The False Claims Act.

The False Claims Act provides that a person who commits any one of several enumerated acts relating to the submission to the state or a political subdivision of the state a false claim for money, property, or services, as specified, shall be liable to the state or political subdivision for certain damages and for a civil penalty, as specified. Existing law authorizes a person to bring a civil action for damages resulting from fraudulent claims against the state or a political subdivision, and to share in the recovery. Existing law prohibits employers from engaging in certain acts that prevent employees from disclosing information to the government or law enforcement agency or from acting in furtherance of a false claims action. Existing law requires that a civil action for a false claim be filed within a specified time period. This bill would define the term obligation for purposes of these provisions and expand the definition of a claim. The bill would increase the civil penalty for each violation, as specified. The bill would authorize a court to award a person who planned and initiated a violation, as specified, a share of the proceeds of the action, as specified. The bill would provide specified relief to any employee, contractor, or agent that is, among other things, discharged, demoted, suspended, or in any other manner discriminated against in the terms and conditions of his or her employment because of certain acts done by the employee, contractor, or agent in furtherance of these provisions or to stop one or more violations, as specified. The bill would modify the statute of limitations of certain civil actions, as specified.