2006

• Board of Public Accountancy amends regulations allowing candidates to sit for the CPA exam at 120 hours.
• Governor Romney signs landmark Healthcare Reform Law ensuring health care for all Massachusetts residents
• Patricia Smith, CPA appointed to Board of Public Accountancy.

2005

• Board of Public Accountancy Votes to Adopt Four Hour Ethics Requirement as Part of the 80-hour Biannual Requirement for Re-Licensing. (If approved, would be implemented for July 1, 2007 re-licensing period.)
• John Glynn, Esquire appointed to Board of Public Accountancy.
• SJC Determines that Legislature Intended for January 1, 2002 Date for Capital Gains Rate Change.

2004

• An attempt to repeal Tort Reform is defeated
• Legislation authorizing the computerization of the CPA exam in Massachusetts is passed
• Computerized Uniform CPA Exam commences April 5, 2004
• SJC rules 2002 Capital Gains tax hike unconstitutional-Court to determine new effective date, either Jan. 1, 2002 or Jan. 1, 2003.
• Legislature Amends Independent Contractor Law.

2003

• New Massachusetts Business Corporation Law becomes law.
• Law eliminates concept of "treasury shares". MSCPA Accounting & Auditing Committee releases whitepaper on how to handle treasury stock.
• Revisions to MA Accounting Regulations for Professional Corporations.
• Computerized Uniform CPA Exam Announced for 2004.
• Governor Romney signs Supplemental Budget Legislation that ends so-called "corporate tax loopholes".
• President Bush sings "Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003".
• PCAOB lauches registration system for public accounting firms.

2002

• MA Tax Amnesty Program becomes law
• Capital Gains Tax reinstated in Massachusetts
• Uniform Accounting Standards bill passed
• EGTRRA Conformity in Massachusetts

2001

• Non-CPA ownership legislation passed
• Tort Reform -- Proportionate Liability for CPAs passed
• Privileged communications between CPAs and clients
• The creation of another class of accountants defeated

2000

• Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act becomes law
• Repeal pay-to-play requirement
• Continuous Internal Revenue Code Update
• Technical Correction to Assisted Living Laws - State law currently reads that a CPA must guarantee an assisted living residence will continue as a going concern

1999

• Tort Reform -- Proportionate Liability for CPAs

1997

• Securities Litigation Reform (Federal)
• Board of Public Accountancy Rules CPA's can accept commissions and contingent fees Administrative Tax Reform Bill
• CPAs allowed to practice during informal proceedings of the Appellate Tax Board
• Civil Justice Reform Bill
• Fought for the elimination of Part C income/Technical Correction to 1995 Capital Gains Law
• Ten Year Old Internal Revenue Code Updated
• Robert C. Temkin, CPA, appointed to State Board of Public Accountancy
• Dean Hanley, Esquire appointed to the Board of Public Accountancy
• 150 Hours Requirement becomes law, effective 2002
• Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Issues Favorable ruling on privity
• Defeated further attempts to license of a 3rd class of accountants
• IRS Restructuring Bill signed into law
• Audits of Federal Credit Unions with assets more than $10 million must follow state licensing requirements - in summation, CPAs must perform these audits
• State-of-the-Art Product Liability Standard issued by the Supreme Judicial Court
• Public Accountants allowed to call themselves Certified Public Accountants-one class of accountants

1996

• Securities Litigation Reform
• Administrative Tax Reform
• Commissions and Contingent Fees
• 3rd class of accountants bill defeated
• Dorothy H. Kelly, CPA appointed to the Board of Public Accountancy

1995

• Securities Litigation Reform (Federal)
• 150 Hours Educational Requirement
• LLC/LLP Law enacted in Massachusetts
• Defeated legislation to create a 3rd class of accountants
• Administrative Tax Reform
• Civil Justice Reform - including Proportionate or Joint and Several Liability, Statute of Limitations, and Privity
• Commissions and Contingent Fees

1994

• Aggressively opposed legislation that allowed for a second class of licensees "Public Accountant Practitioner"
• State Board of Public Accountancy mandates "quality reviews"
• Filed an amicus brief in "Volin v. State Board of Public Accountancy" case
• Melvyn C. Holland, PA, appointed to the State Board of Public Accountancy

1993

• Broadened the definition/mandate of Special Business Tax Policy Study Commission to include state tax administration
• Amended Board of Public Accountancy regulations to allow "part-time" experience for certification
• Robert C. Temkin, CPA, appointed to State Board of Public Accountancy
• Blocked legislation creating a third class of licensees - "Registered Accountants"
• Board of Public Accountancy changes regulations governing CPAs, advertising and soliciting new clients/accounts

1992

• Lyman Bullard, Esquire, appointed to State Board of Public Accountancy
• CPAs granted confidentiality protection for conducting quality reviews

1991

• Sales tax on accounting services repealed
• Clarification sought on CPAs role for protecting pensions
• Remove requirement for "certificate-of-condition" upon voluntary corporate dissolution
• Agnes Kull, CPA, appointed to State Board of Public Accountancy
• Stop mandating that CPAs must to bid for local government client service opportunities
• Persian Gulf military allowed to extend tax return filing date without penalty

1990

• Clarification sought on CPAs role for protecting pensions
• Eliminated "private right of action" in state RICO proposal
• Jerome P. Solomon, CPA, appointed to State Board of Public Accountancy

1989

• CPAs exempted from bidding for state engagements
• Massachusetts to recognize "S" corporations
• Allow "review" in lieu of "audit" of public charities up to $250,000
• Clarified investment tax credit procedures
• Carry forward of net operating losses
• Lower DOR interest rate tax assessments, both under and overpayments
• Shift from "estate" to a "sponge" tax

1988

• Mandate independence standard for audits conducted by the state auditor

1987

• Established three year statute of limitation on actions CPAs liability
• Audits of housing authorities to be conducted by CPAs

1986

• Agnes Kull, CPA, appointed to the State Board of Public Accountancy

1985

• Public Accountancy Act rewritten
• Jerome P. Solomon, CPA appointed to State Board of Public Accountancy
• MSCPA established a Political Action Committee

1984

• Clarified CPAs roles in the audits of state chartered banks

1982

• CPA firm partnerships defined