1 | 1 | | LRB-0729/1 |
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2 | 2 | | SWB:cdc |
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3 | 3 | | 2023 - 2024 LEGISLATURE |
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4 | 4 | | 2023 ASSEMBLY BILL 1186 |
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5 | 5 | | April 9, 2024 - Introduced by Representatives SUBECK, RATCLIFF and PALMERI, |
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6 | 6 | | cosponsored by Senator SMITH. Referred to Committee on Judiciary. |
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7 | 7 | | ***AUTHORS SUBJECT TO CHANGE*** |
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8 | 8 | | AN ACT to renumber and amend 49.485; to amend 801.02 (1), 803.09 (1), |
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9 | 9 | | 803.09 (2), 804.01 (2) (intro.) and 805.04 (1); and to create 20.9315, 49.485 (1), |
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10 | 10 | | 165.25 (11m), 805.04 (2p) and 893.9815 of the statutes; relating to: restoring |
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11 | 11 | | private individual authority to bring a qui tam claim against a person for |
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12 | 12 | | making a false claim for medical assistance, actions by the attorney general |
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13 | 13 | | against a person for making a false claim for medical assistance, and providing |
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14 | 14 | | a penalty. |
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15 | 15 | | Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau |
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16 | 16 | | This bill restores a private individual's authority to bring a qui tam claim |
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17 | 17 | | against a person who makes a false claim for medical assistance, which was |
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18 | 18 | | eliminated in 2015 Wisconsin Act 55. A qui tam claim, as it relates to the Medical |
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19 | 19 | | Assistance program under the bill, is a claim initiated by a private individual on his |
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20 | 20 | | or her own behalf and on behalf of the state against a person who makes a false claim |
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21 | 21 | | for medical assistance. The bill restores the language prior to the enactment of 2015 |
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22 | 22 | | Wisconsin Act 55 that stated that, of moneys recovered as a result of a qui tam claim, |
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23 | 23 | | a private individual may be awarded up to 30 percent of the amount recovered, |
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24 | 24 | | depending upon certain factors, including the individual's role in advancement of the |
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25 | 25 | | prosecution of the action. The individual may also be entitled to reasonable expenses |
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26 | 26 | | incurred in bringing the action, as well as attorney fees. This bill also includes |
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33 | 33 | | 7 - 2 -2023 - 2024 Legislature LRB-0729/1 |
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34 | 34 | | SWB:cdc |
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35 | 35 | | ASSEMBLY BILL 1186 |
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36 | 36 | | additional changes not included in the prior law to conform state law to the federal |
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37 | 37 | | False Claims Act, including expanding provisions to facilitate qui tam actions and |
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38 | 38 | | modifying the bases for liability to parallel the liability provisions under the federal |
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39 | 39 | | False Claims Act. In addition to qui tam claims, the Department of Justice has |
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40 | 40 | | independent authority to bring a claim against a person for making a false claim for |
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41 | 41 | | medical assistance. This bill modifies provisions relating to DOJ's authority to |
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42 | 42 | | parallel the liability and penalty standards relating to qui tam claims, specifically, |
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43 | 43 | | applying the definition of the term “claim” and the forfeiture amounts provided |
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44 | 44 | | under the federal False Claims Act. |
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45 | 45 | | For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as |
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46 | 46 | | an appendix to this bill. |
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47 | 47 | | The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do |
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48 | 48 | | enact as follows: |
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49 | 49 | | SECTION 1. 20.9315 of the statutes is created to read: |
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50 | 50 | | 20.9315 False claims for medical assistance; actions by or on behalf of |
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51 | 51 | | state. (1) In this section: |
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52 | 52 | | (b) “Claim” has the meaning given in 31 USC 3729 (b) (2). |
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53 | 53 | | (d) “Knowingly" means, with respect to information, having actual knowledge |
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54 | 54 | | of the information, acting in deliberate ignorance of the truth or falsity of the |
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55 | 55 | | information, or acting in reckless disregard of the truth or falsity of the information. |
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56 | 56 | | “Knowingly" does not mean specifically intending to defraud. |
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57 | 57 | | (de) “Material” means having a natural tendency to influence, or be capable of |
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58 | 58 | | influencing, the payment or receipt of money or property. |
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59 | 59 | | (dm) “Medical assistance" has the meaning given under s. 49.43 (8). |
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60 | 60 | | (dr) “Obligation” has the meaning given in 31 USC 3729 (b) (3). |
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61 | 61 | | (dt) “Original source” has the meaning given in 31 USC 3730 (e) (4) (B). |
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62 | 62 | | (e) “Proceeds" includes damages, civil penalties, surcharges, payments for costs |
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63 | 63 | | of compliance, and any other economic benefit realized by this state as a result of an |
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64 | 64 | | action or settlement of a claim. |
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80 | 80 | | 16 - 3 -2023 - 2024 Legislature |
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81 | 81 | | LRB-0729/1 |
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82 | 82 | | SWB:cdc |
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83 | 83 | | SECTION 1 |
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84 | 84 | | ASSEMBLY BILL 1186 |
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85 | 85 | | (2) Except as provided in sub. (3), any person who does any of the following is |
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86 | 86 | | liable to this state for 3 times the amount of the damages that were sustained by the |
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87 | 87 | | state or would have been sustained by the state, whichever is greater, because of the |
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88 | 88 | | actions of the person, and shall forfeit, for each violation, an amount within the range |
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89 | 89 | | specified under 31 USC 3729 (a): |
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90 | 90 | | (a) Knowingly presents or causes to be presented a false or fraudulent claim |
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91 | 91 | | for medical assistance. |
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92 | 92 | | (b) Knowingly makes, uses, or causes to be made or used a false record or |
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93 | 93 | | statement material to a false or fraudulent claim for medical assistance. |
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94 | 94 | | (dg) Knowingly makes, uses, or causes to be made or used a false record or |
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95 | 95 | | statement material to an obligation to pay or transmit money or property to the |
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96 | 96 | | Medical Assistance program, or knowingly conceals or knowingly and improperly |
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97 | 97 | | avoids or decreases an obligation to pay or transmit money or property to the Medical |
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98 | 98 | | Assistance program. |
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99 | 99 | | (dr) Conspires to commit a violation under par. (a), (b), or (dg). |
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100 | 100 | | (3) The court may assess against a person who violates sub. (2) not less than |
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101 | 101 | | 2 nor more than 3 times the amount of the damages sustained by the state because |
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102 | 102 | | of the acts of the person, and shall not assess any forfeiture, if the court finds all of |
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103 | 103 | | the following: |
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104 | 104 | | (a) The person who commits the acts furnished the attorney general with all |
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105 | 105 | | information known to the person about the acts within 30 days after the date on |
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106 | 106 | | which the person obtained the information. |
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107 | 107 | | (b) The person fully cooperated with any investigation of the acts by this state. |
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108 | 108 | | (c) At the time that the person furnished the attorney general with information |
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109 | 109 | | concerning the acts, no criminal prosecution or civil or administrative enforcement |
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134 | 134 | | 25 - 4 -2023 - 2024 Legislature LRB-0729/1 |
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135 | 135 | | SWB:cdc |
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136 | 136 | | SECTION 1 ASSEMBLY BILL 1186 |
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137 | 137 | | action had been commenced with respect to any such act, and the person did not have |
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138 | 138 | | actual knowledge of the existence of any investigation into any such act. |
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139 | 139 | | (5) (a) Except as provided in subs. (10) and (12), any person may bring a civil |
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140 | 140 | | action as a qui tam plaintiff against a person who commits an act in violation of sub. |
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141 | 141 | | (2) for the person and the state in the name of the state. |
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142 | 142 | | (b) The plaintiff shall serve upon the attorney general a copy of the complaint |
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143 | 143 | | and documents disclosing substantially all material evidence and information that |
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144 | 144 | | the person possesses. The plaintiff shall file a copy of the complaint with the court |
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145 | 145 | | for inspection in camera. Except as provided in par. (c), the complaint shall remain |
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146 | 146 | | under seal for a period of 60 days from the date of filing and shall not be served upon |
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147 | 147 | | the defendant until the court so orders. Within 60 days from the date of service upon |
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148 | 148 | | the attorney general of the complaint, evidence, and information under this |
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149 | 149 | | paragraph, the attorney general may intervene in the action. |
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150 | 150 | | (bm) Any complaint filed by the state in intervention, whether filed separately |
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151 | 151 | | or as an amendment to the qui tam plaintiff's complaint, shall relate back to the filing |
