Bill Text: CA AB2570 | 2019-2020 | Regular Session | Amended

---

Bill Title: False Claims Act.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2020-07-02 - From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on JUD. [AB2570 Detail]

Download: California-2019-AB2570-Amended.html

---

Amended  IN  Senate  July 02, 2020

Amended  IN  Assembly  May 04, 2020

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2019–2020 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 2570

---

Introduced by Assembly Member Mark Stone

February 20, 2020

---

An act to amend Sections 12650, 12651, 12652, and 12653 of the Government Code, relating to the False Claims Act.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 2570, as amended, Mark Stone. False Claims Act.

Existing law, the False Claims Act, provides that any person who commits specified acts, including, but not limited to, knowingly presenting a false or fraudulent claim for payment or approval or knowingly making or using a false record or statement material to a false or fraudulent claim, is liable to the state or to the political subdivision for 3 times the amount of damages that the state or political subdivision sustained because of the act and for the costs of a civil action brought to recover any penalties or damages, and is subject to a civil penalty. That act requires the Attorney General or the prosecuting authority of a political subdivision to diligently investigate violations of those specific acts involving state funds or political subdivision funds, respectively, and authorizes the Attorney General, the prosecuting authority, or a qui tam plaintiff to bring a civil action against a person who commits those acts.

The False Claims Act requires a complaint filed by a qui tam plaintiff to be filed in superior court in camera and allows the complaint to remain under seal for up to 60 days to allow for the Attorney General or prosecuting attorney to elect to intervene and proceed with the action or to decline to proceed, as specified. The act prohibits service to be made on the defendant until after the complaint is unsealed.

This bill, with respect to whether a false record or statement is material, would require that the materiality test focus on the potential effect of the false record or statement when it is made. This bill would specify that the amount of damages, as described above, include consequential damages. The bill would state that these changes are declaratory of existing law.

This bill would require a complaint filed by a qui tam plaintiff to remain under seal for at least 60 days, and would prohibit the complaint being served on the defendant until the court so orders. The bill would deem a demand for payment or request for payment based on an alleged violation that is made prior to filing a complaint by an attorney representing a private person to be a violation of the requirement that the complaint be filed in superior court in camera.

The False Claims Act does not apply to claims, records, or statements made under the Revenue and Taxation Code.

This bill would apply the False Claims Act to apply to claims, records, or statements made under the Revenue and Taxation Code if specified conditions are met, including if damages pleaded in an action under the act exceed $200,000 and that the claim, record, or statement was made on or after January 1, 2021. The bill would define “person” for these purposes.

This bill would require the Attorney General or prosecuting authority, as described, to consult with the taxing authorities to whom the claim was submitted prior to filing or intervening in any action under the act that is based on the filing of false claims, records, or statements made under the Revenue and Taxation Code.

This bill would authorize the Attorney General or the prosecuting authority, but not the qui tam plaintiff, to obtain otherwise confidential records relating to taxes, fees, or other obligations under the Revenue and Taxation Code. The bill would prohibit the disclosure of federal tax information to the Attorney General or the prosecuting authority without authorization from the Internal Revenue Service. The bill would require that any such information obtained be kept confidential, except as necessary to investigate and prosecute violations of these provisions.

Under the False Claims Act, an employee, contractor, or agent who is discharged, demoted, suspended, threatened, harassed, or in any other manner discriminated against in the terms and conditions of their employment for engaging in lawful acts, as specified, or other efforts to stop violations of the act, is entitled to all relief necessary to make them whole.

This bill would specify that the relief described above applies to any current or former employee, contractor, or agent if these parties are otherwise harmed or penalized by an employer. This bill would define lawful acts to include specified acts that may violate a contract, employment term, or duty owed to an employer or contractor.

Existing constitutional provisions require that a statute that limits the right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies be adopted with findings demonstrating the interest protected by the limitation and the need for protecting that interest.

This bill would make legislative findings to that effect.

Digest Key

Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

---

Bill Text

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

 Section 12650 of the Government Code is amended to read:

12650.

 (a) This article shall be known and may be cited as the False Claims Act.

(b) For purposes of this article:

(1) “Claim” means any request or demand, whether under a contract or otherwise, for money, property, or services, and whether or not the state or a political subdivision has title to the money, property, or services that meets either of the following conditions:

(A) Is presented to an officer, employee, or agent of the state or of a political subdivision.

