H1251B1370A01336     JKL:EAZ  04/07/11     #90        A01336

  

  

  

  

AMENDMENTS TO HOUSE BILL NO. 1251

Printer's No. 1370

  

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Amend Bill, page 1, line 3, by striking out "and"

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Amend Bill, page 1, line 5, by inserting after "fraud"

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; and providing for liability for false claims, for treble

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damages, costs and civil penalties, for powers of the Attorney

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General and for qui tam actions

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Amend Bill, page 2, by inserting between lines 5 and 6

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Section 2.  Article IV of the act is amended by adding a

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subarticle to read:

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ARTICLE IV

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PUBLIC ASSISTANCE

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* * *

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(f.1)  Medical Assistance False Claims

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Section 450.1.  Definitions.

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The following words and phrases when used in this subarticle

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shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the

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context clearly indicates otherwise:

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"Claim."  As follows:

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(1)  A request or demand for money or property, whether

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under contract or otherwise and regardless of whether the

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Commonwealth has title to the money or property, which meets

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any of the following:

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(i)  Is presented to an employee, officer or agent of

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the Commonwealth.

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(ii)  Was made to a contractor, grantee or other

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recipient and any portion of the money or property came

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from or was provided using Commonwealth funds or the

27

money or property will be spent or used on the

28

Commonwealth's behalf or to advance a program or

29

interest.

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(2)  The term does not include requests or demands for

31

money or property the Commonwealth has paid to an individual

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as compensation for employment or as an income subsidy with

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no restrictions on the individual's use of the money or

34

property.

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(3)  To the extent it is not connected to a request or

36

demand for money or property, a filing with a Commonwealth

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1

agency pursuant to the Commonwealth's insurance laws shall

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not constitute a claim.

3

(4)  The term shall apply only to claims made under the

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medical assistance program.

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"Knowingly."  Whenever a person, with respect to information,

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does any of the following:

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(1)  Has actual knowledge of the information.

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(2)  Acts in deliberate ignorance of the truth or falsity

9

of the information.

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(3)  Acts in reckless disregard of the truth or falsity

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of the information. Proof of specific intent to defraud is

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not required.

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"Material."  A natural tendency to influence, or be capable

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of influencing, the payment or receipt of money or property.

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"Medical assistance program."  The program established by

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Subarticle (f).

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"Obligation."  An established duty, whether or not fixed,

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arising from any of the following:

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(1)  An express or implied contract.

20

(2)  A grantor-grantee relationship.

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(3)  A licensor-licensee relationship.

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(4)  A fee-based or similar relationship.

23

(5)  A statute or regulation.

24

(6)  The retention of an overpayment.

25

"Official use."  Any use that is consistent with the law and

26

the regulations and policies of the Office of Attorney General

27

including the following:

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(1)  Use in connection with internal memoranda and

29

reports.

30

(2)  Communications between the Office of Attorney

31

General and a Federal, State or local government agency or a

32

contractor of a Federal, State or local government agency,

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undertaken in furtherance of an investigation or prosecution

34

of an action.

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(3)  Interviews of a qui tam plaintiff or other witness.

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(4)  Oral examinations.

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(5)  Depositions.

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(6)  Preparation for and response to civil discovery

39

requests.

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(7)  Introduction into the record of an action or

41

proceeding.

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(8)  Applications, motions, memoranda and briefs

43

submitted to a court or other tribunal.

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(9)  Communications with investigators, auditors,

45

consultants and experts, the counsel of other parties,

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arbitrators and mediators concerning an investigation, action

47

or proceeding.

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"Person."  A natural person, corporation, firm, association,

49

organization, partnership, business or trust.

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"Qui tam plaintiff."  A person bringing a civil action under

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section 450.2.

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Section 450.2.  Acts subjecting persons to liability for treble

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damages, costs and civil penalties; exceptions.

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(a)  Liability.--A person who commits acts prohibited in

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subsection (b) shall be liable to the Commonwealth for three

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times the amount of damages which the Commonwealth sustains

6

because of the act of that person.

7

(b)  Prohibited acts.--A person who commits any of the

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following acts with respect to the medical assistance program

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shall be liable to the Commonwealth for the costs of a civil

10

action brought to recover any of those penalties or damages and

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shall be liable to the Commonwealth for a civil penalty of not

12

less than $5,000 nor more than $10,000 for each violation:

13

(1)  Conspires to defraud the Commonwealth by getting a

14

false or fraudulent claim allowed or paid or conspires to

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defraud the Commonwealth by knowingly making, using or

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causing to be made or used a false record or statement to

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conceal, avoid or decrease an obligation to pay or transmit

18

money or property to the Commonwealth with respect to the

19

medical assistance program.

20

(2)  Has possession, custody or control of public

21

property or money used or to be used by the Commonwealth with

22

respect to the medical assistance program and knowingly

23

delivers or causes to be delivered less property than the

24

amount for which the person receives a certificate or

25

receipt.

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(3)  Is authorized to make or deliver a document

27

certifying receipt of property used or to be used by the

28

Commonwealth with respect to the medical assistance program

29

and, intending to defraud the Commonwealth, makes or delivers

30

the receipt without completely knowing that the information

31

on the receipt is true.

32

(4)  Knowingly makes, uses or causes to be made or used a

33

false record or statement to conceal, avoid or decrease an

34

obligation to pay or transmit money or property to the

35

Commonwealth with respect to the medical assistance program.

36

(5)  Is a beneficiary of an inadvertent submission of a

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false or fraudulent claim to any employee, officer or agent

38

of the Commonwealth or to any contractor, grantee or other

39

recipient of funds under the medical assistance program,

40

subsequently discovers the falsity of the claim and fails to

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disclose the claim to the Commonwealth within a reasonable

42

time after discovery of the claim.

43

(6)  Having a duty to make disclosure of a fact, event or

44

occurrence, knowingly fails to disclose such fact, event or

45

occurrence in order to conceal, avoid or decrease an

46

obligation to pay or transmit money or property to the

47

Commonwealth with respect to the medical assistance program.

48

(c)  Damages limitation.-- Notwithstanding subsection (a),

49

the court may assess not less than two times the amount of

50

damages which the Commonwealth sustains because of the act of

51

the person described in that subsection and no civil penalty if

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the court finds all of the following:

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(1)  The person committing the violation furnished the

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Commonwealth officials who are responsible for investigating

4

false claims violations with all information known to that

5

person about the violation within 30 days after the date on

6

which the person first obtained the information.

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(2)  The person fully cooperated with any investigation

8

by the Commonwealth.

9

(3)  At the time the person furnished the Commonwealth

10

with information about the violation, no criminal

11

prosecution, civil action or administrative action had 

12

commenced with respect to the violation, and the person did

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not have actual knowledge of the existence of an

14

investigation into the violation.

15

(d)  Exclusion.--This section does not apply to claims,

16

records or statements made under the act of March 4, 1971

17

(P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971.

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(e)  Actions to recover damages and adjustment of

19

penalties.--A person who is liable for the damages or penalties

20

assessed under subsections (a) and (b) shall also be liable to

21

the Commonwealth for the costs of a civil action brought to

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recover any of those damages or penalties. The civil penalties

23

payable under subsection (b) shall be adjusted from time to time

24

as provided in the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment

25

Act of 1990 (Public Law 104-410, 28 U.S.C. § 2461).

26

Section 450.3.  Attorney General investigations and

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prosecutions; powers of prosecuting authority; civil

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actions by individuals as qui tam plaintiff and as

29

private citizen; jurisdiction of courts.

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(a)  Responsibilities of the Attorney General.--The Attorney

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General shall diligently investigate a violation of section

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450.2. If the Attorney General finds that a person has violated

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or is violating section 450.2, the Attorney General may bring a

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civil action under this section against that person.

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(b)  Actions by private persons.--

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(1)  A person may bring a civil action for a violation of

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this subarticle for the person and for the Commonwealth in

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the name of the Commonwealth. The person bringing the action

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shall be referred to as the qui tam plaintiff. Once filed,

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the action shall be dismissed only with the written consent

41

of the court, taking into account the best interest of the

42

parties involved and the policy of this subarticle.

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(2)  A copy of the complaint and written disclosure of

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substantially all material evidence and information the qui

45

tam plaintiff possesses shall be served on the Attorney

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General. The complaint shall be filed in camera and shall

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remain under seal for at least 60 days and shall not be

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served on the defendant until the court orders the service.

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The Commonwealth may elect to intervene and proceed with the

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action within 60 days after it receives the complaint and the

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material evidence and information.

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(3)  The Commonwealth may, for good cause shown, move the

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court for extensions of the time during which the complaint

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remains under seal under paragraph (2). The motions may be

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supported by affidavits or other submissions in camera. The

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defendant shall not be required to respond to any complaint

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filed under this section until the complaint is unsealed and

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served upon the defendant under the Pennsylvania Rules of

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Civil Procedure.

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(4)  Before the expiration of the 60-day period or any

10

extensions obtained under paragraph (3), the Commonwealth

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shall:

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(i)  proceed with the action, in which case the

13

action shall be conducted by the Commonwealth; or

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(ii)  notify the court it declines to take over the

15

action, in which case the person bringing the action

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shall have the right to conduct the action.

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(5)  (i)  If a municipality is named as a coplaintiff

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with the Commonwealth in an action brought under this

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subsection, the qui tam plaintiff or the Commonwealth

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may, notwithstanding a seal on the action ordered by the

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court, serve the complaint, other pleadings and written

22

disclosure of substantially all material evidence and

23

information possessed by the qui tam plaintiff on the

24

appropriate local law enforcement authorities.

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(ii)  If information about an action is shared with

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local law enforcement under subparagraph (i), the seal on

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the action ordered by the court shall apply to the

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subject municipality and local law enforcement

29

authorities to the same extent as the seal applied to

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other parties in the action.

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(c)  Intervention.--When a person brings a valid action under

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this subsection, no person other than the Commonwealth may

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intervene or bring a related action based on the facts

34

underlying the pending action.

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(d)  Rights of the parties to qui tam actions.--

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(1)  If the Commonwealth proceeds with the action, it

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shall have the primary responsibility for prosecuting the

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action and shall not be bound by an act of the person

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bringing the action. The qui tam plaintiff shall have the

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right to continue as a party to the action, subject to the

41

limitations set forth in paragraph (2).

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(2)  (i)  The Commonwealth may move to dismiss the action

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for good cause despite the objections of the qui tam

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plaintiff if the qui tam plaintiff has been notified by

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the Commonwealth of the filing of the motion and the

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court has provided the qui tam plaintiff with an

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opportunity to oppose the motion and present evidence at

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a hearing.

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(ii)  The Commonwealth may settle the action with the

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defendant despite the objections of the qui tam plaintiff

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if the court determines, after a hearing providing the

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qui tam plaintiff an opportunity to present evidence, the

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proposed settlement is fair, adequate and reasonable

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under the circumstances.

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(iii)  Upon a showing by the Commonwealth that

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unrestricted participation during the course of the

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litigation by the qui tam plaintiff would interfere with

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or unduly delay the Commonwealth's prosecution of the

8

case or would be repetitious, irrelevant or harassment,

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the court may, in its discretion, impose limitations on

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the qui tam plaintiff's participation by:

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(A)  limiting the number of witnesses the person

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may call;

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(B)  limiting the length of the testimony of the

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witnesses;

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(C)  limiting the qui tam plaintiff's cross-

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examination of witnesses; or

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(D)  otherwise limiting the participation by the

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person in the litigation.

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(iv)  Upon a showing by the defendant that

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unrestricted participation during the litigation by the

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qui tam plaintiff initiating the action would be for

22

purposes of harassment or would cause the defendant undue

23

burden or unnecessary expense, the court may limit the

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participation by the qui tam plaintiff in the litigation.

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(3)  If the Commonwealth elects not to proceed with the

26

action, the qui tam plaintiff shall have the right to conduct

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the action. If the Commonwealth requests, it shall be served

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with copies of all pleadings filed in the action and shall be

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supplied with copies of all deposition transcripts at the

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Commonwealth's expense. When a person proceeds with the

31

action, the court, without limiting the status and rights of

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the qui tam plaintiff, may permit the Commonwealth to

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intervene at a later date upon a showing of good cause.

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(4)  Whether or not the Commonwealth proceeds with the

35

action, upon a showing by the Commonwealth that certain

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actions of discovery by the qui tam plaintiff would interfere

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with the Commonwealth's investigation or prosecution of a

38

criminal or civil matter arising out of the same facts, the

39

court may stay the discovery for a period of not more than 60

40

days. The showing shall be conducted in camera. The court may

41

extend the 60-day period upon a further showing in camera

42

that the Commonwealth has pursued the criminal or civil

43

investigation or proceedings with reasonable diligence and

44

the discovery proposed in the civil action will interfere

45

with the ongoing criminal or civil investigations or

46

proceedings.

47

(5)  Notwithstanding subsection (b), the Commonwealth may

48

elect to pursue its claim through an alternate remedy

49

available to the Commonwealth, including an administrative

50

proceeding to determine a civil money penalty. If the

51

alternate remedy is pursued in another proceeding, the qui

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tam plaintiff shall have the same rights in the proceeding as

2

if the action continued under this section. A finding of fact

3

or conclusion of law made in the other proceeding that has

4

become final shall be conclusive on all parties to an action

5

under this section. A finding or conclusion is final if it

6

has been finally determined on appeal to the appropriate

7

court of the Commonwealth, if the time for filing the appeal

8

regarding the finding or conclusion has expired or if the

9

finding or conclusion is not subject to judicial review.

10

(e)  Award to qui tam plaintiff.--

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(1)  If the Commonwealth proceeds with an action brought

12

by a qui tam plaintiff, the qui tam plaintiff shall, subject

13

to the provisions of this paragraph, receive at least 15% but

14

not more than 25% of the proceeds of the action or settlement

15

of the claim, including damages, civil penalties, payments

16

for costs of compliance and any other economic benefit

17

realized by the Commonwealth as a result of the action,

18

depending upon the extent to which either or both the person

19

and his counsel substantially contributed to the prosecution

20

of the action. Where the court finds the action is based

21

primarily on disclosures of specific information, other than

22

information provided by the qui tam plaintiff, relating to

23

allegations or transactions specifically in a criminal, civil

24

or administrative hearing or in a legislative or

25

administrative report, hearing, audit or investigation or

26

from the news media, the court may award the sums as it

27

considers appropriate, but in no case more than 10% of the

28

proceeds, taking into account the significance of the

29

information and the role of the person bringing the action in

30

advancing the case to litigation. A payment to a person under

31

the first or second sentence of this paragraph shall be made

32

from the proceeds. The person shall also receive an amount

33

for reasonable expenses which the appropriate judge finds was

34

necessarily incurred, plus reasonable attorney fees and

35

costs. The expenses, fees and costs shall be awarded against

36

the defendant.

37

(2)  If the Commonwealth does not proceed with an action

38

under this section, the qui tam plaintiff shall receive an

39

amount which the court decides is reasonable for collecting

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the civil penalty and damages. The amount shall not be less

41

than 25% and not more than 30% of the proceeds of the action

42

or settlement and shall be paid out of the proceeds, which

43

includes damages, civil penalties, payments for costs of

44

compliance and any other economic benefit realized by the

45

Commonwealth as a result of the action. The person shall also

46

receive an amount for reasonable expenses which the

47

appropriate Commonwealth court judge finds to have been

48

necessarily incurred, plus reasonable attorney fees and

49

costs. All the expenses, fees and costs shall be awarded

50

against the defendant.

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(3)  Whether or not the Commonwealth proceeds with the

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1

action, if the court finds the action was filed by a person

2

who planned and initiated the violation of section 450.2(a)

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upon which the action was filed, then the court may, to the

4

extent the court considers appropriate, reduce the share of

5

the proceeds of the action which the person would otherwise

6

receive under paragraph (1) or (2), taking into account the

7

role of that person in advancing the case to litigation and

8

any relevant circumstances pertaining to the violation. If

9

the person bringing the action is convicted of criminal

10

conduct arising from his or her role in the violation of

11

section 450.2(a), that person shall be dismissed from the

12

civil action and shall not receive a share of the proceeds of

13

the action. The dismissal shall not prejudice the right of

14

the Commonwealth to continue the action.

