(a) The California Tax Education Council, as defined in subdivision (d) of Section 22251, shall carry out the responsibilities and duties set forth in this chapter.
(b) Protection of the public shall be the highest priority for the council in exercising its registration and disciplinary authority, and any other functions. Whenever the protection of the public is inconsistent with other interests sought to be promoted, the protection of the public shall be paramount.
(c) The council shall be governed by a board of directors comprised of the following:
(1) Not more than one representative from each California nonprofit corporation in good standing that chooses to participate in the council and that represents tax preparers, enrolled agents, attorneys, or certified public accountants with a membership in California of at least 400 in each of the previous three calendar years.
(2) Not more than one representative from each for-profit tax preparation corporation in good standing that chooses to participate in the council and that had at least 400 employees or franchisees, which number can include the employees of a franchisee, in California during the previous calendar year and that has been operating in California for the last three years.
(3) Six individuals who are tax preparers pursuant to Section 22255 and are appointed through a process established by the council to the board of directors with full voting privileges to serve terms as determined by the council, with their initial terms being served on a staggered basis. A person exempt from the requirements of this chapter pursuant to Section 22258 is not eligible for appointment to the council, other than an employee of an individual in an exempt category.
(d) The meetings of the board of directors shall be subject to the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act (Article 9 (commencing with Section 11120) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code). The board of directors may adopt additional policies and procedures that provide greater transparency to registrants and the public than required by the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act.
(e) The council may take any reasonable actions to carry out the responsibilities and duties set forth in this chapter, including, but not limited to, hiring staff and entering into contracts.
(f) The council shall issue registrations, deny applications, and discipline registrants as authorized by this chapter. The council may adopt bylaws, rules, regulations, and procedures necessary to effectuate the purposes of this chapter.
(g) The council shall establish application fees, renewal fees, delinquent fees, and other fees related to the regulatory cost of providing services and carrying out the council’s responsibilities and duties pursuant to this chapter. These fees shall not exceed the reasonable cost to the council of providing those services and carrying out those responsibilities and duties.
(Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 597, Sec. 4. (AB 3143) Effective January 1, 2019. Repealed as of January 1, 2023, pursuant to Section 22259.)