(B) Is made to a contractor, grantee, or other recipient, if the money, property, or service is to be spent or used on a state or any political subdivision’s behalf or to advance a state or political subdivision’s program or interest, and if the state or political subdivision meets either of the following conditions:

(i) Provides or has provided any portion of the money, property, or service requested or demanded.

(ii) Reimburses the contractor, grantee, or other recipient for any portion of the money, property, or service that is requested or demanded.

(2) “Claim” does not include requests or demands for money, property, or services that the state or a political subdivision has paid to an individual as compensation for employment with the state or political subdivision or as an income subsidy with no restrictions on that individual’s use of the money, property, or services.

(3) “Knowing” and “knowingly” mean that a person, with respect to information, does any of the following:

(A) Has actual knowledge of the information.

(B) Acts in deliberate ignorance of the truth or falsity of the information.

(C) Acts in reckless disregard of the truth or falsity of the information.

Proof of specific intent to defraud is not required.

(4) “Material” means having a natural tendency to influence, or be capable of influencing, the payment or receipt of money, property, or services. The materiality test shall focus on the potential effect of the false record or statement when it is made, not on the actual effect of the false record or statement when it is discovered.

(5) “Obligation” means an established duty, whether or not fixed, arising from an express or implied contractual, grantor-grantee, or licensor-licensee relationship, from a fee-based or similar relationship, from statute or regulation, or from the retention of any overpayment.

(6) “Political subdivision” includes any city, city and county, county, tax or assessment district, or other legally authorized local governmental entity with jurisdictional boundaries.

(7) “Political subdivision funds” means funds that are the subject of a claim.

(8) “Prosecuting authority” refers to the county counsel, city attorney, or other local government official charged with investigating, filing, and conducting civil legal proceedings on behalf of, or in the name of, a particular political subdivision.

(9) “Person” includes any natural person, corporation, firm, association, organization, partnership, limited liability company, business, or trust.

(10) “State funds” mean funds that are the subject of a claim.

SEC. 2.

 Section 12651 of the Government Code is amended to read:

12651.

 (a) Any person who commits any of the following enumerated acts in this subdivision shall have violated this article and shall be liable to the state or to the political subdivision for three times the amount of all damages, including consequential damages, that the state or political subdivision sustains because of the act of that person. A person who commits any of the following enumerated acts shall also be liable to the state or to the political subdivision for the costs of a civil action brought to recover any of those penalties or damages, and shall be liable to the state or political subdivision for a civil penalty of not less than five thousand five hundred dollars ($5,500) and not more than eleven thousand dollars ($11,000) for each violation, as adjusted by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990 (Public Law 101–410 Section 5, 104 Stat. 891, note following 28 U.S.C. Sec. 2461).

(1) Knowingly presents or causes to be presented a false or fraudulent claim for payment or approval.

(2) Knowingly makes, uses, or causes to be made or used a false record or statement material to a false or fraudulent claim.

(3) Conspires to commit a violation of this subdivision.

(4) Has possession, custody, or control of public property or money used or to be used by the state or by any political subdivision and knowingly delivers or causes to be delivered less than all of that property.

(5) Is authorized to make or deliver a document certifying receipt of property used or to be used by the state or by any political subdivision and knowingly makes or delivers a receipt that falsely represents the property used or to be used.

(6) Knowingly buys, or receives as a pledge of an obligation or debt, public property from any person who lawfully may not sell or pledge the property.

(7) Knowingly makes, uses, or causes to be made or used a false record or statement material to an obligation to pay or transmit money or property to the state or to any political subdivision, or knowingly conceals or knowingly and improperly avoids, or decreases an obligation to pay or transmit money or property to the state or to any political subdivision.

(8) Is a beneficiary of an inadvertent submission of a false claim, subsequently discovers the falsity of the claim, and fails to disclose the false claim to the state or the political subdivision within a reasonable time after discovery of the false claim.

(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the court may assess not less than two times and not more than three times the amount of damages which the state or the political subdivision sustains because of the act of the person described in that subdivision, and no civil penalty, if the court finds all of the following:

(1) The person committing the violation furnished officials of the state or of the political subdivision responsible for investigating false claims violations with all information known to that person about the violation within 30 days after the date on which the person first obtained the information.

(2) The person fully cooperated with any investigation by the state or a political subdivision of the violation.

