Section 43-3-28. Revocation, suspension, or refusal to renew certificate, registration, or permit; immunity

   (a) After notice and hearing as provided in Code Section 43-3-30, the board may revoke or suspend any certification issued under Code Sections 43-3-6 through 43-3-12 or a registration issued under Code Section 43-3-20 or may revoke, suspend, or refuse to renew any live permit or may censure the holder of any such permit, or may forbid an individual from exercising the substantial equivalency practice privilege, for any cause which the board may deem sufficient, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any one or any combination of the following causes:

   (1) Violation of any rule, regulation, or order promulgated by the board in accordance with this chapter;

   (2) Fraud or deceit in obtaining certification as a certified public accountant or registration as a public accountant, in obtaining registration under this chapter, or in obtaining a live permit;

   (3) Violation of any of the provisions of Code Section 43-3-35 or any other Code section of this chapter;

   (4) Dishonesty, fraud, or gross negligence in the practice of public accountancy;

   (5) Commission of a felony under the laws of any state or of the United States;

   (6) Commission of any crime, an element of which is dishonesty or fraud, under the laws of any state or of the United States;

   (7) Cancellation, revocation, suspension, or refusal to renew authority to practice as a certified public accountant or as a public accountant by any other state for any cause other than voluntary withdrawal or failure to pay an annual registration fee in such other state;

   (8) Suspension or revocation of the right to practice before any state or federal agency;

   (9) Failure to furnish evidence of satisfaction of requirements of continuing professional education as required by the board pursuant to Code Section 43-3-25 or to meet any conditions with respect to continuing professional education which the board may have ordered under that Code section;

   (10) Conduct which discredits the accounting profession; or

   (11) Failure of such holder's firm to register or renew its registration under Code Sections 43-3-21 and 43-3-23 or the failure of such firm to comply with any of the provisions of Code Section 43-3-23.

(b) A person, firm, corporation, association, authority, or other entity shall be immune from civil and criminal liability for reporting or investigating the acts or omissions of a licensee or applicant which violate the provisions of subsection (a) of this Code section or any other provision of law relating to a licensee's or applicant's fitness to practice public accounting or for initiating or conducting proceedings against such licensee or applicant, if such report is made or action is taken in good faith, without fraud or malice. Any person who testifies or who makes a recommendation to the board in the nature of peer review, in good faith, without fraud, or malice, before the board in any proceeding involving the provisions of subsection (a) of this Code section or any other law relating to a licensee's or applicant's fitness to practice public accounting shall be immune from civil and criminal liability for so testifying.

Code 1933, § 84-210, enacted by Ga. L. 1935, p. 85, § 10; Ga. L. 1950, p. 163, § 1; Code 1933, § 84-211, enacted by Ga. L. 1977, p. 1063, § 1; Ga. L. 1988, p. 1616, § 4; Ga. L. 1997, p. 1545, § 6; Ga. L. 2005, p. 1030, § 10/SB 55; Ga. L. 2008, p. 1112, § 6/HB 1055.