Amendment AA3-SB70

SB70-AA3,218,14 (3) The court may assess against a person who violates sub. (2) not less than 2 nor more than 3 times the amount of the damages sustained by the state because of the acts of the person, and shall not assess any forfeiture, if the court finds all of the following:

SB70-AA3,218,17 (a) The person who commits the acts furnished the attorney general with all information known to the person about the acts within 30 days after the date on which the person obtained the information.

SB70-AA3,218,18 (b) The person fully cooperated with any investigation by this state of the acts.

SB70-AA3,218,22 (c) At the time that the person furnished the attorney general with information concerning the acts, no criminal prosecution or civil or administrative enforcement action had been commenced with respect to any such act, and the person did not have actual knowledge of the existence of any investigation into any such act.

SB70-AA3,218,25 (5) (a) Except as provided in subs. (10) and (12), any person may bring a civil action as a qui tam plaintiff against a person who commits an act in violation of sub. (2) for the person and the state in the name of the state.

SB70-AA3,219,8 (b) The plaintiff under par. (a) shall serve upon the attorney general a copy of the complaint and documents disclosing substantially all material evidence and information that the plaintiff possesses. The plaintiff shall file a copy of the complaint with the court for inspection in camera. Except as provided in par. (c), the complaint shall remain under seal for a period of 60 days from the date of filing and shall not be served upon the defendant until the court so orders. Within 60 days from the date of service upon the attorney general of the complaint, evidence, and information under this paragraph, the attorney general may intervene in the action.

SB70-AA3,219,13 (bm) Any complaint filed by the state in intervention, whether filed separately or as an amendment to the qui tam plaintiff's complaint, shall relate back to the filing date of the qui tam plaintiff's complaint to the extent that the state's claim arises out of the conduct, transactions, or occurrences set forth, or attempted to be set forth, in the qui tam plaintiff's complaint.

SB70-AA3,219,16 (c) The attorney general may, for good cause shown, move the court for one or more extensions of the period during which a complaint in an action under this subsection remains under seal.

SB70-AA3,219,18 (d) Before the expiration of the period during which the complaint remains under seal, the attorney general shall do one of the following:

SB70-AA3,219,20 1. Proceed with the action or an alternate remedy under sub. (10), in which case the action or proceeding under sub. (10) shall be prosecuted by the state.

SB70-AA3,219,22 2. Notify the court that he or she declines to proceed with the action, in which case the person bringing the action may proceed with the action.

SB70-AA3,219,25 (e) If a person brings a valid action under this subsection, no person other than the state may intervene or bring a related action based upon the same facts underlying the original action while the original action is pending.

SB70-AA3,220,3 (f) In any action brought under this subsection or other proceeding under sub. (10), the plaintiff is required to prove all essential elements of the cause of action or complaint, including damages, by a preponderance of the evidence.

SB70-AA3,220,7 (6) If the state proceeds with an action under sub. (5) or an alternate remedy under sub. (10), the state has primary responsibility for prosecuting the action under sub. (5) or proceeding under sub. (10). The state is not bound by any act of the person bringing the action, but that person has the right to continue as a party to the action.

SB70-AA3,220,15 (7) (b) With the approval of the governor, the attorney general may compromise and settle an action under sub. (5) or an administrative proceeding under sub. (10) to which the state is a party, notwithstanding objection of the person bringing the action, if the court determines, after affording to the person bringing the action the right to a hearing at which the person is afforded the opportunity to present evidence in opposition to the proposed settlement, that the proposed settlement is fair, adequate, and reasonable considering the relevant circumstances pertaining to the violation.

SB70-AA3,220,22 (c) Upon a showing by the state that unrestricted participation in the prosecution of an action under sub. (5) or an alternate proceeding under sub. (10) to which the state is a party by the person bringing the action would interfere with or unduly delay the prosecution of the action or proceeding, or would result in consideration of repetitious or irrelevant evidence or evidence presented for purposes of harassment, the court may limit the person's participation in the prosecution, such as:

SB70-AA3,220,23 1. Limiting the number of witnesses that the person may call.