(3) At the time the person furnished the state or the political subdivision with information about the violation, no criminal prosecution, civil action, or administrative action had commenced with respect to the violation, and the person did not have actual knowledge of the existence of an investigation into the violation.

(c) Liability under this section shall be joint and several for any act committed by two or more persons.

(d) This section does not apply to any controversy involving an amount of less than five hundred dollars ($500) in value. For purposes of this subdivision, “controversy” means any one or more false claims submitted by the same person in violation of this article.

(e) This section does not apply to claims, records, or statements made pursuant to Division 3.6 (commencing with Section 810) of Title 1 or to workers’ compensation claims filed pursuant to Division 4 (commencing with Section 3200) of the Labor Code.

(f) (1) This section shall apply to claims, records, or statements made under the Revenue and Taxation Code only if the damages pleaded in such action exceed two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000) and any of the following equals or exceeds five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) for any taxable year subject to any action brought pursuant to this article:

(A) The taxable income of any person other than a corporation against whom the action is brought, under Part 10 (commencing with Section 17001) of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.

(B) The gross receipts, as defined in Section 25120 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, less returns and allowances of any corporation or other person other than an individual against whom the action is brought, under Part 11 (commencing with Section 23001) of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.

(C) The sales of any person against whom the action is brought, under Part 1 (commencing with Section 6001) or Part 1.5 (commencing with Section 7200) of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.

(2) For purposes of this subdivision only, “person” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 17007 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.

(3) The Attorney General or prosecuting authority shall consult with the taxing authorities to whom the claim, record, or statement was submitted prior to filing or intervening in any action under this article that is based on the filing of false claims, records, or statements made under the Revenue and Taxation Code.

(4) Notwithstanding any other law, the Attorney General or prosecuting authority, but not the qui tam plaintiff, is hereby authorized to obtain otherwise confidential records relating to taxes, fees, surcharges, or other obligations under the Revenue and Taxation Code needed to investigate or prosecute suspected violations of this subdivision from state and local taxing and other governmental authorities in possession of such information and records, and such authorities are hereby authorized to make those disclosures. The taxing and other governmental authorities shall not provide federal tax information without authorization from the Internal Revenue Service.

(5) Any information received pursuant to paragraphs (3) and (4) shall be kept confidential except as necessary to investigate and prosecute suspected violations of this subdivision.

(6) This subdivision does not and shall not be construed to have retroactive application to any claims, records, or statements made under the Revenue and Taxation Code before January 1, 2021.

(g) This section does not apply to claims, records, or statements for the assets of a person that have been transferred to the Commissioner of Insurance, pursuant to Section 1011 of the Insurance Code.

SEC. 3.

 Section 12652 of the Government Code is amended to read:

12652.

 (a) (1) The Attorney General shall diligently investigate violations under Section 12651 involving state funds. If the Attorney General finds that a person has violated or is violating Section 12651, the Attorney General may bring a civil action under this section against that person.

(2) If the Attorney General brings a civil action under this subdivision on a claim involving political subdivision funds as well as state funds, the Attorney General shall, on the same date that the complaint is filed in this action, serve by mail with “return receipt requested” a copy of the complaint on the appropriate prosecuting authority.

(3) The prosecuting authority shall have the right to intervene in an action brought by the Attorney General under this subdivision within 60 days after receipt of the complaint pursuant to paragraph (2). The court may permit intervention thereafter upon a showing that all of the requirements of Section 387 of the Code of Civil Procedure have been met.

(b) (1) The prosecuting authority of a political subdivision shall diligently investigate violations under Section 12651 involving political subdivision funds. If the prosecuting authority finds that a person has violated or is violating Section 12651, the prosecuting authority may bring a civil action under this section against that person.

(2) If the prosecuting authority brings a civil action under this section on a claim involving state funds as well as political subdivision funds, the prosecuting authority shall, on the same date that the complaint is filed in this action, serve a copy of the complaint on the Attorney General.

(3) Within 60 days after receiving the complaint pursuant to paragraph (2), the Attorney General shall do either of the following:

(A) Notify the court that it intends to proceed with the action, in which case the Attorney General shall assume primary responsibility for conducting the action and the prosecuting authority shall have the right to continue as a party.

(B) Notify the court that it declines to proceed with the action, in which case the prosecuting authority shall have the right to conduct the action.

