HB 1298 Summary

• Creates a one-year amnesty program (July 1, 2011 - June 30, 2012) for accountants who failed to renew licenses between January 1, 2003 and June 30, 2011, requiring payment of all missed renewal fees plus a $100 additional fee.

• Changes terminology from "quality review" to "peer review" for public accountancy regulations effective July 1, 2012, and permits peer review ratings of "fail" to be used in disciplining certified public accountants and firms.

• Requires accountants to return client records within 45 days of request and grants civil immunity to persons administering or participating in quality review or peer review programs.

• Removes geographical location requirements for supervising physicians and changes the medical licensing board's authority from mandatory approval to discretionary denial of physician assistant supervisory agreements.

• Expands physician assistant prescribing authority by removing certain drug restrictions and increasing controlled substance supply limits from 7 days to 30 days, while requiring supervising physician review of 100%, 50%, or 25% of patient encounters based on years of practice.