SJR34

A Joint Resolution creating a task force to study and make recommendations concerning the regulation of tax preparers.

Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. There is hereby created a task force to be known as the “Tax Return Preparation Task Force” to consist of seven members as follows: the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety, or his designee; one member who shall be a representative of a statewide association representing certified public accountants appointed by the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs; one member who shall be an enrolled agent or representative of the tax return preparation industry appointed by the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs; one member who shall be appointed by the Senate President; one member who shall be appointed by the Senate Minority Leader; one member who shall be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly; and one member who shall be appointed by the Assembly Minority Leader.

2. The task force shall organize as soon as practicable after the appointment of a majority of its members and shall select a chairperson from among its members. The chairperson shall appoint a secretary, who need not be a member of the task force.

3. Members of the task force shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses actually incurred in the performance of their duties as members of the task force.

4. The task force shall prepare a report that does the following: determines the appropriate scope of a program for regulating commercial tax return preparers; addresses the appropriate qualifications, including, but not limited to, minimum educational qualifications and continuing education requirements for commercial tax return preparers; and considers any other matters the task force determines to be necessary or appropriate.

5. The task force shall be entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of the employees of any State, county, or municipal department, board, bureau, commission, or agency as it may require and as may be available to it for its purposes, and to employ stenographic and clerical assistance and incur traveling and other miscellaneous expenses necessary to perform its duties, within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available to it for its purposes.

6. The task force may meet and hold hearings at the places it designates, at which it may request the appearance of officials of any State agency or political subdivision of the State and may solicit testimony of interested groups and the general public.

7. The task force shall report its findings and recommendations to the Governor, and to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), no later than 12 months following the organization of the task force.

8. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately and shall expire upon the submission of the task force report.

STATEMENT

This joint resolution establishes a seven member task force to be known as the “Tax Return Preparation Task Force.” The task force is to consist of seven members as follows: the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety, or his designee; one member who shall be a representative of a statewide association representing certified public accountants appointed by the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs; one member who shall be an enrolled agent or representative of the tax return preparation industry appointed by the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs; one member who shall be appointed by the Senate President; one member who shall be appointed by the Senate Minority Leader; one member who shall be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly; and one member who shall be appointed by the Assembly Minority Leader.

The task force is mandated to prepare a report that does the following: determines the appropriate scope of a program for regulating commercial tax return preparers; addresses the appropriate qualifications, including, but not limited to, minimum educational qualifications and continuing education requirements for commercial tax return preparers; and considers any other matters the task force determines to be necessary or appropriate.

The task force shall report its findings and recommendations to the Governor, and to the Legislature no later than 12 months following the organization of the task force.