(c) (1) A person may bring a civil action for a violation of this article for the person and either for the State of California in the name of the state, if any state funds are involved, or for a political subdivision in the name of the political subdivision, if political subdivision funds are exclusively involved. The person bringing the action shall be referred to as the qui tam plaintiff. Once filed, the action may be dismissed only with the written consent of the court and the Attorney General or prosecuting authority of a political subdivision, or both, as appropriate under the allegations of the civil action, taking into account the best interests of the parties involved and the public purposes behind this act. No claim for any violation of Section 12651 may be waived or released by any private person, except if the action is part of a court approved settlement of a false claim civil action brought under this section. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to limit the ability of the state or political subdivision to decline to pursue any claim brought under this section.

(2) A complaint filed by a private person under this subdivision shall be filed in superior court in camera and shall remain under seal for at least 60 days, and shall not be served on the defendant until the court so orders. A demand for payment or request for payment based on an alleged violation of Section 12651 that is made prior to filing a complaint under this subdivision by an attorney representing a private person shall be deemed a violation of the requirement that the complaint be filed in superior court in camera.

(3) On the same day as the complaint is filed pursuant to paragraph (2), the qui tam plaintiff shall serve by mail with “return receipt requested” the Attorney General with a copy of the complaint and a written disclosure of substantially all material evidence and information the person possesses.

(4) Within 60 days after receiving a complaint and written disclosure of material evidence and information alleging violations that involve state funds but not political subdivision funds, the Attorney General may elect to intervene and proceed with the action.

(5) The Attorney General may, for good cause shown, move the court for extensions of the time during which the complaint remains under seal pursuant to paragraph (2). The motion may be supported by affidavits or other submissions in camera.

(6) Before the expiration of the 60-day period or any extensions obtained under paragraph (5), the Attorney General shall do either of the following:

(A) Notify the court that it intends to proceed with the action, in which case the action shall be conducted by the Attorney General and the seal shall be lifted.

(B) Notify the court that it declines to proceed with the action, in which case the seal shall be lifted and the qui tam plaintiff shall have the right to conduct the action.

(7) (A) Within 15 days after receiving a complaint alleging violations that exclusively involve political subdivision funds, the Attorney General shall forward copies of the complaint and written disclosure of material evidence and information to the appropriate prosecuting authority for disposition, and shall notify the qui tam plaintiff of the transfer.

(B) Within 45 days after the Attorney General forwards the complaint and written disclosure pursuant to subparagraph (A), the prosecuting authority may elect to intervene and proceed with the action.

(C) The prosecuting authority may, for good cause shown, move for extensions of the time during which the complaint remains under seal. The motion may be supported by affidavits or other submissions in camera.

(D) Before the expiration of the 45-day period or any extensions obtained under subparagraph (C), the prosecuting authority shall do either of the following:

(i) Notify the court that it intends to proceed with the action, in which case the action shall be conducted by the prosecuting authority and the seal shall be lifted.

(ii) Notify the court that it declines to proceed with the action, in which case the seal shall be lifted and the qui tam plaintiff shall have the right to conduct the action.

(8) (A) Within 15 days after receiving a complaint alleging violations that involve both state and political subdivision funds, the Attorney General shall forward copies of the complaint and written disclosure to the appropriate prosecuting authority, and shall coordinate its review and investigation with those of the prosecuting authority.

(B) Within 60 days after receiving a complaint and written disclosure of material evidence and information alleging violations that involve both state and political subdivision funds, the Attorney General or the prosecuting authority, or both, may elect to intervene and proceed with the action.

(C) The Attorney General or the prosecuting authority, or both, may, for good cause shown, move the court for extensions of the time during which the complaint remains under seal under paragraph (2). The motion may be supported by affidavits or other submissions in camera.

(D) Before the expiration of the 60-day period or any extensions obtained under subparagraph (C), the Attorney General shall do one of the following:

(i) Notify the court that it intends to proceed with the action, in which case the action shall be conducted by the Attorney General and the seal shall be lifted.

(ii) Notify the court that it declines to proceed with the action but that the prosecuting authority of the political subdivision involved intends to proceed with the action, in which case the seal shall be lifted and the action shall be conducted by the prosecuting authority.

(iii) Notify the court that both it and the prosecuting authority decline to proceed with the action, in which case the seal shall be lifted and the qui tam plaintiff shall have the right to conduct the action.