SB70-AA3,220,24 2. Limiting the length of the testimony of the witnesses.

SB70-AA3,220,25 3. Limiting the cross-examination of witnesses by the person.

SB70-AA3,221,2 4. Otherwise limiting the participation by the person in the prosecution of the action or proceeding.

SB70-AA3,221,7 (d) Upon a showing by a defendant that unrestricted participation in the prosecution of an action under sub. (5) or alternate proceeding under sub. (10) to which the state is a party by the person bringing the action would result in harassment or would cause the defendant undue burden or unnecessary expense, the court may limit the person's participation in the prosecution.

SB70-AA3,221,14 (8) Except as provided in sub. (7), if the state elects not to participate in an action filed under sub. (5), the person bringing the action may prosecute the action. If the attorney general so requests, the attorney general shall, at the state's expense, be served with copies of all pleadings and deposition transcripts in the action. If the person bringing the action initiates prosecution of the action, the court, without limiting the status and rights of that person, may permit the state to intervene at a later date upon a showing by the state of good cause for the proposed intervention.

SB70-AA3,221,24 (9) Whether or not the state participates in an action under sub. (5), upon a showing in camera by the attorney general that discovery by the person bringing the action would interfere with the state's ongoing investigation or prosecution of a criminal or civil matter arising out of the same facts as the facts upon which the action is based, the court may stay such discovery in whole or in part for a period of not more than 60 days. The court may extend the period of any such stay upon a further showing in camera by the attorney general that the state has pursued the criminal or civil investigation of the matter with reasonable diligence and the proposed discovery in the action brought under sub. (5) will interfere with the ongoing criminal or civil investigation or prosecution.

SB70-AA3,222,12 (10) The attorney general may pursue a claim relating to an alleged violation of sub. (2) through an alternate remedy available to the state or any state agency, including an administrative proceeding to assess a civil forfeiture. If the attorney general elects any such alternate remedy, the attorney general shall serve timely notice of his or her election upon the person bringing the action under sub. (5), and that person has the same rights in the alternate venue as the person would have had if the action had continued under sub. (5). Any finding of fact or conclusion of law made by a court or by a state agency in the alternate venue that has become final is conclusive upon all parties named in an action under sub. (5). For purposes of this subsection, a finding or conclusion is final if it has been finally determined on appeal, if all time for filing an appeal or petition for review with respect to the finding or conclusion has expired, or if the finding or conclusion is not subject to judicial review.

SB70-AA3,222,18 (11) (a) Except as provided in pars. (b) and (e), if the state proceeds with an action brought by a person under sub. (5) or the state pursues an alternate remedy relating to the same acts under sub. (10), the person who brings the action shall receive at least 15 percent but not more than 25 percent of the proceeds of the action or settlement of the claim, depending upon the extent to which the person contributed to the prosecution of the action or claim.

SB70-AA3,223,3 (b) Except as provided in par. (e), if an action or claim is one that the court or other adjudicator finds to be based primarily upon disclosures of specific information not provided by the person who brings the action or claim under sub. (5) relating to allegations or transactions specifically disclosed in a criminal, civil, or administrative hearing; legislative or administrative report, hearing, audit, or investigation; or report made by the news media, the court or other adjudicator may award an amount to the person as it considers appropriate, but not more than 10 percent of the proceeds of the action or settlement of the claim, depending upon the significance of the information and the role of the person bringing the action in advancing the prosecution of the action or claim.

SB70-AA3,223,8 (c) Except as provided in par. (e), in addition to any amount received under par. (a) or (b), a person bringing an action under sub. (5) shall be awarded his or her reasonable expenses necessarily incurred in bringing the action together with the person's costs and reasonable actual attorney fees. The court or other adjudicator shall assess any award under this paragraph against the defendant.

SB70-AA3,223,15 (d) Except as provided in par. (e), if the state does not proceed with an action under sub. (5) or an alternate proceeding under sub. (10), the person bringing the action shall receive an amount that the court decides is reasonable for collection of the civil penalty and damages. The amount shall be not less than 25 percent and not more than 30 percent of the proceeds of the action and shall be paid from the proceeds. In addition, the person shall be paid his or her expenses, costs, and fees under par. (c).

