 
accepted auditing standards and are subject to a review by a supervisor who must be 
is a certified public accountant;
C.  Written reports of examination are prepared in conformity with the Examiners' 
Handbook published by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners or its 
successor or other organization approved by the board.  All examiners working on the 
examinations must participate in the preparation of the report;
D.  Reports of examination are prepared in accordance with statutory accounting 
principles.  All examiners working on the examinations must participate in the 
preparation of the financial statements and corresponding note disclosures; and
E.  All examiners assigned to an examination must participate in the planning of the 
examination and the planning phase conforms to the Examiners' Handbook published 
by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners or its successor or other 
organization approved by the board and generally accepted auditing standards.
To the extent the applicant's experience is as an auditor engaged in audits for the Office 
of the State Auditor, the applicant receives credit under this subsection if working papers 
prepared by the auditor are in conformity with generally accepted auditing standards and 
are subject to a review by a supervisor who is a certified public accountant.
SUMMARY
This bill amends the laws governing the qualifications for licensure as a certified 
public accountant to specify that experience as an auditor for the Office of the State 
Auditor is valid for satisfying the experience requirements for initial licensure.