(E) If the Attorney General proceeds with the action pursuant to clause (i) of subparagraph (D), the prosecuting authority of the political subdivision shall be permitted to intervene in the action within 60 days after the Attorney General notifies the court of its intentions. The court may authorize intervention thereafter upon a showing that all the requirements of Section 387 of the Code of Civil Procedure have been met.

(9) The defendant shall not be required to respond to any complaint filed under this section until 30 days after the complaint is unsealed and served upon the defendant pursuant to Section 583.210 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

(10) When a person brings an action under this subdivision, no other person may bring a related action based on the facts underlying the pending action.

(d) (1) No court shall have jurisdiction over an action brought under subdivision (c) against a Member of the State Senate or Assembly, a member of the state judiciary, an elected official in the executive branch of the state, or a member of the governing body of any political subdivision if the action is based on evidence or information known to the state or political subdivision when the action was brought.

(2) A person may not bring an action under subdivision (c) that is based upon allegations or transactions that are the subject of a civil suit or an administrative civil money penalty proceeding in which the state or political subdivision is already a party.

(3) (A) The court shall dismiss an action or claim under this section, unless opposed by the Attorney General or prosecuting authority of a political subdivision, if substantially the same allegations or transactions as alleged in the action or claim were publicly disclosed in any of the following:

(i) A criminal, civil, or administrative hearing in which the state or prosecuting authority of a political subdivision or their agents are a party.

(ii) A report, hearing, audit, or investigation of the Legislature, the state, or governing body of a political subdivision.

(iii) The news media.

(B) Subparagraph (A) shall not apply if the action is brought by the Attorney General or prosecuting authority of a political subdivision, or the person bringing the action is an original source of the information.

(C) For purposes of subparagraph (B), “original source” means an individual who either:

(i) Prior to a public disclosure under subparagraph (A), has voluntarily disclosed to the state or political subdivision the information on which allegations or transactions in a claim are based.

(ii) Has knowledge that is independent of, and materially adds to, the publicly disclosed allegations or transactions, and has voluntarily provided the information to the state or political subdivision before filing an action under this section.

(4) In all actions brought under subdivision (c), except for those in which the complaint alleges one or more violations under Section 12651 involving claims related to California’s Medicaid Program, as defined by the Medi-Cal Act (Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 14000) of Part 3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code) a court shall not have jurisdiction over an action based upon information discovered by a present or former employee of the state or a political subdivision during the course of his or her their employment unless that employee first, in good faith, exhausted existing internal procedures for reporting and seeking recovery of the falsely claimed sums through official channels and unless the state or political subdivision failed to act on the information provided within a reasonable period of time.

(e) (1) If the state or political subdivision proceeds with the action, it shall have the primary responsibility for prosecuting the action. The qui tam plaintiff shall have the right to continue as a full party to the action.

(2) (A) The state or political subdivision may seek to dismiss the action for good cause notwithstanding the objections of the qui tam plaintiff if the qui tam plaintiff has been notified by the state or political subdivision of the filing of the motion and the court has provided the qui tam plaintiff with an opportunity to oppose the motion and present evidence at a hearing.

(B) The state or political subdivision may settle the action with the defendant notwithstanding the objections of the qui tam plaintiff if the court determines, after a hearing providing the qui tam plaintiff an opportunity to present evidence, that the proposed settlement is fair, adequate, and reasonable under all of the circumstances.

(f) (1) If the state or political subdivision elects not to proceed, the qui tam plaintiff shall have the same right to conduct the action as the Attorney General or prosecuting authority would have had if it had chosen to proceed under subdivision (c). If the state or political subdivision so requests, and at its expense, the state or political subdivision shall be served with copies of all pleadings filed in the action and supplied with copies of all deposition transcripts.

(2) (A) Upon timely application, the court shall permit the state or political subdivision to intervene in an action with which it had initially declined to proceed if the interest of the state or political subdivision in recovery of the property or funds involved is not being adequately represented by the qui tam plaintiff.

(B) If the state or political subdivision is allowed to intervene under paragraph (A), the qui tam plaintiff shall retain principal responsibility for the action and the recovery of the parties shall be determined as if the state or political subdivision had elected not to proceed.

