2005 Arizona Revised Statutes - Revised Statutes §32-749  Confidential nature of information acquired by accountants; privilege; conditions for disclosure; public records; exceptions

A. Certified public accountants and public accountants practicing in this state shall not be required to divulge, nor shall they voluntarily divulge, client records or information which they have received by reason of the confidential nature of their employment. Information derived from or as a result of such professional source shall be kept confidential as provided in this section, but this section shall not be construed as modifying, changing or affecting the criminal or bankruptcy laws of this state or the United States, nor shall it be construed to limit the authority of this state or any agency of this state to subpoena and use the information in connection with any investigation, public hearing or other proceeding.

B. The board shall not require a registrant to disclose taxpayer information protected from disclosure by section 42-2069 or section 43-381 except as provided by those sections.

C. This section and section 32-744 do not prohibit the disclosure of information for:

1. Compliance with ethical investigations or practice monitoring programs conducted by the board or private professional organizations pursuant to programs preapproved by the board. These programs include, but are not limited to, quality and peer reviews. The scope of quality and peer reviews may include subsequent, remedial or corrective actions. Disclosure of information under this paragraph shall not destroy its confidentiality and privilege nor relieve any registrant of the obligation of confidentiality. The registrants to whom the information is provided shall be bound by this section.

2. Access by the board or its duly authorized agents or employees during business hours to examine and copy any documents, reports, records or other physical evidence of any person being investigated by the board on its own motion or as the result of a complaint received, if the documents, reports, records or evidence relates to the competence or professional conduct of the registrant who is being investigated.

D. Records the board maintains in exercising its statutory duties are presumed to be public records pursuant to title 39, chapter 1, article 2 and are generally accessible for inspection and copying. Exceptions to the public records presumption include investigations of registrants. The board shall treat as confidential information the complaint, the investigation report, the testimony and documents submitted in support of the complaint or gathered in the investigation, including information obtained pursuant to section 32-721, and any correspondence related to the complaint or investigation. After the initial analysis under section 32-742.01, if the board opens an investigation file on a complaint, the details and records of the complaint and investigation shall remain confidential. However the fact that a complaint or investigation is pending and the nature of the complaint shall be public. The board shall not disclose this confidential information to any person except law enforcement authorities and, to the extent deemed necessary to conduct the investigation, the subject of the investigation, persons whose complaints are being investigated and witnesses questioned in the course of the investigation. Except for client records or information and any information from which the client or the client's property may be identified, the information made confidential under this subsection becomes public record if the board institutes civil enforcement or disciplinary proceedings or issues a consent order in lieu of disciplinary proceedings. If the board dismisses the matter with no disciplinary action, the board may disclose the information relating to the matter only with the consent of the registrant or entity under investigation.