SB70-AA3,224,2 (e) Whether or not the state proceeds with an action under sub. (5) or an alternate proceeding under sub. (10), if the court or other adjudicator finds that an action under sub. (5) was brought by a person who planned or initiated the violation upon which the action or proceeding is based, then the court may, to the extent that the court considers appropriate, reduce the share of the proceeds of the action that the person would otherwise receive under par. (a), (b), or (d), taking into account the role of that person in advancing the prosecution of the action or claim and any other relevant circumstance pertaining to the violation, except that if the person bringing the action is convicted of criminal conduct arising from his or her role in a violation of sub. (2), the court or other adjudicator shall dismiss the person as a party and the person shall not receive any share of the proceeds of the action or claim or any expenses, costs, or fees under par. (c).

SB70-AA3,224,7 (12) Except if the action is brought by the attorney general or the person bringing the action is an original source of the information, the court shall dismiss an action or claim under this section, unless opposed by the state, if substantially the same allegations or transactions as alleged in the action or claim were publicly disclosed in any of the following ways:

SB70-AA3,224,9 (a) In a federal criminal, civil, or administrative hearing in which the state or its agent is a party.

SB70-AA3,224,11 (b) In a congressional, government accountability office, or other federal report, hearing, audit, or investigation.

SB70-AA3,224,12 (c) From the news media.

SB70-AA3,224,14 (13) The state is not liable for any expenses incurred by a private person in bringing an action under sub. (5).

SB70-AA3,225,4 (14) Any employee, contractor, or agent who is discharged, demoted, suspended, threatened, harassed, or in any other manner discriminated against in the terms and conditions of employment because of lawful actions taken by the employee, contractor, or agent or by others in furtherance of an action or claim filed under this section or on behalf of the employee, contractor, or agent, including investigation for, initiation of, testimony for, or assistance in an action or claim filed or to be filed under sub. (5), is entitled to all necessary relief to make the employee, contractor, or agent whole. Such relief shall in each case include reinstatement with the same seniority status that the employee, contractor, or agent would have had but for the discrimination, 2 times the amount of back pay, interest on the back pay at the legal rate, and compensation for any special damages sustained as a result of the discrimination, including costs and reasonable attorney fees. An employee, contractor, or agent may bring an action to obtain the relief to which the employee, contractor, or agent is entitled under this subsection within 3 years after the date the retaliation occurred.

SB70-AA3,225,7 (15) A civil action may be brought under sub. (5) based upon acts occurring prior to the effective date of this subsection .... [LRB inserts date], if the action is brought within the period specified in s. 893.9815.

SB70-AA3,225,11 (16) A judgment of guilty entered against a defendant in a criminal action in which the defendant is charged with fraud or making false statements estops the defendant from denying the essential elements of the offense in any action under sub. (5) that involves the same elements as in the criminal action.

SB70-AA3,225,13 (17) The remedies provided for under this section are in addition to any other remedies provided for under any other law or available under the common law.

SB70-AA3,225,16 (18) This section shall be liberally construed and applied to promote the public interest and to effect the congressional intent in enacting 31 USC 3729 to 3733, as reflected in the federal False Claims Act and the legislative history of the act.

SB70-AA3,275 Section 275. 49.485 of the statutes is renumbered 20.9315 (19) and amended to read:

SB70-AA3,225,24 20.9315 (19) Whoever knowingly presents or causes to be presented to any officer, employee, or agent of this state a false claim for medical assistance shall forfeit not less than $5,000 nor more than $10,000, plus 3 times the amount of the damages that were sustained by the state or would have been sustained by the state, whichever is greater, as a result of the false claim. The attorney general may bring an action on behalf of the state to recover any forfeiture incurred under this section.

SB70-AA3,276 Section 276. 165.25 (11m) of the statutes is created to read:

SB70-AA3,226,3 165.25 (11m) False claims. Diligently investigate possible violations of s. 20.9315 and, if the department determines that a person has committed an act that is punishable under s. 20.9315, may bring a civil action against that person.