(g) (1) (A) If the Attorney General initiates an action pursuant to subdivision (a) or assumes control of an action initiated by a prosecuting authority pursuant to subparagraph (A) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (b), the office of the Attorney General shall receive a fixed 33 percent of the proceeds of the action or settlement of the claim, which shall be used to support its ongoing investigation and prosecution of false claims.

(B) If a prosecuting authority initiates and conducts an action pursuant to subdivision (b), the office of the prosecuting authority shall receive a fixed 33 percent of the proceeds of the action or settlement of the claim, which shall be used to support its ongoing investigation and prosecution of false claims.

(C) If a prosecuting authority intervenes in an action initiated by the Attorney General pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) or remains a party to an action assumed by the Attorney General pursuant to subparagraph (A) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (b), the court may award the office of the prosecuting authority a portion of the Attorney General’s fixed 33 percent of the recovery under subparagraph (A), taking into account the prosecuting authority’s role in investigating and conducting the action.

(2) If the state or political subdivision proceeds with an action brought by a qui tam plaintiff under subdivision (c), the qui tam plaintiff shall, subject to paragraphs (4) and (5), receive at least 15 percent but not more than 33 percent of the proceeds of the action or settlement of the claim, depending upon the extent to which the qui tam plaintiff substantially contributed to the prosecution of the action. When it conducts the action, the Attorney General’s office or the office of the prosecuting authority of the political subdivision shall receive a fixed 33 percent of the proceeds of the action or settlement of the claim, which shall be used to support its ongoing investigation and prosecution of false claims made against the state or political subdivision. When both the Attorney General and a prosecuting authority are involved in a qui tam action pursuant to subparagraph (C) of paragraph (6) of subdivision (c), the court at its discretion may award the prosecuting authority a portion of the Attorney General’s fixed 33 percent of the recovery, taking into account the prosecuting authority’s contribution to investigating and conducting the action.

(3) If the state or political subdivision does not proceed with an action under subdivision (c), the qui tam plaintiff shall, subject to paragraphs (4) and (5), receive an amount that the court decides is reasonable for collecting the civil penalty and damages on behalf of the government. The amount shall be not less than 25 percent and not more than 50 percent of the proceeds of the action or settlement and shall be paid out of these proceeds.

(4) If the action is one provided for under paragraph (4) of subdivision (d), the present or former employee of the state or political subdivision is not entitled to any minimum guaranteed recovery from the proceeds. The court, however, may award the qui tam plaintiff those sums from the proceeds as it considers appropriate, but in no case more than 33 percent of the proceeds if the state or political subdivision goes forth with the action or 50 percent if the state or political subdivision declines to go forth, taking into account the significance of the information, the role of the qui tam plaintiff in advancing the case to litigation, and the scope of, and response to, the employee’s attempts to report and gain recovery of the falsely claimed funds through official channels.

(5) Whether or not the state or political subdivision proceeds with the action, if the court finds that the action was brought by a person who planned and initiated the violation of Section 12651 upon which the action was brought, then the court may, to the extent the court considers appropriate, reduce the share of the proceeds of the action that the person would otherwise receive under this subdivision, taking into account the role of that person in advancing the case to litigation and any relevant circumstances pertaining to the violation. The court, however, shall not award the qui tam plaintiff more than 33 percent of the proceeds if the state or political subdivision goes forth with the action or 50 percent if the state or political subdivision declines to go forth, taking into account the significance of the information, the role of the qui tam plaintiff in advancing the case to litigation, the scope of the person’s involvement in the fraudulent activity, the person’s attempts to avoid or resist the activity, and all other circumstances surrounding the activity.

(6) The portion of the recovery not distributed pursuant to paragraphs (1) to (5), inclusive, shall revert to the state if the underlying false claims involved state funds exclusively and to the political subdivision if the underlying false claims involved political subdivision funds exclusively. If the violation involved both state and political subdivision funds, the court shall make an apportionment between the state and political subdivision based on their relative share of the funds falsely claimed.

(7) For purposes of this section, “proceeds” include civil penalties as well as double or treble damages as provided in Section 12651.

(8) If the state, political subdivision, or the qui tam plaintiff prevails in or settles any action under subdivision (c), the qui tam plaintiff shall receive an amount for reasonable expenses that the court finds to have been necessarily incurred, plus reasonable costs and attorney’s fees. All expenses, costs, and fees shall be awarded against the defendant and under no circumstances shall they be the responsibility of the state or political subdivision.

