2009 Rhode Island Code
Title 5 - Businesses and Professions
CHAPTER 5-3.1 - Public Accountancy
§ 5-3.1-12 - Revocation or suspension of certificate, authority or permit.

SECTION 5-3.1-12

   § 5-3.1-12  Revocation or suspension of certificate, authority or permit. – (a) After notice and a hearing as provided in § 5-3.1-14, the board may: (1) suspend, for a period not to exceed two (2) years, or revoke any certificate issued under § 5-3.1-5, or any predecessor provision, and any authority as a public accountant issued under the prior laws of this state; (2) revoke or suspend any permit issued under §§ 5-3.1-7, 5-3.1-8, 5-3.1-9, or their predecessor provisions; and (3) reprimand or censure in writing, limit the scope of practice, impose an administrative fine upon, not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000), or place on probation, all with or without terms, conditions, or limitations, a licensee, for any of the causes specified in subsection (b) of this section.

   (b) The board may take action specified in subsection (a) of this section for any one or more of the following causes:

   (1) Fraud or deceit in obtaining a certificate or permit under this chapter;

   (2) Dishonesty, fraud, or gross negligence in the practice of public accounting or in the filing or failing to file the licensee's own income tax returns;

   (3) Violation of any of the provisions of this chapter;

   (4) Violation of any rules and regulations, including, but not limited to, any rules of professional conduct, promulgated by the board under the authority granted by this chapter;

   (5) Conviction of, or pleading guilty or nolo contendere to, a crime or an act constituting a crime of forgery, embezzlement, obtaining money under false pretenses, bribery, larceny, extortion, conspiracy to defraud, misappropriation of funds, tax evasion, or any other similar offense or offenses involving moral turpitude, in a court of competent jurisdiction of this or any other state or in federal court;

   (6) Cancellation, revocation, or suspension of, or refusal to renew, the licensee's certificate or permit from another state by the other state for any cause other than failure to pay a fee or to meet the requirements of continuing education in that other state;

   (7) Suspension or revocation of the right to practice public accounting before any state or federal agency;

   (8) As to accountants licensed by foreign countries, cancellation, revocation, suspension, or refusal to renew the person's certificate, license, or degree evidencing his or her qualification to practice public accounting by the foreign country issuing the certificate, license, or degree, the certificate, license, or degree having qualified the accountant for issuance of an annual limited permit to practice under § 5-3.1-8;

   (9) Failure to furnish the board or any persons acting on behalf of the board any information that is legally requested by the board;

   (10) Any conduct reflecting adversely upon the licensee's fitness to engage in the practice of public accountancy; and

   (11) Any other conduct discreditable to the public accounting profession.