Sec. D-22. 32 MRSA §12252, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2001, c. 260, Pt. F, §2, is further amended to read:

3. Firm permits. Notwithstanding Title 13, section 710 and Title 31, section 611, the The following provisions apply to the issuance of firm permits.

A. An applicant for initial issuance or renewal of a permit to practice under this section shall show that a simple majority of the ownership of the firm, in terms of financial interests and voting rights of all partners, officers, shareholders, members or managers, belongs to holders of certificates who are licensed in a state and that all partners, officers, shareholders, members or managers whose principal place of business is in this State or who perform professional services in this State hold valid individual permits issued by the board. Firms may include nonlicensee owners in accordance with paragraph B.

B. A certified public accountancy firm or public accountancy firm may include nonlicensee owners as long as:

(1) All nonlicensee owners are individuals who actively participate in the certified public accountancy firm or public accountancy firm; and

(2) The firm complies with such other requirements as the board may impose by rule.

Sec. D-23. 35-A MRSA §2110, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 1987, c. 141, Pt. A, §6, is amended to read:

2. The commission's powers and limitations. The commission's powers and limitations, made applicable under this section, are those applicable by law in like cases concerning public utilities organized under Title 13-A 13-C or any prior general corporation law.

Sec. D-24. 35-A MRSA §3204, sub-§7, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 316, §3, is amended to read:

7. Corporate law; exemptions. An order of the commission directing or approving divestiture renders an electric utility and its directors, officers and shareholders exempt from Title 13-A 13-C, sections 514, 517, 624 and 720 section 651 and from the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act, Title 14, chapter 504 for the matters addressed by the order. A divestiture pursuant to a