15

(4)  If the Commonwealth does not proceed with the action

16

and the person bringing the action conducts the action, the

17

court may award to the defendant its reasonable attorney fees

18

and expenses if the defendant prevails in the action and the

19

court finds the claim of the person bringing the action was

20

clearly frivolous, clearly vexatious or brought primarily for

21

purposes of harassment.

22

(f)  Certain actions barred.--

23

(1)  No court shall have jurisdiction over an action

24

brought under subsection (b) against a member of the

25

legislative branch, a member of the judiciary or a senior

26

executive branch official if the action is based on evidence

27

or information known to the Commonwealth when the action was

28

brought.

29

(2)  In no event may a person bring an action under

30

subsection (b) which is based upon allegations or

31

transactions which are the subject of a civil suit or an

32

administrative civil penalty proceeding for money in which

33

the Commonwealth is already a party.

34

(3)  Upon the motion of the Attorney General, the court

35

may, in consideration of all the equities, dismiss a relator

36

of the elements of the actionable false claims alleged in the

37

qui tam complaint which have been publicly disclosed,

38

specifically in the news media or in a publicly disseminated

39

governmental report, at the time the complaint is filed.

40

(g)  Commonwealth not liable for certain expenses.--The

41

Commonwealth is not liable for expenses which a person incurs in

42

bringing an action under this section.

43

(h)  Private action for retaliation action.--An employee,

44

contractor or agent who is discharged, demoted, suspended,

45

threatened, harassed or in any other manner discriminated

46

against in the terms and conditions of employment, contract or

47

agency because of lawful acts by the employee, contractor or

48

agent on behalf of the employee, contractor or agent or

49

associated others in furtherance of an action under this section 

50

or efforts to stop one or more violations of this subarticle,

51

including investigation for, initiation of, testimony for or

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1

assistance in an action filed or to be filed under this section,

2

shall be entitled to all relief necessary to make the employee,

3

contractor or agent whole. The relief shall include

4

reinstatement with the same seniority status the employee,

5

contractor or agent would have had but for the discrimination,

6

two times the amount of back pay, interest on the back pay and

7

compensation for any special damages sustained as a result of

8

the discrimination, including litigation costs and reasonable

9

attorney fees. Commonwealth Court shall have exclusive

10

jurisdiction for all actions seeking relief under this

11

subsection.

12

(i)  Civil investigative demand.--

13

(1)  (i)  The Attorney General shall have the authority

14

to issue civil investigative demands under paragraph (2).

15

(ii)  Nothing in this subsection shall be construed

16

to limit the regulatory or investigative authority of any

17

department or agency of the Commonwealth whose functions

18

may relate to persons, enterprises or matters falling

19

within the scope of this chapter.

20

(2)  (i)  Whenever the Attorney General has reason to

21

believe that any person or enterprise may be in

22

possession, custody or control of documentary material

23

relevant to an investigation under this subarticle, the

24

Attorney General may issue in writing, and cause to be

25

served upon the person or enterprise, a civil

26

investigative demand requiring the production of the

27

material for examination.

28

(ii)  Each demand shall:

29

(A)  state the nature of the conduct constituting

30

the alleged violation which is under investigation,

31

the applicable provision of law and the connection

32

between the documentary material demanded and the

33

conduct under investigation;

34

(B)  describe the class or classes of documentary

35

material to be produced with sufficient definiteness

36

and certainty to permit the material to be fairly

37

identified;

38

(C)  state the demand is returnable or prescribe

39

a return date which will provide a reasonable time

40

period within which the material demanded may be

41

assembled and made available for inspection and

42

copying or reproduction;

43

(D)  identify an investigator to whom the

44

material shall be made available; and

45

(E)  contain the following statement printed

46

conspicuously at the top of the demand:

47

"You have the right to seek the assistance of an

48

attorney and he may represent you in all phases of

49

the investigation of which this civil investigative

50

demand is a part."

51

(iii)  The demand shall not:

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(A)  contain a requirement which would be held to

2

be unreasonable if contained in a subpoena duces

3

tecum issued by any court in connection with a grand

4

jury investigation of such alleged violation; or

5

(B)  require the production of documentary

6

evidence which would be privileged from disclosure if

7

demanded by a subpoena duces tecum issued by a court

8

in connection with a grand jury investigation of the

9

alleged violation.

10

(iv)  Service of any such demand or any petition

11

filed under this paragraph shall be made in the manner

12

prescribed by the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure

13

for service of writs and complaints.

14

(v)  A verified return by the individual serving a

15

demand or petition setting forth the manner of the

16

service shall be prima facie proof of the service. In the

17

case of service by registered or certified mail, the

18

return shall be accompanied by the return post office

19

receipt of delivery of the demand.

20

(vi)  (A)  Any party upon whom any demand issued

21

under this subsection has been duly served shall make

22

the material available for inspection and copying or

23

reproduction to the investigator designated at the

24

principal place of business of the party, or at

25

another place as the investigator and party may agree

26

or as the court may direct under this paragraph, on

27

the return date specified in the demand. The party

28

may upon agreement of the investigator substitute

29

copies of all or any part of the material for the

30

originals.

31

(B)  The investigator to whom documentary

32

material is delivered shall take physical possession

33

of it and shall be responsible for the use for which

34

it is made and for its return under this paragraph.

35

The investigator may cause the preparation of copies

36

of the documentary material as may be required for

37

official use. While in the possession of the

38

investigator, no material produced shall be available

39

for examination without the consent of the party who

40

produced the material by an individual other than the

41

Attorney General or investigator. Under reasonable

42

terms and conditions as the Attorney General shall

43

prescribe, documentary material while in the

44

possession of the investigator shall be available for

45

examination by the party who produced the material or

46

a duly authorized representative of the party.

47

(C)  Upon completion of the investigation for

48

which documentary material was produced under this

49

paragraph and any case or proceeding arising from the

50

investigation, the investigator shall return to the

51

party who produced the material all the material

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1

other than copies made under this paragraph which

2

have not passed into the control of any court or

3

grand jury through introduction into the record of

4

the case or proceeding.

5

(D)  When documentary material has been produced

6

by a party under this paragraph for use in an

7

investigation and no case or proceeding arising

8

therefrom has been instituted within a reasonable

9

time after completion of the examination and analysis

10

of all evidence assembled in the course of the

11

investigation, the party shall be entitled, upon

12

written demand made upon the Attorney General, to the

13

return of all documentary material, other than copies

14

made under this paragraph, produced by the party.

15

(vii)  Whenever a person or enterprise fails to

16

comply with a civil investigative demand duly served upon

17

him under this paragraph or whenever satisfactory copying

18

or reproduction of the material cannot be done and the

19

party refuses to surrender the material, the Attorney

20

General may file, in Commonwealth Court, and serve upon

21

the party a petition for an order of the court for the

22

enforcement of this paragraph.

23

(viii)  Within 20 days after the service of the

24

demand upon a person or enterprise, or at any time before

25

the return date specified in the demand, whichever period

26

is shorter, the party may file, in Commonwealth Court,

27

and serve upon the Attorney General a petition for an

28

order of the court modifying or setting aside the demand.

29

The time allowed for compliance with the demand in whole

30

or in part as deemed proper and ordered by the court

31

shall not run during the pendency of the petition in the

32

court. The petition shall specify each ground upon which

33

the petitioner relies in seeking the relief, and may be

34

based upon a failure of the demand to comply with the

35

provisions of this paragraph or upon a constitutional or

36

other legal right or privilege of the party.

37

(ix)  When the Attorney General is in custody or

38

control of documentary material delivered by a party in

39

compliance with a demand, the party may file, in

40

Commonwealth Court, and serve upon the Attorney General a

41

petition for an order of the court requiring the

42

performance of a duty imposed by this paragraph.

43

(x)  Whenever a petition is filed under this

44

paragraph, the court shall have jurisdiction to hear and

45

determine the matter so presented, and, after a hearing

46

at which all parties are represented, to enter an order

47

as may be required to carry into effect the provisions of

48

this paragraph.

49

(3)  Whenever an individual refuses, on the basis of his

50

fifth amendment to the Constitution of the United States

51

privilege against self-incrimination, to comply with a civil

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1

investigative demand issued under paragraph (2), the Attorney

2

General may invoke the provisions of 42 Pa.C.S. § 5947 

3

(relating to immunity of witnesses).

4

(4)  The Attorney General may delegate the authority to

5

issue civil investigative demands under this subsection. If a

6

civil investigative demand is an express demand for the

7

production of discovery, the Attorney General or his designee

8

shall cause to be served, in any manner authorized under this

9

subsection, a copy of the demand upon the person from whom

10

the discovery was obtained and shall notify the person to

11

whom the demand is issued of the date on which the copy was

12

served. Any information obtained by the Attorney General or

13

his designee under this subsection may be shared with a qui

14

tam plaintiff if the Attorney General or his designee

15

determines it is necessary as part of an investigation of a

16

claim.

17

Section 450.4.  Limitation of actions; prior activities; burden

18

of proof.

19

(a)  Statute of limitations.--

20

(1)  A civil action under section 450.3 may not be

21

brought more than ten years after the date on which the

22

violation was committed.

23

(2)  (i)  If the Commonwealth elects to intervene and

24

proceed with an action brought under section 450.3(b),

25

the Commonwealth may file its own complaint or amend the

26

complaint of the qui tam plaintiff who brought the action

27

in order to clarify or add detail to the claims and to

28

add any additional claims with respect to which the

29

Commonwealth contends it is entitled to relief.

30

(ii)  If the Commonwealth makes an election under

31

subparagraph (i), any such Commonwealth pleading shall

32

relate back to the filing date of the complaint of the

33

qui tam plaintiff to the extent that the claim of the

34

Commonwealth arises out of the conduct, transactions or

35

occurrences set forth, or attempted to be set forth, in

36

the qui tam plaintiff's complaint.

37

(b)  Burden of proof.--In any action brought under section

38

450.3, the Commonwealth or the qui tam plaintiff shall be

39

required to prove all essential elements of the cause of action,

40

including damages, by a preponderance of the evidence.

41

(c)  Estoppel.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a

42

guilty verdict rendered in a criminal proceeding charging false

43

statements or fraud, whether upon a verdict after trial or upon

44

a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, shall estop the defendant

45

from denying the essential elements of the offense in any action

46

which involves the same transaction as in the criminal

47

proceeding and which is brought under section 450.3(a) or (b).

48

Section 450.5.  Remedies under other laws; severability of

49

provisions; liberality of legislative construction.

50

(a)  Remedies under other laws.--The provisions of this

51

subarticle are not exclusive and the remedies provided for in

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1

this subarticle shall be in addition to any other remedies

2

provided for in any other law or available under common law.

3

(b)  Liberality of legislative construction.--This chapter

4

shall be liberally construed and applied to promote the public

5

interest.

6

Section 450.6.  Regulations.

7

(a)  General rule.--The Attorney General shall have the power

8

and authority to promulgate rules and regulations which may be

9

necessary to carry out the purposes set forth in this

10

subarticle.

11

(b)  Guidelines.--In order to facilitate the speedy

12

implementation of this subarticle, the Attorney General shall

13

have the power and authority to promulgate, adopt and use

14

guidelines which shall be published in the Pennsylvania

15

Bulletin. The guidelines shall not be subject to review under

16

section 205 of the act of July 31, 1968 (P.L.769, No.240),

17

referred to as the Commonwealth Documents Law; sections 204(b)

18

and 301(10) of the act of October 15, 1980 (P.L.950, No.164),

19

known as the Commonwealth Attorneys Act; or the act of June 25,

20

1982 (P.L.633, No.181), known as the Regulatory Review Act. The

21

guidelines shall be effective for not more than two years from

22

the effective date of this subarticle. After the expiration of

23

the two-year period, the guidelines shall be promulgated as

24

regulations.

25

Amend Bill, page 2, line 6, by striking out "2" and inserting

26

 3

27

Amend Bill, page 4, line 19, by striking out "3" and

28

inserting

29

 4

30

Amend Bill, page 4, line 30, by striking out "4" and

31

inserting

32

 5

  

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