Dear IMA Cleveland Chapter Members;
There is pending legislation in the State of Ohio, the “Reform Occupational Licensing Act,” would enable the state to set up its own voluntary certification programs, in direct competition with those programs offered by professional associations like IMA. ASAE (American Society of Association Executives) covered the story last week (
see article). The bill (
S.B. 255) passed the Ohio State Senate in June and was introduced in the State House in July; to date, it has yet to be referred to a committee. We strongly encourage you to also voice your concerns to your
local State House representative.
CEO Jeff Thompson shared a sample message for our CMAs to use when contacting their local House representatives:
Dear [legislator name]: I am an Ohio resident and an accounting professional who holds a CMA® (Certified Management Accountant) certification from IMA® (Institute of Management Accountants). I earned the CMA by meeting rigorous standards, including passing a comprehensive exam in my field. I am proud of this accomplishment, and I use the CMA as a title to communicate my qualifications to employers and colleagues. S.B. 255, as passed recently by the State Senate, would interfere with the ability of accounting professionals in Ohio to earn this voluntary certification in the future. I urge you to not pass S.B. 255 and, instead, work to find a better solution, one that would incorporate a wide range of viewpoints on this important issue.Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
Regards
Tara Barker
The IMA Community Relations Team
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