(9) (A) If the state or political subdivision does not proceed with the action and the qui tam plaintiff conducts the action, the court may award to the defendant its reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses against the party that proceeded with the action if the defendant prevails in the action and the court finds that the claim was clearly frivolous, clearly vexatious, or brought primarily for purposes of harassment.

(B) If the state or political subdivision proceeds with the action, the court may award the defendant its reasonable attorney’s fees and expenses against the state or political subdivision that proceeded with the action if the defendant prevails in the action and the court finds that the claim was clearly frivolous, clearly vexatious, or brought primarily for purposes of harassment.

(h) The court may stay an act of discovery of the person initiating the action for a period of not more than 60 days if the Attorney General or local prosecuting authority show that the act of discovery would interfere with an investigation or a prosecution of a criminal or civil matter arising out of the same facts, regardless of whether the Attorney General or local prosecuting authority proceeds with the action. This showing shall be conducted in camera. The court may extend the 60-day period upon a further showing in camera that the Attorney General or local prosecuting authority has pursued the criminal or civil investigation or proceedings with reasonable diligence and any proposed discovery in the civil action will interfere with the ongoing criminal or civil investigation or proceedings.

(i) Upon a showing by the Attorney General or local prosecuting authority that unrestricted participation during the course of the litigation by the person initiating the action would interfere with or unduly delay the Attorney General’s or local prosecuting authority’s prosecution of the case, or would be repetitious, irrelevant, or for purposes of harassment, the court may, in its discretion, impose limitations on the person’s participation, including the following:

(1) Limiting the number of witnesses the person may call.

(2) Limiting the length of the testimony of the witnesses.

(3) Limiting the person’s cross-examination of witnesses.

(4) Otherwise limiting the participation by the person in the litigation.

(j) The False Claims Act Fund is hereby created in the State Treasury. Proceeds from the action or settlement of the claim by the Attorney General pursuant to this article shall be deposited into this fund. Moneys in this fund, upon appropriation by the Legislature, shall be used by the Attorney General to support the ongoing investigation and prosecution of false claims in furtherance of this article.

SEC. 4.

 Section 12653 of the Government Code is amended to read:

12653.

 (a) (1) Any current or former employee, contractor, or agent shall be entitled to all relief necessary to make that employee, contractor, or agent whole, if that employee, contractor, or agent is discharged, demoted, suspended, threatened, harassed, or in any other manner discriminated against in the terms and conditions of their employment or otherwise harmed or penalized by an employer or contractor because of lawful acts done by the employee, contractor, agent, or associated others in furtherance of an action under this section or other efforts to stop one or more violations of this article.

(2) For purposes of this section, a “lawful act” shall include, but not be limited to, obtaining or transmitting to the state, a political subdivision, a qui tam plaintiff, or private counsel employed to investigate, potentially file, or file a cause of action under this article, documents, data, correspondence, electronic mail, or any other information, even though that act may violate a contract, employment term, or duty owed to the employer or contractor.

(3) Nothing in this subdivision shall be interpreted to prevent any law enforcement authority from bringing a civil or criminal action against any person for violating any provision of law.

(b) Relief under this section shall include reinstatement with the same seniority status that the employee, contractor, or agent would have had but for the discrimination, two times the amount of back pay, interest on the back pay, and compensation for any special damages sustained as a result of the discrimination, and, where appropriate, punitive damages. The defendant shall also be required to pay litigation costs and reasonable attorney’s fees. An action under this section may be brought in the appropriate superior court of the state.

(c) A civil action under this section shall not be brought more than three years after the date when the retaliation occurred.

SEC. 5.

 (a) The amendment of paragraph (4) of subdivision (b) of Section 12650 of the Government Code made by this act does not constitute a change in, but is declaratory of, existing law.

(b) The amendment of subdivision (a) of Section 12651 of the Government Code made by this act does not constitute a change in, but is declaratory of, existing law.

SEC. 6.

 The Legislature finds and declares that Section 2 of this act, which amends Section 12651 of the Government Code, imposes a limitation on the public’s right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies within the meaning of Section 3 of Article I of the California Constitution. Pursuant to that constitutional provision, the Legislature makes the following findings to demonstrate the interest protected by this limitation and the need for protecting that interest:

In order to protect the existing confidentiality of tax records, it is necessary to limit the public’s access to these documents.