Minnesota Session Laws - 2013, Regular Session

CHAPTER 16--H.F.No. 290

An act

relating to state government; modifying false claims provisions;

amending Minnesota Statutes 2012, sections 15C.01; 15C.02; 15C.05; 15C.08; 15C.12; 15C.13; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 15C; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 15C.14.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 15C.01, is amended to read:

15C.01 DEFINITIONS.

Subdivision 1.

Scope.

For purposes of this chapter, the terms in this section have the meanings given them.

Subd. 2.

Claim.

"Claim" includes a request or demand, whether under a contract or otherwise, for money or property new text begin and whether or not the state or a political subdivision has title to the money or property, new text end that new text begin : new text end

new text begin (1) is presented to an officer, employee, or agent of the state or a political subdivision; or new text end

new text begin (2) new text end is made deleted text begin by deleted text end new text begin to new text end a contractor, grantee, or other recipient deleted text begin to the state or a political subdivision deleted text end if new text begin the money or property is to be spent or used on behalf of new text end the state or the political subdivision new text begin or to advance a state or political subdivision's program or interest, and if the state or political subdivision provides or new text end has provided deleted text begin or will provide deleted text end a portion of the money or property that is requested or demanded, or if the state or the political subdivision has reimbursed or will reimburse the contractor, grantee, or other recipient for a portion of the money or property that is requested or demanded.

new text begin Claim does not include requests or demands for money or property that the state or a political subdivision has paid to an individual as compensation for state or political subdivision employment, or as an income subsidy with no restrictions on that individual's use of the money or property. new text end

Subd. 3.

Knowing and knowingly.

"Knowing" and "knowingly" mean that a person, with respect to information:

(1) has actual knowledge of the information;

(2) acts in deliberate ignorance of the truth or falsity of the information; or

(3) acts in reckless disregard of the truth or falsity of the information.

No proof of specific intent to defraud is required, but in no case is a person who acts merely negligently, inadvertently, or mistakenly with respect to information deemed to have acted knowingly.

new text begin Subd. 3a. new text end

new text begin Material. new text end

new text begin "Material" means having a natural tendency to influence, or be capable of influencing, the payment or receipt of money or property. new text end

new text begin Subd. 3b. new text end

new text begin Obligation. new text end

new text begin "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. new text end

Subd. 4.

Original source.

"Original source" means a person who deleted text begin has direct and independent knowledge of information that is probative of an essential element of the allegations in an action brought under this chapter that was not obtained from a public source and who either voluntarily provided the information to the state or the political subdivision before bringing an action based on the information or whose information provided the basis for or caused an investigation, hearing, audit, or report that led to the public disclosure of the allegations or transactions upon which an action brought under this chapter is based. deleted text end new text begin either: new text end

new text begin (1) prior to a public disclosure under section 15C.05, paragraph (f), has voluntarily disclosed to the state or a political subdivision the information on which allegations or transactions in a claim are based; or new text end

new text begin (2) 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 a political subdivision before filing an action under this chapter. new text end

Subd. 5.

Person.

"Person" means a natural person, partnership, corporation, association or other legal entity but does not include the state or a political subdivision.

Subd. 6.

Political subdivision.

"Political subdivision" means a political subdivision of the state and includes a department or agency of a political subdivision.

Subd. 7.

Prosecuting attorney.

"Prosecuting attorney" means:

(1) the attorney general, if the false or fraudulent claim involves money, property, or services provided by the state; or

(2) the county attorney, city attorney, or other attorney representing a political subdivision, if the false or fraudulent claim involves money, property, or services provided by the political subdivision.

Subd. 8.

State.

"State" means the state of Minnesota and includes a department or agency of the state.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 15C.02, is amended to read:

15C.02 LIABILITY FOR CERTAIN ACTS.

