Ethics proposals put to vote.

In August the Institute sent members a ballot for voting on two proposals to amend the Institute's bylaws as requested by the professional ethics executive committee (PEEC). The proposals, which aim to improve the timeliness, efficiency and transparency of the Institute's disciplinary process, cannot take effect unless approved by at least two thirds of the members voting.

Currently the Institute has the power to automatically discipline members as a result of certain activities by a state board of accountancy. The first of the two proposals would expand that automatic disciplinary power to include all discipline methods set out by the state boards of accountancy and any government agency or certain other organizations the PEEC and the AICPA board of directors approve, such as the SEC and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. At the same time, members would be able to appeal to the AICPA joint trial board to prevent the automatic provisions from being applied. The other proposal on the ballot would expand the transparency of the disciplinary process by permitting the PEEC, in specific situations, to disclose more information about matters it had investigated, including revealing to a complainant the results of an investigation he or she had requested.

Additional details are available at www.aicpa.org/enforcement, www.aicpa. org/pubs/cpaltr/jun2003/council.htm, www.aicpa.org/pubs/cpaltr/jul2003/ member.htm and www.aicpa.org/pubs/jofa/aug2003/snyder.htm.

Although all members should have gotten their ballots in the mail by now, any who have not should call 888-637-3277 or, if they prefer, can download the ballot materials from the AICPA Web site, www.aicpa.org/enforcement. The marked and signed ballots must be received for tabulation no later than October 18.