HTNYS and HANYS Comment on State Education Proposal for Governing Boards

HANYS and Healthcare Trustees of New York State (HTNYS) are urging the State Education Department to reconsider a proposed rule that would require retired Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) who serve on non-profit governing boards or audit committees to complete 40 hours of continuing professional education to continue to serve.

While HANYS and HTNYS fully embrace the value of health care trustee education, the proposed rule would result in the resignation of many CPAs from boards and committees to which they have devoted years of valuable service.

New York State’s non-profit hospital governing boards are comprised of volunteer members of communities who have professional skills, expertise, influence, and many other considerations that comprise a balanced board. In letters to the State Education Department, HANYS and HTNYS emphasized that the ability of a non-profit board to help an organization reach its strategic goals, maintain financial viability, and provide quality of care depends on the skills, knowledge, and commitment of individual board members.

HANYS and HTNYS noted that members of non-profit governing boards voluntarily agree to serve and devote hours of their time to effectively provide oversight to non-profit organizations. Placing an additional requirement on board members that would consume a substantial time commitment would force retired accountants to choose between fulfilling their continuing professional education requirements or resigning from the board and board committees. Contact: Sue Ellen Wagner