SB70-AA3,277 Section 277. 801.02 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA3,226,9 801.02 (1) A Except as provided in s. 20.9315 (5) (b), a civil action in which a personal judgment is sought is commenced as to any defendant when a summons and a complaint naming the person as defendant are filed with the court, provided service of an authenticated copy of the summons and of the complaint is made upon the defendant under this chapter within 90 days after filing.

SB70-AA3,278 Section 278 . 803.09 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA3,226,16 803.09 (1) Upon Except as provided in s. 20.9315, upon timely motion anyone shall be permitted to intervene in an action when the movant claims an interest relating to the property or transaction which is the subject of the action and the movant is so situated that the disposition of the action may as a practical matter impair or impede the movant's ability to protect that interest, unless the movant's interest is adequately represented by existing parties.

SB70-AA3,279 Section 279 . 803.09 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA3,227,2 803.09 (2) Upon Except as provided in s. 20.9315, upon timely motion anyone may be permitted to intervene in an action when a movant's claim or defense and the main action have a question of law or fact in common. When a party to an action relies for ground of claim or defense upon any statute or executive order or rule administered by a federal or state governmental officer or agency or upon any regulation, order, rule, requirement or agreement issued or made pursuant to the statute or executive order, the officer or agency upon timely motion may be permitted to intervene in the action. In exercising its discretion the court shall consider whether the intervention will unduly delay or prejudice the adjudication of the rights of the original parties.

SB70-AA3,280 Section 280. 804.01 (2) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA3,227,6 804.01 (2) Scope of discovery. (intro.) Unless Except as provided in s. 20.9315 (9), and unless otherwise limited by order of the court in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, the scope of discovery is as follows:

SB70-AA3,281 Section 281. 805.04 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA3,227,15 805.04 (1) By plaintiff; by stipulation. An Except as provided in sub. (2p), an action may be dismissed by the plaintiff without order of court by serving and filing a notice of dismissal at any time before service by an adverse party of responsive pleading or motion or by the filing of a stipulation of dismissal signed by all parties who have appeared in the action. Unless otherwise stated in the notice of dismissal or stipulation, the dismissal is not on the merits, except that a notice of dismissal operates as an adjudication on the merits when filed by a plaintiff who has once dismissed in any court an action based on or including the same claim.

SB70-AA3,282 Section 282. 805.04 (2p) of the statutes is created to read:

SB70-AA3,227,20 805.04 (2p) False claims. An action filed under s. 20.9315 may be dismissed only by order of the court. In determining whether to dismiss the action filed under s. 20.9315, the court shall take into account the best interests of the parties and the purposes of s. 20.9315.

SB70-AA3,283 Section 283. 893.9815 of the statutes is created to read:

SB70-AA3,227,24 893.9815 False claims. An action or claim under s. 20.9315 shall be commenced within 10 years after the cause of the action or claim accrues or be barred.”.

SB70-AA3,228,1 249. Page 374, line 11: after that line insert:

SB70-AA3,228,2 “ Section 284. 20.435 (4) (bq) of the statutes is repealed.

SB70-AA3,285 Section 285. 49.79 (9) (d) of the statutes is repealed.

SB70-AA3,286 Section 286. 49.791 of the statutes is repealed.

SB70-AA3,287 Section 287. 2017 Wisconsin Act 370, section 44 (5) is repealed.”.

SB70-AA3,228,6 250. Page 374, line 11: after that line insert:

SB70-AA3,228,7 “ Section 288. 49.79 (9) (a) 1g. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA3,228,16 49.79 (9) (a) 1g. Except as provided in subds. 2. and 3., beginning October 1, 2019, the department shall require, to the extent allowed by the federal government, all able-bodied adults without dependents in this state to participate in the employment and training program under this subsection, except for able-bodied adults without dependents who are employed, as determined by the department. The department may require other able individuals who are 18 to 60 years of age, or a subset of those individuals to the extent allowed by the federal government, who are not participants in a Wisconsin Works employment position to participate in the employment and training program under this subsection.”.

