House to vote on stock options bill

The House of Representatives is scheduled to vote Tuesday on a bill backed by many technology companies that would largely maintain the current method of expensing stock options. Called the Stock Option Accounting Reform Act, the measure would bar securities regulators from recognizing the Financial Accounting Standards Board's proposal to list the cost of employee stock options in corporate income statements as of next year. Stock options granted to top executives would be expensed if the company's annual revenue is at least $25 million.

The House Rules committee is meeting Monday evening to determine the procedures for Tuesday's floor vote. A summary of one proposed amendment says that the Securities and Exchange Commission is authorized to set accounting rules "on its own initiative as the SEC deems necessary," which might permit it to authorize mandatory expensing.