(a) A person who commits any act described in clauses (1) to (7) is liable to the state or the political subdivision for a civil penalty of not less than $5,500 and not more than $11,000 per false or fraudulent claim, plus three times the amount of damages that the state or the political subdivision sustains because of the act of that person, except as otherwise provided in paragraph (b):

(1) knowingly presents, or causes to be presented, deleted text begin to an officer or employee of the state or a political subdivision deleted text end a false or fraudulent claim for payment or approval;

(2) knowingly makes or uses, or causes to be made or used, a false record or statement deleted text begin to get deleted text end new text begin material to new text end a false or fraudulent claim deleted text begin paid or approved by the state or a political subdivision deleted text end ;

(3) knowingly conspires to deleted text begin either present a false or fraudulent claim to the state or a political subdivision for payment or approval or makes, uses, or causes to be made or used a false record or statement to obtain payment or approval of a false or fraudulent claim deleted text end new text begin commit a violation of clause (1), (2), (4), (5), (6), or (7) new text end ;

(4) has possession, custody, or control of deleted text begin public deleted text end property or money used, or to be used, by the state or a political subdivision and knowingly delivers or causes to be delivered deleted text begin to the state or a political subdivision deleted text end less new text begin than all of that new text end money or property deleted text begin than the amount for which the person receives a receipt deleted text end ;

(5) is authorized to deleted text begin prepare deleted text end new text begin make new text end or deliver a new text begin document certifying new text end receipt for money or property used, or to be used, by the state or a political subdivision and deleted text begin knowingly prepares or delivers a receipt that falsely represents the money or property deleted text end new text begin , intending to defraud the state or a political subdivision, makes or delivers the receipt without completely knowing that the information on the receipt is true new text end ;

(6) knowingly buys, or receives as a pledge of an obligation or debt, public property from an officer or employee of the state or a political subdivision who lawfully may not sell or pledge the property; or

(7) knowingly makes or uses, or causes to be made or used, a false record or statement new text begin material new text end to deleted text begin conceal, avoid, or decrease deleted text end an obligation to pay or transmit money or property to the state or a political subdivision new text begin , or knowingly conceals or knowingly and improperly avoids or decreases an obligation to pay or transmit money or property to the state or a political subdivision new text end .

(b) new text begin Notwithstanding paragraph (a), new text end the court may assess not less than two times the amount of damages that the state or the political subdivision sustains because of the act of the person if:

(1) the person committing a violation under paragraph (a) furnished an officer or employee of the state or the political subdivision responsible for investigating the false or fraudulent claim violation with all information known to the 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 the political subdivision of the violation; and

(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 been commenced under this chapter with respect to the violation and the person did not have actual knowledge of the existence of an investigation into the violation.

(c) A person violating this section is also liable to the state or the political subdivision for the costs of a civil action brought to recover any penalty or damages.

(d) A person is not liable under this section for mere negligence, inadvertence, or mistake with respect to activities involving a false or fraudulent claim.

deleted text begin (e) An employer is not liable for an act committed by a nonmanagerial employee that violates this section, unless the employer had knowledge of the act, ratified the act, or was reckless in the hiring or supervision of the employee. deleted text end

deleted text begin (f) Except in cases where proof of specific intent to defraud the state or a political subdivision is found, a person is not liable under this section if: deleted text end

deleted text begin (1) the person has been informed by the original source that single or multiple false or fraudulent claims have been made against the state or a political subdivision; and deleted text end

deleted text begin (2) the person repays the amount of actual damages to the state or the political subdivision within 45 days after being so informed. If the person has a compliance office, an original source is not considered to have informed the person of a false or fraudulent claim unless the original source reported it to the person's compliance office. deleted text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 15C.05, is amended to read:

15C.05 PRIVATE REMEDIES; COMPLAINT UNDER SEAL; COPY OF COMPLAINT AND WRITTEN DISCLOSURE OF EVIDENCE TO BE SENT TO PROSECUTING ATTORNEY.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a person may maintain an action under this chapter on the person's own account and that of the state deleted text begin if money, property, or services provided by the state are involved deleted text end ; the person's own account and that of a political subdivision deleted text begin if money, property, or services provided by the political subdivision are involved deleted text end ; or on the person's own account and that of both the state and a political subdivision deleted text begin if both are involved deleted text end . After an action is commenced, it may be voluntarily dismissed only if the court and the prosecuting attorney give written consent to the dismissal and their reasons for consenting.

