The Board proposes a rule amendment that will update language to redefine upper division as courses above the principal introductory level.

 

DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION

Board of Accountancy

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

61H1-27.002Concentrations in Accounting and Business

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The Board proposes a rule amendment that will update language to redefine upper division as courses above the principal introductory level.

SUMMARY: The rule amendment redefines upper division as courses above the principal introductory level regarding concentrations in accounting and business.

SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS AND LEGISLATIVE RATIFICATION:

The Agency has determined that this will not have an adverse impact on small business or likely increase directly or indirectly regulatory costs in excess of $200,000 in the aggregate within one year after the implementation of the rule. A SERC has not been prepared by the Agency.

The Agency has determined that the proposed rule is not expected to require legislative ratification based on the statement of estimated regulatory costs or if no SERC is required, the information expressly relied upon and described herein: During discussion of the economic impact of this rule at its Board meeting, the Board concluded that this rule change will not have any impact on licensees and their businesses or the businesses that employ them. The rule will not increase any fees, business costs, personnel costs, will not decrease profit opportunities, and will not require any specialized knowledge to comply. This change will not increase any direct or indirect regulatory costs. Hence, the Board determined that a Statement of Estimated Regulatory Costs (SERC) was not necessary and that the rule will not require ratification by the Legislature. No person or interested party submitted additional information regarding the economic impact at that time.

Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY: 473.304, 473.306(3), 473.308(3) FS.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 473.306(2), (3), 473.308(3), (8) FS.

IF REQUESTED WITHIN 21 DAYS OF THE DATE OF THIS NOTICE, A HEARING WILL BE SCHEDULED AND ANNOUNCED IN THE FAR.

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Roger Scarborough, Division Director, Board of Accountancy, 240 NW 76th Dr., Suite A, Gainesville, Florida 32607, [e-mail].

 

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

 

61H1-27.002 Concentrations in Accounting and Business.

(1) through (3) No change.

(4) For purposes of this rule, upper division accounting hours other than elementary above the minimum requirement may be substituted for general business hours. Elementary accounting subjects shall not be accepted as general business education. Elementary accounting subjects include principles of financial and managerial accounting courses even if they are covered in a three course sequence, are titled “introductory,” “fundamentals” or “principles” and even if they are offered at the graduate level. All accounting courses and not less than 21 semester or 32 quarter hours of general business courses must be at the upper division level. For the purpose of paragraph 61H1-27.002(2)(b), F.A.C., all general business courses, including accounting courses in excess of the 36 hours required, must be taken at the upper division level, except for Introductory Macro and Micro Economics, Business Law, Introductory Statistics, Introduction to Computer Information Systems, and any written or oral communication course described in paragraph 61H1-27.002(2)(b), F.A.C. Lower level general business courses, other than those listed above, posted to transcripts after August 31, 1989 will not count. Standardized tests, such as CLEP, are not acceptable for accounting or general business courses; however, advanced placement (AP) courses will be counted if the applicant has been granted college credit for those AP courses by their degree-granting institution.

(a) Upper division, as used in rule 61H1-27.002, F.A.C., means courses above the principal introductory level offered at the junior level or higher. By definition, any course taken at a community college is not upper division. Courses offered at the freshman and sophomore level at senior institutions are not upper division, regardless of the title or content of the course (e.g., Cost, Intermediate, Tax, etc.)

(b) No change.

(5) through (8) No change.

Rulemaking Authority 473.304, 473.306(3), 473.308(3) FS. Law Implemented 473.306(2), (3), 473.308(3), (8) FS. History–New 12-4-79, Amended 2-3-81, 8-1-83, 3-21-84, 6-10-84, 6-5-85, 10-28-85, Formerly 21A-27.02, Amended 5-22-88, 3-21-89, 5-20-91, 12-2-92, Formerly 21A-27.002, Amended 11-2-95, 11-3-97, 1-31-05, 5-24-07, 11-30-08, 12-21-09, 12-2-14, 7-11-16, 2-13-18, 7-29-18,________.

 

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Board of Accountancy

NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Board of Accountancy

DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: July 12, 2019

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: August 20, 2019