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152 | 152 | | date of the qui tam plaintiff's complaint, to the extent that the state's claim arises |
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153 | 153 | | out of the conduct, transactions, or occurrences set forth, or attempted to be set forth, |
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154 | 154 | | in the qui tam plaintiff's complaint. |
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155 | 155 | | (c) The attorney general may, for good cause shown, move the court for one or |
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156 | 156 | | more extensions of the period during which a complaint in an action under this |
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157 | 157 | | subsection remains under seal. |
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158 | 158 | | (d) Before the expiration of the period during which the complaint remains |
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159 | 159 | | under seal, the attorney general shall do one of the following: |
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160 | 160 | | 1. Proceed with the action or an alternate remedy under sub. (10), in which case |
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161 | 161 | | the action or proceeding under sub. (10) shall be prosecuted by the state. |
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186 | 186 | | 25 - 5 -2023 - 2024 Legislature |
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187 | 187 | | LRB-0729/1 |
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188 | 188 | | SWB:cdc |
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189 | 189 | | SECTION 1 |
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190 | 190 | | ASSEMBLY BILL 1186 |
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191 | 191 | | 2. Notify the court that he or she declines to proceed with the action, in which |
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192 | 192 | | case the person bringing the action may proceed with the action. |
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193 | 193 | | (e) If a person brings a valid action under this subsection, no person other than |
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194 | 194 | | the state may intervene or bring a related action while the original action is pending |
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195 | 195 | | based upon the same facts underlying the pending action. |
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196 | 196 | | (f) In any action or other proceeding under sub. (10) brought under this |
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197 | 197 | | subsection, the plaintiff is required to prove all essential elements of the cause of |
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198 | 198 | | action or complaint, including damages, by a preponderance of the evidence. |
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199 | 199 | | (6) If the state proceeds with an action under sub. (5) or an alternate remedy |
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200 | 200 | | under sub. (10), the state has primary responsibility for prosecuting the action or |
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201 | 201 | | proceeding under sub. (10). The state is not bound by any act of the person bringing |
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202 | 202 | | the action, but that person has the right to continue as a party to the action. |
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203 | 203 | | (7) (b) With the approval of the governor, the attorney general may compromise |
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204 | 204 | | and settle an action under sub. (5) or an administrative proceeding under sub. (10) |
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205 | 205 | | to which the state is a party, notwithstanding objection of the person bringing the |
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206 | 206 | | action, if the court determines, after affording to the person bringing the action the |
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207 | 207 | | right to a hearing at which the person is allowed the opportunity to present evidence |
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208 | 208 | | in opposition to the proposed settlement, that the proposed settlement is fair, |
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209 | 209 | | adequate, and reasonable considering the relevant circumstances pertaining to the |
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210 | 210 | | violation. |
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211 | 211 | | (c) Upon a showing by the state that unrestricted participation in the |
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212 | 212 | | prosecution of an action under sub. (5) or an alternate proceeding to which the state |
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213 | 213 | | is a party by the person bringing the action would interfere with or unduly delay the |
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214 | 214 | | prosecution of the action or proceeding, or would result in consideration of |
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238 | 238 | | 24 - 6 -2023 - 2024 Legislature LRB-0729/1 |
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239 | 239 | | SWB:cdc |
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240 | 240 | | SECTION 1 ASSEMBLY BILL 1186 |
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241 | 241 | | repetitious or irrelevant evidence or evidence presented for purposes of harassment, |
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242 | 242 | | the court may limit the person's participation in the prosecution, such as: |
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243 | 243 | | 1. Limiting the number of witnesses that the person may call. |
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244 | 244 | | 2. Limiting the length of the testimony of the witnesses. |
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245 | 245 | | 3. Limiting the cross-examination of witnesses by the person. |
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246 | 246 | | 4. Otherwise limiting the participation by the person in the prosecution of the |
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247 | 247 | | action or proceeding. |
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248 | 248 | | (d) Upon showing by a defendant that unrestricted participation in the |
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249 | 249 | | prosecution of an action under sub. (5) or alternate proceeding under sub. (10) to |
