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Committee approves rule updates for shorthand reporters and CPAs; accountancy rules reduce several fees
Summary
The committee approved pending rule dockets from the Certified Shorthand Reporters Board and the Idaho State Board of Accountancy. The shorthand reporters’ docket removed in-house exam fees; the accountancy docket updated continuing-education references, extended CPA exam credit windows and reduced multiple fees.
The Senate Commerce and Human Resources Committee approved two pending rule dockets affecting the Idaho Certified Shorthand Reporters Board and the Idaho State Board of Accountancy.
Cecily Metcalfe, board services program manager for the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses, presented both dockets. For the Certified Shorthand Reporters Board (docket 24-2901-2401), the board removed fees for examination materials and eliminated its own Idaho‑based exam because it was seldom used and costly; the rules were reorganized and duplicative temporary‑permit language removed.
For the Idaho State Board of Accountancy (docket 24-3001-2401), the rules were updated following a 0‑based review. Key changes included updating an incorporation-by-reference from the 2019 to the 2024 standards for continuing professional education, extending the time window for CPA candidates to pass all parts of the licensing exam from 18 to 30 months, adding language allowing extension requests for good cause, and reducing several fees (exam application fees cut ~50%, inactive/retired renewal fees cut ~75%, transfer‑of‑grades fee reduced ~57%, and elimination of the duplicate wall‑certificate fee). The board also clarified renewal fees when licenses move to a biannual renewal cycle.
Both dockets were moved by committee motion and approved on voice votes without recorded roll calls in the hearing record.
The dockets aim to modernize rules, remove duplicative requirements, and adjust fees to reflect board priorities; the accountancy docket in particular reduced fees rather than increased them.
