872 IAC 1-6-8.5 Approved peer review sponsoring organizations, programs, and standards

Sec. 8.5. (a) The board shall approve peer review sponsoring organizations, programs, and standards. (b) The board recognizes the AICPA as an approved sponsoring organization, along with its peer review program and standards. This approval applies to the peer review alliance or its successor and other peer review programs administered by entities involved in administering the AICPA peer review program and other peer review programs administered by the administering entities. These organizations are not required to submit an application for approval to the board. As a condition of this approval, a sponsoring organization is required to: (1) administer peer reviews for nonmember licensees whose firms' principal places of business are located in the state or states where it administers peer review, provided the nonmembers comply with the applicable peer review standards; and (2) provide advance notice to the board and the opportunity for discussion if any administering entity is to be discontinued. (c) The board may terminate its approval of a sponsoring organization for cause after receiving notice and the opportunity for a hearing. For purposes of this subsection, "cause" includes a substantive change in the peer review program that adversely affects licensees or the public firms, or impairs the board's ability to protect the public in this state, or failing to maintain an ongoing compliance with the requirements of this rule. (d) The board may approve other peer review sponsoring organizations and programs. For an organization not specifically identified in this rule as board approved, to receive board approval for its peer review program and standards, the organization shall submit evidence to the satisfaction of the board. The evidence must include the standards, procedures, guidelines, oversight process, training materials, and related documents used to administer, perform, and accept peer reviews. The board has the authority to request any other documents or information, or both, from an organization about its peer review program in determining whether to grant approval.