(b) If an action is brought under this section, no other person may bring another action under this section based on the same facts that are the subject of the pending action.

(c) An action may not be maintained under this section:

(1) against the state, the legislature, the judiciary, the executive branch, or a political subdivision, or respective officers, members, or employees new text begin if the action is based on evidence or information known to the state or political subdivision when the action was brought new text end ; new text begin or new text end

(2) if the action is based upon allegations or transactions that are the subject of a civil action or an administrative proceeding for a monetary penalty to which the state or a political subdivision is already a party deleted text begin ; or deleted text end new text begin . new text end

deleted text begin (3) unless the action is brought by an original source of the information or the prosecuting attorney initiates or intervenes in the action, if the action is based upon the public disclosure of allegations or transactions: (i) in a criminal, civil, or administrative hearing; (ii) in an investigation, report, hearing, or audit conducted by or at the request of the house of representatives or the senate; (iii) by an auditor or the governing body of a political subdivision; or (iv) by the news media. deleted text end

(d) A complaint in an action under this section must be commenced by filing the complaint with the court in chambers and the court must place it under seal for at least 60 days. No service may be made upon the defendant until the complaint is unsealed.

(e) If a complaint is filed under this section, the plaintiff shall serve a copy of the complaint on the prosecuting attorney in accordance with the Minnesota Rules of Civil Procedure and at the same time shall serve a written disclosure of all material evidence and information the plaintiff possesses.

new text begin (f) A court must dismiss an action or claim under this section, unless opposed by the prosecuting attorney, if substantially the same allegations or transactions as alleged in the action or claim were publicly disclosed: new text end

new text begin (1) in a criminal, civil, or administrative hearing in which the state or the political subdivision or its agent is a party; new text end

new text begin (2) in a report, hearing, audit, or investigation of the legislature, the governing body of a political subdivision, the legislative auditor, or the state auditor; or new text end

new text begin (3) by the news media. new text end

new text begin This paragraph does not apply if the action or claim is brought by the prosecuting attorney or the person bringing the action or claim is an original source of the information. new text end

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 15C.08, is amended to read:

15C.08 PROSECUTING ATTORNEY AND PRIVATE PARTY ROLES.

(a) Except as otherwise provided by this section, if the prosecuting attorney does not intervene at the outset in an action brought by a person under section 15C.05, the person has the same rights in conducting the action as the prosecuting attorney would have. A copy of each pleading or other paper filed in the action and a copy of the transcript of each deposition taken must be mailed to the prosecuting attorney if the prosecuting attorney so requests and pays the cost of doing so.

(b) If the prosecuting attorney elects not to intervene at the outset of the action, new text begin the court, without limiting the status and rights of the person initiating the action, may nevertheless permit new text end the prosecuting attorney deleted text begin may deleted text end new text begin to new text end intervene deleted text begin subsequently deleted text end new text begin at a later date new text end , upon deleted text begin timely application and deleted text end new text begin a showing of new text end good cause deleted text begin shown deleted text end . If the prosecuting attorney so intervenes, the prosecuting attorney subsequently has primary responsibility for conducting the action.

(c) If the prosecuting attorney elects at the outset of the action to intervene, the prosecuting attorney has the primary responsibility for prosecuting the action. The person who initially brought the action remains a party but the person's acts do not bind the prosecuting attorney.

new text begin (d) If the prosecuting attorney elects to intervene, either at the outset or subsequently, the prosecuting attorney may file the prosecuting attorney's own complaint or amend the complaint of the person who initially brought the action to clarify or add details to the claims in which the prosecuting attorney is intervening and to add any additional claims with respect to which the prosecuting attorney contends the prosecuting attorney is entitled to relief. For statute of limitations purposes, any prosecuting attorney pleading relates back to the filing date of the complaint of the person who originally brought the action, to the extent that the claim of the prosecuting attorney arises out of the conduct, transactions, or occurrences set forth, or attempted to be set forth, in the prior complaint of that person. new text end

deleted text begin (d) deleted text end new text begin (e) new text end Whether or not the prosecuting attorney intervenes in the action, the prosecuting attorney may move to dismiss the action for good cause. The person who brought the action must be notified of the filing of the motion and may oppose it and present evidence at the hearing. The prosecuting attorney may also settle the action. If the prosecuting attorney intends to settle the action, the prosecuting attorney shall notify the person who brought the action. The state or the political subdivision may settle the action with the defendant notwithstanding the objections of the person initiating the action if the court determines, after a hearing, that the proposed settlement is fair, adequate, and reasonable under all the circumstances. Upon a showing of good cause, the hearing may be held in chambers.

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 15C.12, is amended to read:

15C.12 AWARD OF EXPENSES AND ATTORNEY FEES.

If the prosecuting attorney or a person who brought an action under section 15C.05 prevails in or settles an action under this chapter, the court deleted text begin may authorize deleted text end new text begin shall award new text end the prosecuting attorney or person deleted text begin to recover deleted text end reasonable costs, reasonable attorney fees, and the reasonable fees of expert consultants and expert witnesses. These expenses must be awarded against the defendant and are not allowed against the state or a political subdivision. If the prosecuting attorney does not intervene in the action and the person bringing the action conducts the action and the defendant prevails in the action, the court shall award to the defendant reasonable expenses and attorney fees against the person bringing the action if it finds that the action was clearly frivolous or vexatious or brought in substantial part for harassment. The state or a political subdivision is not liable for expenses, attorney fees, or other costs incurred by a person in bringing or defending an action under this chapter.

Sec. 6.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 15C.13, is amended to read:

15C.13 DISTRIBUTION TO PRIVATE PLAINTIFF IN CERTAIN ACTIONS.

If the prosecuting attorney intervenes at the outset in an action brought by a person under section 15C.05, the person is entitled to receive not less than 15 percent or more than 25 percent of any recovery deleted text begin in proportion to the person's contribution deleted text end new text begin of the civil penalty and damages or settlement, depending on the extent to which the person substantially contributed new text end to the conduct of the action. If the prosecuting attorney does not intervene in the action at any time, the person is entitled to receive not less than 25 percent or more than 30 percent of any recovery of the civil penalty and damages, or settlement, as the court determines is reasonable. If the prosecuting attorney does not intervene in the action at the outset but subsequently intervenes, the person is entitled to receive not less than 15 percent or more than 30 percent of any recovery new text begin of the civil penalty and damages or settlement new text end , as the court determines deleted text begin is reasonable based on the person's participation in the action before the prosecuting attorney intervened deleted text end new text begin , depending on the extent to which the person substantially contributed to the prosecution of the action new text end . For recoveries whose distribution is governed by federal code or rule, the basis for calculating the portion of the recovery the person is entitled to receive shall not include amounts reserved for distribution to the federal government or designated in their use by federal code or rule.

Sec. 7.

new text begin [15C.145] RELIEF FROM RETALIATORY ACTIONS. new text end

new text begin (a) An employee, contractor, or agent is 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 employment because of lawful acts done by the employee, contractor, agent, or associated others in furtherance of an action under this chapter or other efforts to stop one or more violations of this chapter. new text end

new text begin (b) Relief under paragraph (a) 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, including litigation costs and reasonable attorney fees. new text end

new text begin (c) A civil action under this section may not be brought more than three years after the date when the retaliation occurred. new text end

Sec. 8.

new text begin REPEALER. new text end

new text begin Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 15C.14, new text end new text begin is repealed. new text end

Presented to the governor April 19, 2013

Signed by the governor April 22, 2013, 11:18 a.m.