NYSSCPA Antitrust Compliance Policy Language

Section 1. Policy Statement
It is the policy of the New York State Society of CPAs to comply strictly with the letter and spirit of all federal, state and applicable international trade regulations and antitrust laws. Any activities of the NYSSCPA or NYSSCPA-related actions of its staff, officers, board members, chapter officers, committee chairs, committee members or members that violate these regulations and laws are detrimental to the interests of the NYSSCPA and are contrary to NYSSCPA policy.

Section 2. Implementation
Implementation of this antitrust compliance policy shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following:

NYSSCPA membership, board of directors, Executive Committee and other committee meetings shall be conducted pursuant to agendas distributed in advance to attendees; discussions shall be limited to agenda items; there shall be no substantive discussions of NYSSCPA matters other than at official meetings; and minutes shall be distributed to attendees promptly.

All association activities or discussions shall be avoided that might be construed as tending to: (1) raise, lower or stabilize prices; (2) regulate production; (3) allocate markets; (4) encourage boycotts; (5) foster unfair trade practices; (6) assist in monopolization; or (7) in any way violate federal, state or applicable international trade regulations and antitrust laws.

No officer, director, chapter officer, committee chair or other NYSSCPA member shall make any representation in public or in private, orally or in writing, that states, or appears to state, an official policy or position of the NYSSCPA without specific authorization to do so.

Legal counsel shall attend all board of directors and Executive Committee meetings. Attendance of legal counsel at other meetings shall be at the discretion of the president or executive director.

NYSSCPA members or employees who participate in conduct that the board of directors, by a two-thirds majority vote, determines to be contrary to this antitrust compliance policy shall be subject to disciplinary measures up to, and including, termination of membership on the board, committee, chapter board, or the Society itself, or, in the case of employees, employment.

— Approved by the NYSSCPA Board of Directors on Sept. 25, 2002.