SB70-AA3,228,17 251. Page 374, line 11: after that line insert:

SB70-AA3,228,19 “ Section 289. 20.005 (3) (schedule) of the statutes: at the appropriate place, insert the following amounts for the purposes indicated: - See PDF for table - See PDF for table

SB70-AA3,290 Section 290. 20.435 (4) (bu) of the statutes is created to read:

SB70-AA3,229,5 20.435 (4) (bu) Healthy eating incentives. The amounts in the schedule for the development and administration of the healthy eating incentives program under s. 49.79 (7m) and to provide electronic benefit transfer and credit and debit card processing equipment and services to farmers' markets and farmers who sell directly to consumers under s. 49.79 (7s).

SB70-AA3,291 Section 291. 49.79 (7m) of the statutes is created to read:

SB70-AA3,229,9 49.79 (7m) Healthy eating incentives. (a) In this subsection, “fruit and vegetables” means any variety of fresh, canned, dried, or frozen whole or cut fruits or vegetables without added sugars, fats, oils, or salt.

SB70-AA3,229,15 (b) Subject to pars. (c) and (d), from the appropriation under s. 20.435 (4) (bu), the department shall establish and implement the statewide healthy eating incentives Double Up Food Bucks pilot program under the federal Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program to match benefit amounts spent by recipients under the food stamp program on fruits and vegetables from participating retailers with additional benefit amounts to be used for the purchase of fruits and vegetables.

SB70-AA3,229,17 (c) The department shall do all of the following, on a schedule determined by the department:

SB70-AA3,229,20 1. Submit to the U.S. department of agriculture a request for a waiver or any other federal approval necessary to allow the department to implement the program under this subsection.

SB70-AA3,229,23 2. Seek any available moneys, including federal moneys under the federal Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program, to fund implementation of the program under this subsection.

SB70-AA3,230,3 (d) If the U.S. department of agriculture disapproves the request under par. (c) 1. or if the department is unable to obtain sufficient funding for the program, the department may not implement the program under this subsection.”.

SB70-AA3,230,4 252. Page 374, line 11: after that line insert:

SB70-AA3,230,5 “ Section 292. 49.79 (7s) of the statutes is created to read:

SB70-AA3,230,14 49.79 (7s) Payment processing program. From the appropriation under s. 20.435 (4) (bu), the department shall administer a payment processing program to provide to farmers' markets and farmers who sell directly to consumers electronic benefit transfer and credit and debit card processing equipment and services, including electronic benefit transfer for the food stamp program. To participate in the payment processing program, the vendor that is under contract to process the electronic benefit transfer and credit and debit card transactions shall also process any local purchasing incentives, even if those local purchasing incentives are funded by a local 3rd-party entity.

SB70-AA3,9219 Section 9219. Fiscal changes; Health Services.

SB70-AA3,230,19 (1) Payment processing program. In the schedule under s. 20.005 (3) for the appropriation to the department of health services under s. 20.435 (4) (bu), the dollar amount for fiscal year 2023-24 is increased by $735,000 and the dollar amount for fiscal year 2024-25 is increased by $735,000 for the program under s. 49.79 (7s).”.

SB70-AA3,230,20 253. Page 374, line 11: after that line insert:

SB70-AA3,230,22 “ Section 293. 20.005 (3) (schedule) of the statutes: at the appropriate place, insert the following amounts for the purposes indicated: - See PDF for table - See PDF for table

SB70-AA3,294 Section 294. 20.435 (5) (cm) of the statutes is created to read:

SB70-AA3,231,3 20.435 (5) (cm) Service dog training grants. The amounts in the schedule for awarding grants to organizations for service dog training under s. 46.250.

SB70-AA3,295 Section 295. 46.250 of the statutes is created to read:

SB70-AA3,231,8 46.250 Service dog training grants. (1) From the appropriation under s. 20.435 (5) (cm), the department shall award grants to organizations that train service dogs for the purpose of assisting providers in attaining accreditation specific to post-traumatic stress disorder training from Assistance Dog International.

SB70-AA3,231,10 (2) The department shall promulgate rules to establish a process and criteria for organizations to apply for the grants under this section.”.

SB70-AA3,231,11 254. Page 374, line 11: after that line insert: