AB56,424,7 (b) Except as provided in par. (e), if an action or claim is one in which the court or other adjudicator finds to be based primarily upon disclosures of specific information not provided by the person who brings an action under sub. (5) relating to allegations or transactions specifically in a criminal, civil, or administrative hearing, or in a legislative or administrative report, hearing, audit, or investigation, or report made by the news media, the court or other adjudicator may award such amount 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.

AB56,424,12 (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.

AB56,424,18 (d) Except as provided in par. (e), if the state does not proceed with an action 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).

AB56,425,5 (e) Whether or not the state proceeds with the action 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, and fees under par. (c).

AB56,425,10 (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:

AB56,425,12 (a) In a federal criminal, civil, or administrative hearing in which the state or its agent is a party.

AB56,425,14 (b) In a congressional, government accountability office, or other federal report, hearing, audit, or investigation.

AB56,425,15 (c) From the news media.

AB56,425,17 (13) The state is not liable for any expenses incurred by a private person in bringing an action under sub. (5).

AB56,426,7 (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, 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.

AB56,426,10 (15) A civil action may be brought 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.

AB56,426,14 (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.

AB56,426,16 (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.

AB56,426,19 (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 act and the legislative history of the act.

AB56,318 Section 318. 20.940 of the statutes is repealed.

AB56,319 Section 319. 23.09 (2) (d) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB56,427,3 23.09 (2) (d) Lands, acquisition. (intro.) Acquire by purchase, lease or agreement, and receive by gifts or devise, lands or waters suitable for the purposes enumerated in this paragraph, and maintain such lands and waters for such purposes; and, except for the purpose specified under subd. 12., may condemn lands or waters suitable for such purposes after obtaining approval of the appropriate standing committees of each house of the legislature as determined by the presiding officer thereof:

AB56,320 Section 320 . 23.0915 (2c) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB56,427,6 23.0915 (2c) (d) No moneys may be committed for expenditure from the appropriation under s. 20.866 (2) (tz) after June 30, 2020 2022.

AB56,321 Section 321 . 23.0917 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB56,427,12 23.0917 (3) (a) Beginning with fiscal year 2000-01 and ending with fiscal year 2019-20 2021-22, the department may obligate moneys under the subprogram for land acquisition to acquire land for the purposes specified in s. 23.09 (2) (d) and grants for these purposes under s. 23.096, except as provided under ss. 23.197 (2m), (3m) (b), (7m), and (8) and 23.198 (1) (a).

AB56,322 Section 322 . 23.0917 (3) (bm) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB56,427,18 23.0917 (3) (bm) During the period beginning with fiscal year 2001-02 and ending with fiscal year 2019-20 2021-22, in obligating money under the subprogram for land acquisition, the department shall set aside not less than a total of $ 2,000,000 that may be obligated only to provide matching funds for grants awarded to the department for the purchase of land or easements under 16 USC 2103c.

AB56,323 Section 323 . 23.0917 (3) (br) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB56,427,21 23.0917 (3) (br) 2. For each fiscal year beginning with 2015-16 and ending with 2019-20 2021-22, $7,000,000.

AB56,324 Section 324 . 23.0917 (3) (bt) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB56,427,24 23.0917 (3) (bt) 2. For each fiscal year beginning with 2015-16 and ending with fiscal year 2019-20 2021-22, $9,000,000.

AB56,325 Section 325 . 23.0917 (3) (bw) of the statutes is amended to read: