§7215 — Title 15 Commerce and Trade | U.S. Code

Summary

Creates rules for how the oversight board must investigate and discipline registered public accounting firms and their people. The board must set fair procedures. It can investigate any act, practice, or failure to act that might break the law, board rules, securities rules about audits, Commission rules, or professional standards. The board can require people to testify, make firms produce audit work papers and other documents, inspect books, and ask clients or others for documents or testimony. If someone refuses to cooperate, the board can suspend or bar that person, suspend or revoke a firm’s registration, or use other penalties set by the board. The board must tell the SEC about any investigation that might involve securities-law violations and work with the SEC. The board may refer matters to the SEC, self‑regulators, federal financial regulators, the Attorney General, or state authorities. Documents and deliberations from inspections or investigations are confidential and privileged, but the board may share them with the SEC and, when needed to protect investors or carry out the law, with the Department of Justice, other federal regulators, state attorneys general, state regulators, self‑regulatory organizations, or certain foreign auditor oversight bodies if the board gets needed assurances. Board employees are protected from civil lawsuits for actions taken while investigating. When the board decides on discipline, it must bring specific charges, give notice and a chance to defend, and keep a record. Hearings are private unless the board and the parties agree otherwise. Any sanction decision must explain what acts or omissions led to it, what rule or law was violated, and why the sanction was chosen. Possible sanctions include temporary or permanent loss of registration, suspension or bar from association, limits on duties, censure, required training, other board penalties, and civil money penalties up to $100,000 for a natural person or $2,000,000 for others (or, in cases covered by tougher rules, up to $750,000 for a natural person or $15,000,000 for others). The harsher limits apply only for intentional, knowing, or reckless conduct, or repeated negligent violations. The board can also penalize firms or supervisors for failing to reasonably supervise staff, unless proper procedures were in place and followed. Suspended or barred people may not work for firms, issuers, brokers, or dealers in accounting or financial roles without board or SEC consent. The board must report sanctions to the SEC, relevant state or foreign licensing authorities, and the public (once any stay is lifted), giving the name, the sanction, its basis, and other appropriate information. If the SEC reviews a discipline, that review generally stays the discipline unless the SEC orders otherwise, and the SEC must provide an expedited way to decide how long any stay lasts.

Title 15, §7215

Commerce and Trade — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Board shall establish, by rule, subject to the requirements of this section, fair procedures for the investigation and disciplining of registered public accounting firms and associated persons of such firms.

(b)(1)In accordance with the rules of the Board, the Board may conduct an investigation of any act or practice, or omission to act, by a registered public accounting firm, any associated person of such firm, or both, that may violate any provision of this Act, the rules of the Board, the provisions of the securities laws relating to the preparation and issuance of audit reports and the obligations and liabilities of accountants with respect thereto, including the rules of the Commission issued under this Act, or professional standards, regardless of how the act, practice, or omission is brought to the attention of the Board.

(2)In addition to such other actions as the Board determines to be necessary or appropriate, the rules of the Board may—

(A)require the testimony of the firm or of any person associated with a registered public accounting firm, with respect to any matter that the Board considers relevant or material to an investigation;

(B)require the production of audit work papers and any other document or information in the possession of a registered public accounting firm or any associated person thereof, wherever domiciled, that the Board considers relevant or material to the investigation, and may inspect the books and records of such firm or associated person to verify the accuracy of any documents or information supplied;

(C)request the testimony of, and production of any document in the possession of, any other person, including any client of a registered public accounting firm that the Board considers relevant or material to an investigation under this section, with appropriate notice, subject to the needs of the investigation, as permitted under the rules of the Board; and

(D)provide for procedures to seek issuance by the Commission, in a manner established by the Commission, of a subpoena to require the testimony of, and production of any document in the possession of, any person, including any client of a registered public accounting firm, that the Board considers relevant or material to an investigation under this section.

(3)(A)If a registered public accounting firm or any associated person thereof refuses to testify, produce documents, or otherwise cooperate with the Board in connection with an investigation under this section, the Board may—

(i)suspend or bar such person from being associated with a registered public accounting firm, or require the registered public accounting firm to end such association;

(ii)suspend or revoke the registration of the public accounting firm; and

(iii)invoke such other lesser sanctions as the Board considers appropriate, and as specified by rule of the Board.

(B)Any action taken by the Board under this paragraph shall be subject to the terms of section 7217(c) of this title.

(4)(A)The Board shall notify the Commission of any pending Board investigation involving a potential violation of the securities laws, and thereafter coordinate its work with the work of the Commission’s Division of Enforcement, as necessary to protect an ongoing Commission investigation.

(B)The Board may refer an investigation under this section—

(i)to the Commission;

(ii)to a self-regulatory organization, in the case of an investigation that concerns an audit report for a broker or dealer that is under the jurisdiction of such self-regulatory organization;

(iii)to any other Federal functional regulator (as defined in section 6809 of this title), in the case of an investigation that concerns an audit report for an institution that is subject to the jurisdiction of such regulator; and

(iv)at the direction of the Commission, to—

(I)the Attorney General of the United States;

(II)the attorney general of 1 or more States; and

(III)the appropriate State regulatory authority.

(5)(A)Except as provided in subparagraphs (B) and (C), all documents and information prepared or received by or specifically for the Board, and deliberations of the Board and its employees and agents, in connection with an inspection under section 7214 of this title or with an investigation under this section, shall be confidential and privileged as an evidentiary matter (and shall not be subject to civil discovery or other legal process) in any proceeding in any Federal or State court or administrative agency, and shall be exempt from disclosure, in the hands of an agency or establishment of the Federal Government, under the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552a),11 See References in Text note below. or otherwise, unless and until presented in connection with a public proceeding or released in accordance with subsection (c).

(B)Without the loss of its status as confidential and privileged in the hands of the Board, all information referred to in subparagraph (A) may—

(i)be made available to the Commission; and

(ii)in the discretion of the Board, when determined by the Board to be necessary to accomplish the purposes of this Act or to protect investors, be made available to—

(I)the Attorney General of the United States;

(II)the appropriate Federal functional regulator (as defined in section 6809 of this title), other than the Commission, and the Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, with respect to an audit report for an institution subject to the jurisdiction of such regulator;

(III)State attorneys general in connection with any criminal investigation;

(IV)any appropriate State regulatory authority; and

(V)a self-regulatory organization, with respect to an audit report for a broker or dealer that is under the jurisdiction of such self-regulatory organization,

(C)Without the loss of its status as confidential and privileged in the hands of the Board, all information referred to in subparagraph (A) that relates to a public accounting firm that a foreign government has empowered a foreign auditor oversight authority to inspect or otherwise enforce laws with respect to, may, at the discretion of the Board, be made available to the foreign auditor oversight authority, if—

(i)the Board finds that it is necessary to accomplish the purposes of this Act or to protect investors;

(ii)the foreign auditor oversight authority provides—

(I)such assurances of confidentiality as the Board may request;

(II)a description of the applicable information systems and controls of the foreign auditor oversight authority; and

(III)a description of the laws and regulations of the foreign government of the foreign auditor oversight authority that are relevant to information access; and

(iii)the Board determines that it is appropriate to share such information.

(6)Any employee of the Board engaged in carrying out an investigation under this Act shall be immune from any civil liability arising out of such investigation in the same manner and to the same extent as an employee of the Federal Government in similar circumstances.

(c)(1)The rules of the Board shall provide that in any proceeding by the Board to determine whether a registered public accounting firm, or an associated person thereof, should be disciplined, the Board shall—

(A)bring specific charges with respect to the firm or associated person;

(B)notify such firm or associated person of, and provide to the firm or associated person an opportunity to defend against, such charges; and

(C)keep a record of the proceedings.

(2)Hearings under this section shall not be public, unless otherwise ordered by the Board for good cause shown, with the consent of the parties to such hearing.

(3)A determination by the Board to impose a sanction under this subsection shall be supported by a statement setting forth—

(A)each act or practice in which the registered public accounting firm, or associated person, has engaged (or omitted to engage), or that forms a basis for all or a part of such sanction;

(B)the specific provision of this Act, the securities laws, the rules of the Board, or professional standards which the Board determines has been violated; and

(C)the sanction imposed, including a justification for that sanction.

(4)If the Board finds, based on all of the facts and circumstances, that a registered public accounting firm or associated person thereof has engaged in any act or practice, or omitted to act, in violation of this Act, the rules of the Board, the provisions of the securities laws relating to the preparation and issuance of audit reports and the obligations and liabilities of accountants with respect thereto, including the rules of the Commission issued under this Act, or professional standards, the Board may impose such disciplinary or remedial sanctions as it determines appropriate, subject to applicable limitations under paragraph (5), including—

(A)temporary suspension or permanent revocation of registration under this subchapter;

(B)temporary or permanent suspension or bar of a person from further association with any registered public accounting firm;

(C)temporary or permanent limitation on the activities, functions, or operations of such firm or person (other than in connection with required additional professional education or training);

(D)a civil money penalty for each such violation, in an amount equal to—

(i)not more than $100,000 for a natural person or $2,000,000 for any other person; and

(ii)in any case to which paragraph (5) applies, not more than $750,000 for a natural person or $15,000,000 for any other person;

(E)censure;

(F)required additional professional education or training; or

(G)any other appropriate sanction provided for in the rules of the Board.

(5)The sanctions and penalties described in subparagraphs (A) through (C) and (D)(ii) of paragraph (4) shall only apply to—

(A)intentional or knowing conduct, including reckless conduct, that results in violation of the applicable statutory, regulatory, or professional standard; or

(B)repeated instances of negligent conduct, each resulting in a violation of the applicable statutory, regulatory, or professional standard.

(6)(A)The Board may impose sanctions under this section on a registered accounting firm or upon any person who is, or at the time of the alleged failure reasonably to supervise was, a supervisory person of such firm, if the Board finds that—

(i)the firm has failed reasonably to supervise an associated person, either as required by the rules of the Board relating to auditing or quality control standards, or otherwise, with a view to preventing violations of this Act, the rules of the Board, the provisions of the securities laws relating to the preparation and issuance of audit reports and the obligations and liabilities of accountants with respect thereto, including the rules of the Commission under this Act, or professional standards; and

(ii)such associated person commits a violation of this Act, or any of such rules, laws, or standards.

(B)No current or former supervisory person of a registered public accounting firm shall be deemed to have failed reasonably to supervise any associated person for purposes of subparagraph (A), if—

(i)there have been established in and for that firm procedures, and a system for applying such procedures, that comply with applicable rules of the Board and that would reasonably be expected to prevent and detect any such violation by such associated person; and

(ii)such person has reasonably discharged the duties and obligations incumbent upon that person by reason of such procedures and system, and had no reasonable cause to believe that such procedures and system were not being complied with.

(7)(A)It shall be unlawful for any person that is suspended or barred from being associated with a registered public accounting firm under this subsection willfully to become or remain associated with any registered public accounting firm, or for any registered public accounting firm that knew, or, in the exercise of reasonable care should have known, of the suspension or bar, to permit such an association, without the consent of the Board or the Commission.

(B)It shall be unlawful for any person that is suspended or barred from being associated with a registered public accounting firm under this subsection willfully to become or remain associated with any issuer, broker, or dealer in an accountancy or a financial management capacity, and for any issuer, broker, or dealer that knew, or in the exercise of reasonable care should have known, of such suspension or bar, to permit such an association, without the consent of the Board or the Commission.

(d)(1)If the Board imposes a disciplinary sanction, in accordance with this section, the Board shall report the sanction to—

(A)the Commission;

(B)any appropriate State regulatory authority or any foreign accountancy licensing board with which such firm or person is licensed or certified; and

(C)the public (once any stay on the imposition of such sanction has been lifted).

(2)The information reported under paragraph (1) shall include—

(A)the name of the sanctioned person;

(B)a description of the sanction and the basis for its imposition; and

(C)such other information as the Board deems appropriate.

(e)(1)Application to the Commission for review, or the institution by the Commission of review, of any disciplinary action of the Board shall operate as a stay of any such disciplinary action, unless and until the Commission orders (summarily or after notice and opportunity for hearing on the question of a stay, which hearing may consist solely of the submission of affidavits or presentation of oral arguments) that no such stay shall continue to operate.

(2)The Commission shall establish for appropriate cases an expedited procedure for consideration and determination of the question of the duration of a stay pending review of any disciplinary action of the Board under this subsection.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This Act, referred to in subsecs. (b)(1), (5)(B)(ii), (C)(i), (6) and (c)(3)(B), (4), (6)(A), is Pub. L. 107–204, July 30, 2002, 116 Stat. 745, known as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables. The Freedom of Information Act, referred to in subsec. (b)(5)(A), is section 552 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees. Section 552a of Title 5 is commonly known as the “Privacy Act”.

Amendments

2010—Subsec. (b)(4)(B)(ii) to (iv). Pub. L. 111–203, § 982(i), added cl. (ii) and redesignated former cls. (ii) and (iii) as (iii) and (iv), respectively. Subsec. (b)(5)(A). Pub. L. 111–203, § 981(c), substituted “subparagraphs (B) and (C)” for “subparagraph (B)”. Subsec. (b)(5)(B)(ii)(V). Pub. L. 111–203, § 982(j), added subcl. (V). Subsec. (b)(5)(C). Pub. L. 111–203, § 981(b), added subpar. (C). Subsec. (c)(6)(A). Pub. L. 111–203, § 929F(h)(1), substituted “any person who is, or at the time of the alleged failure reasonably to supervise was, a supervisory person” for “the supervisory personnel” in introductory provisions. Subsec. (c)(6)(B). Pub. L. 111–203, § 929F(h)(2), in introductory provisions, substituted “No current or former supervisory person” for “No associated person” and “any associated person” for “any other person”. Subsec. (c)(7)(B). Pub. L. 111–203, § 982(f), in heading, inserted “, broker, or dealer” after “issuer” and, in text, substituted “a registered public accounting firm under this subsection” for “an issuer under this subsection” and “any issuer, broker, or dealer” for “any issuer” in two places. 2008—Subsec. (b)(5)(B)(ii)(II). Pub. L. 110–289 inserted “and the Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency,” after “Commission,”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2010 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 111–203 effective 1 day after July 21, 2010, except as otherwise provided, see section 4 of Pub. L. 111–203, set out as an

Effective Date

note under section 5301 of Title 12, Banks and Banking.

§7215 Investigations and disciplinary proceedings

Summary

Title 15, §7215

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Amendments

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Effective Date

Citations & Metadata