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250 | 250 | | which the state is a party by the person bringing the action would result in |
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251 | 251 | | harassment or would cause the defendant undue burden or unnecessary expense, the |
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252 | 252 | | court may limit the person's participation in the prosecution. |
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253 | 253 | | (8) Except as provided in sub. (7), if the state elects not to participate in an |
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254 | 254 | | action filed under sub. (5), the person bringing the action may prosecute the action. |
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255 | 255 | | If the attorney general so requests, the attorney general shall, at the state's expense, |
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256 | 256 | | be served with copies of all pleadings and deposition transcripts in the action. If the |
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257 | 257 | | person bringing the action initiates prosecution of the action, the court, without |
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258 | 258 | | limiting the status and rights of that person, may permit the state to intervene at a |
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259 | 259 | | later date upon showing by the state of good cause for the proposed intervention. |
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260 | 260 | | (9) Whether or not the state participates in an action under sub. (5), upon |
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261 | 261 | | showing in camera by the attorney general that discovery by the person bringing the |
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262 | 262 | | action would interfere with the state's ongoing investigation or prosecution of a |
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263 | 263 | | criminal or civil matter arising out of the same facts as the facts upon which the |
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264 | 264 | | action is based, the court may stay such discovery in whole or in part for a period of |
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265 | 265 | | not more than 60 days. The court may extend the period of any such stay upon |
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290 | 290 | | 25 - 7 -2023 - 2024 Legislature |
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291 | 291 | | LRB-0729/1 |
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292 | 292 | | SWB:cdc |
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293 | 293 | | SECTION 1 |
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294 | 294 | | ASSEMBLY BILL 1186 |
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295 | 295 | | further showing in camera by the attorney general that the state has pursued the |
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296 | 296 | | criminal or civil investigation of the matter with reasonable diligence and the |
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297 | 297 | | proposed discovery in the action brought under sub. (5) will interfere with the |
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298 | 298 | | ongoing criminal or civil investigation or prosecution. |
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299 | 299 | | (10) The attorney general may pursue a claim relating to an alleged violation |
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300 | 300 | | of sub. (2) through an alternate remedy available to the state or any state agency, |
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301 | 301 | | including an administrative proceeding to assess a civil forfeiture. If the attorney |
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302 | 302 | | general elects any such alternate remedy, the attorney general shall serve timely |
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303 | 303 | | notice of his or her election upon the person bringing the action under sub. (5), and |
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304 | 304 | | that person has the same rights in the alternate venue as the person would have had |
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305 | 305 | | if the action had continued under sub. (5). Any finding of fact or conclusion of law |
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306 | 306 | | made by a court or by a state agency in the alternate venue that has become final is |
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307 | 307 | | conclusive upon all parties named in an action under sub. (5). For purposes of this |
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308 | 308 | | subsection, a finding or conclusion is final if it has been finally determined on appeal, |
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309 | 309 | | if all time for filing an appeal or petition for review with respect to the finding or |
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310 | 310 | | conclusion has expired, or if the finding or conclusion is not subject to judicial review. |
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311 | 311 | | (11) (a) Except as provided in pars. (b) and (e), if the state proceeds with an |
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312 | 312 | | action brought by a person under sub. (5) or the state pursues an alternate remedy |
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313 | 313 | | relating to the same acts under sub. (10), the person who brings the action shall |
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314 | 314 | | receive at least 15 percent but not more than 25 percent of the proceeds of the action |
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315 | 315 | | or settlement of the claim, depending upon the extent to which the person |
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316 | 316 | | contributed to the prosecution of the action or claim. |
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317 | 317 | | (b) Except as provided in par. (e), if an action or claim is one in which the court |
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318 | 318 | | or other adjudicator finds to be based primarily upon disclosures of specific |
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319 | 319 | | information not provided by the person who brings an action under sub. (5) relating |
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344 | 344 | | 25 - 8 -2023 - 2024 Legislature LRB-0729/1 |
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345 | 345 | | SWB:cdc |
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346 | 346 | | SECTION 1 ASSEMBLY BILL 1186 |
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347 | 347 | | to allegations or transactions specifically in a criminal, civil, or administrative |
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348 | 348 | | hearing, or in a legislative or administrative report, hearing, audit, or investigation, |
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349 | 349 | | or report made by the news media, the court or other adjudicator may award such |
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350 | 350 | | amount as it considers appropriate, but not more than 10 percent of the proceeds of |
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351 | 351 | | the action or settlement of the claim, depending upon the significance of the |
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352 | 352 | | information and the role of the person bringing the action in advancing the |
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353 | 353 | | prosecution of the action or claim. |
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354 | 354 | | (c) Except as provided in par. (e), in addition to any amount received under par. |
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355 | 355 | | (a) or (b), a person bringing an action under sub. (5) shall be awarded his or her |
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356 | 356 | | reasonable expenses necessarily incurred in bringing the action together with the |
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357 | 357 | | person's costs and reasonable actual attorney fees. The court or other adjudicator |
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358 | 358 | | shall assess any award under this paragraph against the defendant. |
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359 | 359 | | (d) Except as provided in par. (e), if the state does not proceed with an action |
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360 | 360 | | or an alternate proceeding under sub. (10), the person bringing the action shall |
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361 | 361 | | receive an amount that the court decides is reasonable for collection of the civil |
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362 | 362 | | penalty and damages. The amount shall be not less than 25 percent and not more |
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363 | 363 | | than 30 percent of the proceeds of the action and shall be paid from the proceeds. In |
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364 | 364 | | addition, the person shall be paid his or her expenses, costs, and fees under par. (c). |
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365 | 365 | | (e) Whether or not the state proceeds with the action or an alternate proceeding |
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366 | 366 | | under sub. (10), if the court or other adjudicator finds that an action under sub. (5) |
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367 | 367 | | was brought by a person who planned or initiated the violation upon which the action |
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368 | 368 | | or proceeding is based, then the court may, to the extent that the court considers |
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369 | 369 | | appropriate, reduce the share of the proceeds of the action that the person would |
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370 | 370 | | otherwise receive under par. (a), (b), or (d), taking into account the role of that person |
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371 | 371 | | in advancing the prosecution of the action or claim and any other relevant |
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396 | 396 | | 25 - 9 -2023 - 2024 Legislature |
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397 | 397 | | LRB-0729/1 |
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398 | 398 | | SWB:cdc |
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399 | 399 | | SECTION 1 |
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400 | 400 | | ASSEMBLY BILL 1186 |
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401 | 401 | | circumstance pertaining to the violation, except that if the person bringing the action |
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402 | 402 | | is convicted of criminal conduct arising from his or her role in a violation of sub. (2), |
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403 | 403 | | the court or other adjudicator shall dismiss the person as a party and the person shall |
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404 | 404 | | not receive any share of the proceeds of the action or claim or any expenses, costs, and |
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405 | 405 | | fees under par. (c). |
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406 | 406 | | (12) Except if the action is brought by the attorney general or the person |
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407 | 407 | | bringing the action is an original source of the information, the court shall dismiss |
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408 | 408 | | an action or claim under this section, unless opposed by the state, if substantially the |
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409 | 409 | | same allegations or transactions as alleged in the action or claim were publicly |
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410 | 410 | | disclosed in any of the following ways: |
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411 | 411 | | (a) In a federal criminal, civil, or administrative hearing in which the state or |
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412 | 412 | | its agent is a party. |
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413 | 413 | | (b) In a congressional, government accountability office, or other federal report, |
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414 | 414 | | hearing, audit, or investigation. |
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415 | 415 | | (c) From the news media. |
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416 | 416 | | (13) The state is not liable for any expenses incurred by a private person in |
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417 | 417 | | bringing an action under sub. (5). |
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418 | 418 | | (14) Any employee, contractor, or agent who is discharged, demoted, |
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419 | 419 | | suspended, threatened, harassed, or in any other manner discriminated against in |
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420 | 420 | | the terms and conditions of employment because of lawful actions taken by the |
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421 | 421 | | employee, contractor, agent, or by others in furtherance of an action or claim filed |
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422 | 422 | | under this section or on behalf of the employee, contractor, or agent, including |
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423 | 423 | | investigation for, initiation of, testimony for, or assistance in an action or claim filed |
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424 | 424 | | or to be filed under sub. (5) is entitled to all necessary relief to make the employee, |
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425 | 425 | | contractor, or agent whole. Such relief shall in each case include reinstatement with |
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450 | 450 | | 25 - 10 -2023 - 2024 Legislature LRB-0729/1 |
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451 | 451 | | SWB:cdc |
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452 | 452 | | SECTION 1 ASSEMBLY BILL 1186 |
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453 | 453 | | the same seniority status that the employee, contractor, or agent would have had but |
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454 | 454 | | for the discrimination, 2 times the amount of back pay, interest on the back pay at |
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455 | 455 | | the legal rate, and compensation for any special damages sustained as a result of the |
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456 | 456 | | discrimination, including costs and reasonable attorney fees. An employee, |
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457 | 457 | | contractor, or agent may bring an action to obtain the relief to which the employee, |
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458 | 458 | | contractor, or agent is entitled under this subsection within 3 years after the date the |
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459 | 459 | | retaliation occurred. |
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460 | 460 | | (15) A civil action may be brought based upon acts occurring prior to the |
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461 | 461 | | effective date of this subsection .... [LRB inserts date], if the action is brought within |
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462 | 462 | | the period specified in s. 893.9815. |
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463 | 463 | | (16) A judgment of guilty entered against a defendant in a criminal action in |
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464 | 464 | | which the defendant is charged with fraud or making false statements estops the |
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465 | 465 | | defendant from denying the essential elements of the offense in any action under sub. |
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466 | 466 | | (5) that involves the same elements as in the criminal action. |
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467 | 467 | | (17) The remedies provided for under this section are in addition to any other |
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468 | 468 | | remedies provided for under any other law or available under the common law. |
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469 | 469 | | (18) This section shall be liberally construed and applied to promote the public |
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470 | 470 | | interest and to effect the congressional intent in enacting 31 USC 3729 to 3733, as |
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471 | 471 | | reflected in the act and the legislative history of the act. |
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472 | 472 | | SECTION 2. 49.485 of the statutes is renumbered 49.485 (2) and amended to |
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473 | 473 | | read: |
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474 | 474 | | 49.485 (2) Whoever knowingly presents or causes to be presented to any officer, |
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475 | 475 | | employee, or agent of this state a false claim for medical assistance Except as |
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476 | 476 | | provided under s. 20.9315 (3), whoever commits an act in violation of s. 20.9315 (2) |
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477 | 477 | | shall forfeit not less than $5,000 nor more than $10,000 an amount within the range |
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502 | 502 | | 25 - 11 -2023 - 2024 Legislature |
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503 | 503 | | LRB-0729/1 |
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504 | 504 | | SWB:cdc |
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505 | 505 | | SECTION 2 |
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506 | 506 | | ASSEMBLY BILL 1186 |
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507 | 507 | | specified under 31 USC 3729 (a), as adjusted, plus 3 times the amount of the damages |
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508 | 508 | | that were sustained by the state or would have been sustained by the state, |
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509 | 509 | | whichever is greater, as a result of the false claim. The attorney general may bring |
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510 | 510 | | an action on behalf of the state to recover any forfeiture incurred under this section. |
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511 | 511 | | SECTION 3. 49.485 (1) of the statutes is created to read: |
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512 | 512 | | 49.485 (1) In this section, “claim” has the meaning given in s. 20.9315. |
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513 | 513 | | SECTION 4. 165.25 (11m) of the statutes is created to read: |
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514 | 514 | | 165.25 (11m) FALSE CLAIMS. Diligently investigate possible violations of s. |
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515 | 515 | | 20.9315 and, if the department determines that a person has committed an act that |
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516 | 516 | | is punishable under s. 20.9315, may bring a civil action against that person. |
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517 | 517 | | SECTION 5. 801.02 (1) of the statutes is amended to read: |
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518 | 518 | | 801.02 (1) A Except as provided in s. 20.9315 (5) (b), a civil action in which a |
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519 | 519 | | personal judgment is sought is commenced as to any defendant when a summons and |
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520 | 520 | | a complaint naming the person as defendant are filed with the court, provided service |
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521 | 521 | | of an authenticated copy of the summons and of the complaint is made upon the |
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522 | 522 | | defendant under this chapter within 90 days after filing. |
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523 | 523 | | SECTION 6. 803.09 (1) of the statutes is amended to read: |
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524 | 524 | | 803.09 (1) Upon Except as provided in s. 20.9315, upon timely motion anyone |
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525 | 525 | | shall be permitted to intervene in an action when the movant claims an interest |
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526 | 526 | | relating to the property or transaction which is the subject of the action and the |
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527 | 527 | | movant is so situated that the disposition of the action may as a practical matter |
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528 | 528 | | impair or impede the movant's ability to protect that interest, unless the movant's |
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529 | 529 | | interest is adequately represented by existing parties. |
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530 | 530 | | SECTION 7. 803.09 (2) of the statutes is amended to read: |
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554 | 554 | | 24 - 12 -2023 - 2024 Legislature LRB-0729/1 |
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555 | 555 | | SWB:cdc |
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556 | 556 | | SECTION 7 ASSEMBLY BILL 1186 |
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557 | 557 | | 803.09 (2) Upon Except as provided in s. 20.9315, upon timely motion anyone |
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558 | 558 | | may be permitted to intervene in an action when a movant's claim or defense and the |
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559 | 559 | | main action have a question of law or fact in common. When a party to an action |
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560 | 560 | | relies for ground of claim or defense upon any statute or executive order or rule |
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561 | 561 | | administered by a federal or state governmental officer or agency or upon any |
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562 | 562 | | regulation, order, rule, requirement or agreement issued or made pursuant to the |
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563 | 563 | | statute or executive order, the officer or agency upon timely motion may be permitted |
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564 | 564 | | to intervene in the action. In exercising its discretion the court shall consider |
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565 | 565 | | whether the intervention will unduly delay or prejudice the adjudication of the rights |
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566 | 566 | | of the original parties. |
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567 | 567 | | SECTION 8. 804.01 (2) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read: |
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568 | 568 | | 804.01 (2) SCOPE OF DISCOVERY. (intro.) Unless Except as provided in s. 20.9315 |
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569 | 569 | | (9), and unless otherwise limited by order of the court in accordance with the |
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570 | 570 | | provisions of this chapter, the scope of discovery is as follows: |
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571 | 571 | | SECTION 9. 805.04 (1) of the statutes is amended to read: |
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572 | 572 | | 805.04 (1) BY PLAINTIFF; BY STIPULATION. An Except as provided in sub. (2p), an |
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573 | 573 | | action may be dismissed by the plaintiff without order of court by serving and filing |
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574 | 574 | | a notice of dismissal at any time before service by an adverse party of responsive |
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575 | 575 | | pleading or motion or by the filing of a stipulation of dismissal signed by all parties |
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576 | 576 | | who have appeared in the action. Unless otherwise stated in the notice of dismissal |
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577 | 577 | | or stipulation, the dismissal is not on the merits, except that a notice of dismissal |
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578 | 578 | | operates as an adjudication on the merits when filed by a plaintiff who has once |
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579 | 579 | | dismissed in any court an action based on or including the same claim. |
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580 | 580 | | SECTION 10. 805.04 (2p) of the statutes is created to read: |
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604 | 604 | | 24 - 13 -2023 - 2024 Legislature |
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605 | 605 | | LRB-0729/1 |
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606 | 606 | | SWB:cdc |
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607 | 607 | | SECTION 10 |
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608 | 608 | | ASSEMBLY BILL 1186 |
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609 | 609 | | 805.04 (2p) FALSE CLAIMS. An action filed under s. 20.9315 may be dismissed |
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610 | 610 | | only by order of the court. In determining whether to dismiss the action filed under |
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611 | 611 | | s. 20.9315, the court shall take into account the best interests of the parties and the |
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612 | 612 | | purposes of s. 20.9315. |
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613 | 613 | | SECTION 11. 893.9815 of the statutes is created to read: |
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614 | 614 | | 893.9815 False claims. An action or claim under s. 20.9315 shall be |
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615 | 615 | | commenced within 10 years after the cause of the action or claim accrues or be |
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616 | 616 | | barred. |
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617 | 617 | | (END) |
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