AB43,568 6Section 568 . 20.9275 (2) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB43,579,137 20.9275 (2) (intro.) No state agency or local governmental unit may authorize
8payment of funds of this state, of any local governmental unit or, subject to sub. (3m),
9of federal funds passing through the state treasury as a grant, subsidy or other
10funding that wholly or partially or directly or indirectly involves pregnancy
11programs, projects or services, that is a grant, subsidy or other funding under s.
1248.481, 48.487, 48.545, 253.05, 253.07, 253.08, or 253.085 or 42 USC 701 to 710, if
13any of the following applies:
AB43,569 14Section 569 . 20.9315 of the statutes is created to read:
AB43,579,15 1520.9315 False claims; actions by or on behalf of state. (1) In this section:
AB43,579,1816 (a) 1. “Claim” means any request or demand, whether under a contract or
17otherwise, for money or property, whether the state has title to the money or property,
18that is any of the following:
AB43,579,1919 a. Presented to an officer, employee, agent, or other representative of the state.
AB43,579,2420 b. Made to a contractor, grantee, or other person if the money or property is to
21be spent or used on the state's behalf or to advance a state program or interest and
22if the state provides any portion of the money or property that is requested or
23demanded or will reimburse directly or indirectly the contractor, grantee, or other
24person for any portion of the money or property that is requested or demanded.
AB43,580,2
12. “Claim” includes a request or demand for services from a state agency or as
2part of a state program.
AB43,580,53 3. “Claim” does not include requests or demands for money or property that the
4state has paid to an individual as compensation for state employment or as an income
5subsidy with no restriction on that individual's use of the money or property.
AB43,580,96 (b) “Knowingly" means, with respect to information, having actual knowledge
7of the information, acting in deliberate ignorance of the truth or falsity of the
8information, or acting in reckless disregard of the truth or falsity of the information.
9“Knowingly" does not mean specifically intending to defraud.
AB43,580,1110 (c) “Material” means having a natural tendency to influence, or be capable of
11influencing, the payment or receipt of money or property or the receipt of services.
AB43,580,1212 (d) “Medical assistance" has the meaning given under s. 49.43 (8).
AB43,580,1313 (e) “Obligation” has the meaning given in 31 USC 3729 (b) (3).
AB43,580,1414 (f) “Original source” has the meaning given in 31 USC 3730 (e) (4) (B).
AB43,580,1715 (g) “Proceeds" includes damages, civil penalties, surcharges, payments for
16costs of compliance, and any other economic benefit realized by this state as a result
17of an action or settlement of a claim.
AB43,580,22 18(2) Except as provided in sub. (3), any person who does any of the following is
19liable to this state for 3 times the amount of the damages that were sustained by the
20state or would have been sustained by the state,whichever is greater, because of the
21actions of the person and shall forfeit, for each violation, an amount within the range
22specified under 31 USC 3729 (a):
AB43,580,2423 (a) Knowingly presents or causes to be presented a false or fraudulent claim
24to a state agency, including a false or fraudulent claim for medical assistance.
AB43,581,3
1(b) Knowingly makes, uses, or causes to be made or used a false record or
2statement material to a false or fraudulent claim to a state agency, including a false
3or fraudulent claim for medical assistance.
AB43,581,84 (c) Knowingly makes, uses, or causes to be made or used a false record or
5statement material to an obligation to pay or transmit money or property to the
6Medical Assistance program, or knowingly conceals or knowingly and improperly
7avoids or decreases an obligation to pay or transmit money or property to the Medical
8Assistance program.
AB43,581,129 (d) Knowingly makes, uses, or causes to be made or used a false record or
10statement material to an obligation to pay or transmit money or property to a state
11agency or knowingly conceals or knowingly and improperly avoids or decreases an
12obligation to pay or transmit money or property to a state agency.
AB43,581,1313 (e) Conspires to commit a violation under par. (a), (b), (c), or (d).
AB43,581,17 14(3) The court may assess against a person who violates sub. (2) not less than
152 nor more than 3 times the amount of the damages sustained by the state because
16of the acts of the person, and shall not assess any forfeiture, if the court finds all of
17the following:
AB43,581,2018 (a) The person who commits the acts furnished the attorney general with all
19information known to the person about the acts within 30 days after the date on
20which the person obtained the information.
AB43,581,2121 (b) The person fully cooperated with any investigation by this state of the acts.
AB43,581,2522 (c) At the time that the person furnished the attorney general with information
23concerning the acts, no criminal prosecution or civil or administrative enforcement
24action had been commenced with respect to any such act, and the person did not have
25actual knowledge of the existence of any investigation into any such act.
AB43,582,3
1(5) (a) Except as provided in subs. (10) and (12), any person may bring a civil
2action as a qui tam plaintiff against a person who commits an act in violation of sub.
3(2) for the person and the state in the name of the state.
AB43,582,114 (b) The plaintiff under par. (a) shall serve upon the attorney general a copy of
5the complaint and documents disclosing substantially all material evidence and
6information that the plaintiff possesses. The plaintiff shall file a copy of the
7complaint with the court for inspection in camera. Except as provided in par. (c), the
8complaint shall remain under seal for a period of 60 days from the date of filing and
9shall not be served upon the defendant until the court so orders. Within 60 days from
10the date of service upon the attorney general of the complaint, evidence, and
11information under this paragraph, the attorney general may intervene in the action.
AB43,582,1612 (bm) Any complaint filed by the state in intervention, whether filed separately
13or as an amendment to the qui tam plaintiff's complaint, shall relate back to the filing
14date of the qui tam plaintiff's complaint to the extent that the state's claim arises out
15of the conduct, transactions, or occurrences set forth, or attempted to be set forth, in
16the qui tam plaintiff's complaint.
AB43,582,1917 (c) The attorney general may, for good cause shown, move the court for one or
18more extensions of the period during which a complaint in an action under this
19subsection remains under seal.
AB43,582,2120 (d) Before the expiration of the period during which the complaint remains
21under seal, the attorney general shall do one of the following:
AB43,582,2322 1. Proceed with the action or an alternate remedy under sub. (10), in which case
23the action or proceeding under sub. (10) shall be prosecuted by the state.
AB43,582,2524 2. Notify the court that he or she declines to proceed with the action, in which
25case the person bringing the action may proceed with the action.
AB43,583,3
1(e) If a person brings a valid action under this subsection, no person other than
2the state may intervene or bring a related action based upon the same facts
3underlying the original action while the original action is pending.
AB43,583,64 (f) In any action brought under this subsection or other proceeding under sub.
5(10), the plaintiff is required to prove all essential elements of the cause of action or
6complaint, including damages, by a preponderance of the evidence.
AB43,583,10 7(6) If the state proceeds with an action under sub. (5) or an alternate remedy
8under sub. (10), the state has primary responsibility for prosecuting the action under
9sub. (5) or proceeding under sub. (10). The state is not bound by any act of the person
10bringing the action, but that person has the right to continue as a party to the action.
AB43,583,18 11(7) (b) With the approval of the governor, the attorney general may compromise
12and settle an action under sub. (5) or an administrative proceeding under sub. (10)
13to which the state is a party, notwithstanding objection of the person bringing the
14action, if the court determines, after affording to the person bringing the action the
15right to a hearing at which the person is afforded the opportunity to present evidence
16in opposition to the proposed settlement, that the proposed settlement is fair,
17adequate, and reasonable considering the relevant circumstances pertaining to the
18violation.
AB43,583,2519 (c) Upon a showing by the state that unrestricted participation in the
20prosecution of an action under sub. (5) or an alternate proceeding under sub. (10) to
21which the state is a party by the person bringing the action would interfere with or
22unduly delay the prosecution of the action or proceeding, or would result in
23consideration of repetitious or irrelevant evidence or evidence presented for
24purposes of harassment, the court may limit the person's participation in the
25prosecution, such as:
AB43,584,1
11. Limiting the number of witnesses that the person may call.
AB43,584,22 2. Limiting the length of the testimony of the witnesses.
AB43,584,33 3. Limiting the cross-examination of witnesses by the person.
AB43,584,54 4. Otherwise limiting the participation by the person in the prosecution of the
5action or proceeding.
AB43,584,106 (d) Upon a showing by a defendant that unrestricted participation in the
7prosecution of an action under sub. (5) or alternate proceeding under sub. (10) to
8which the state is a party by the person bringing the action would result in
9harassment or would cause the defendant undue burden or unnecessary expense, the
10court may limit the person's participation in the prosecution.
AB43,584,17 11(8) Except as provided in sub. (7), if the state elects not to participate in an
12action filed under sub. (5), the person bringing the action may prosecute the action.
13If the attorney general so requests, the attorney general shall, at the state's expense,
14be served with copies of all pleadings and deposition transcripts in the action. If the
15person bringing the action initiates prosecution of the action, the court, without
16limiting the status and rights of that person, may permit the state to intervene at a
17later date upon a showing by the state of good cause for the proposed intervention.
AB43,585,2 18(9) Whether or not the state participates in an action under sub. (5), upon a
19showing in camera by the attorney general that discovery by the person bringing the
20action would interfere with the state's ongoing investigation or prosecution of a
21criminal or civil matter arising out of the same facts as the facts upon which the
22action is based, the court may stay such discovery in whole or in part for a period of
23not more than 60 days. The court may extend the period of any such stay upon a
24further showing in camera by the attorney general that the state has pursued the
25criminal or civil investigation of the matter with reasonable diligence and the

1proposed discovery in the action brought under sub. (5) will interfere with the
2ongoing criminal or civil investigation or prosecution.
AB43,585,14 3(10) The attorney general may pursue a claim relating to an alleged violation
4of sub. (2) through an alternate remedy available to the state or any state agency,
5including an administrative proceeding to assess a civil forfeiture. If the attorney
6general elects any such alternate remedy, the attorney general shall serve timely
7notice of his or her election upon the person bringing the action under sub. (5), and
8that person has the same rights in the alternate venue as the person would have had
9if the action had continued under sub. (5). Any finding of fact or conclusion of law
10made by a court or by a state agency in the alternate venue that has become final is
11conclusive upon all parties named in an action under sub. (5). For purposes of this
12subsection, a finding or conclusion is final if it has been finally determined on appeal,
13if all time for filing an appeal or petition for review with respect to the finding or
14conclusion has expired, or if the finding or conclusion is not subject to judicial review.
AB43,585,20 15(11) (a) Except as provided in pars. (b) and (e), if the state proceeds with an
16action brought by a person under sub. (5) or the state pursues an alternate remedy
17relating to the same acts under sub. (10), the person who brings the action shall
18receive at least 15 percent but not more than 25 percent of the proceeds of the action
19or settlement of the claim, depending upon the extent to which the person
20contributed to the prosecution of the action or claim.
AB43,586,521 (b) Except as provided in par. (e), if an action or claim is one that the court or
22other adjudicator finds to be based primarily upon disclosures of specific information
23not provided by the person who brings the action or claim under sub. (5) relating to
24allegations or transactions specifically disclosed in a criminal, civil, or
25administrative hearing; legislative or administrative report, hearing, audit, or

1investigation; or report made by the news media, the court or other adjudicator may
2award an amount to the person as it considers appropriate, but not more than 10
3percent of the proceeds of the action or settlement of the claim, depending upon the
4significance of the information and the role of the person bringing the action in
5advancing the prosecution of the action or claim.
AB43,586,106 (c) Except as provided in par. (e), in addition to any amount received under par.
7(a) or (b), a person bringing an action under sub. (5) shall be awarded his or her
8reasonable expenses necessarily incurred in bringing the action together with the
9person's costs and reasonable actual attorney fees. The court or other adjudicator
10shall assess any award under this paragraph against the defendant.
AB43,586,1711 (d) Except as provided in par. (e), if the state does not proceed with an action
12under sub. (5) or an alternate proceeding under sub. (10), the person bringing the
13action shall receive an amount that the court decides is reasonable for collection of
14the civil penalty and damages. The amount shall be not less than 25 percent and not
15more than 30 percent of the proceeds of the action and shall be paid from the
16proceeds. In addition, the person shall be paid his or her expenses, costs, and fees
17under par. (c).
AB43,587,418 (e) Whether or not the state proceeds with an action under sub. (5) or an
19alternate proceeding under sub. (10), if the court or other adjudicator finds that an
20action under sub. (5) was brought by a person who planned or initiated the violation
21upon which the action or proceeding is based, then the court may, to the extent that
22the court considers appropriate, reduce the share of the proceeds of the action that
23the person would otherwise receive under par. (a), (b), or (d), taking into account the
24role of that person in advancing the prosecution of the action or claim and any other
25relevant circumstance pertaining to the violation, except that if the person bringing

1the action is convicted of criminal conduct arising from his or her role in a violation
2of sub. (2), the court or other adjudicator shall dismiss the person as a party and the
3person shall not receive any share of the proceeds of the action or claim or any
4expenses, costs, or fees under par. (c).
AB43,587,9 5(12) Except if the action is brought by the attorney general or the person
6bringing the action is an original source of the information, the court shall dismiss
7an action or claim under this section, unless opposed by the state, if substantially the
8same allegations or transactions as alleged in the action or claim were publicly
9disclosed in any of the following ways:
AB43,587,1110 (a) In a federal criminal, civil, or administrative hearing in which the state or
11its agent is a party.
AB43,587,1312 (b) In a congressional, government accountability office, or other federal report,
13hearing, audit, or investigation.
AB43,587,1414 (c) From the news media.
AB43,587,16 15(13) The state is not liable for any expenses incurred by a private person in
16bringing an action under sub. (5).
AB43,588,6 17(14) Any employee, contractor, or agent who is discharged, demoted,
18suspended, threatened, harassed, or in any other manner discriminated against in
19the terms and conditions of employment because of lawful actions taken by the
20employee, contractor, or agent or by others in furtherance of an action or claim filed
21under this section or on behalf of the employee, contractor, or agent, including
22investigation for, initiation of, testimony for, or assistance in an action or claim filed
23or to be filed under sub. (5), is entitled to all necessary relief to make the employee,
24contractor, or agent whole. Such relief shall in each case include reinstatement with
25the same seniority status that the employee, contractor, or agent would have had but

1for the discrimination, 2 times the amount of back pay, interest on the back pay at
2the legal rate, and compensation for any special damages sustained as a result of the
3discrimination, including costs and reasonable attorney fees. An employee,
4contractor, or agent may bring an action to obtain the relief to which the employee,
5contractor, or agent is entitled under this subsection within 3 years after the date the
6retaliation occurred.
AB43,588,9 7(15) A civil action may be brought under sub. (5) based upon acts occurring
8prior to the effective date of this subsection .... [LRB inserts date], if the action is
9brought within the period specified in s. 893.9815.
AB43,588,13 10(16) A judgment of guilty entered against a defendant in a criminal action in
11which the defendant is charged with fraud or making false statements estops the
12defendant from denying the essential elements of the offense in any action under sub.
13(5) that involves the same elements as in the criminal action.
AB43,588,15 14(17) The remedies provided for under this section are in addition to any other
15remedies provided for under any other law or available under the common law.
AB43,588,18 16(18) This section shall be liberally construed and applied to promote the public
17interest and to effect the congressional intent in enacting 31 USC 3729 to 3733, as
18reflected in the federal False Claims Act and the legislative history of the act.
AB43,570 19Section 570 . 20.940 of the statutes is repealed.
AB43,571 20Section 571. 23.09 (2) (d) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB43,589,221 23.09 (2) (d) Lands, acquisition. (intro.) Acquire by purchase, lease or
22agreement, and receive by gifts or devise, lands or waters suitable for the purposes
23enumerated in this paragraph, and maintain such lands and waters for such
24purposes; and, except for the purpose specified under subd. 12., may condemn lands
25or waters suitable for such purposes after obtaining approval of the appropriate

1standing committees of each house of the legislature as determined by the presiding
2officer thereof:
AB43,572 3Section 572. 23.09165 (2) (ac) of the statutes is renumbered 23.09165 (2).
AB43,573 4Section 573. 23.09165 (2) (bc) of the statutes is repealed.
AB43,574 5Section 574. 23.0917 (3) (bt) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB43,589,96 23.0917 (3) (bt) 3. For each fiscal year beginning with fiscal year 2022-23 and
7ending with fiscal year 2025-26, $1,000,000 plus the amount transferred to the
8capital improvement fund
amounts in the schedule under s. 20.370 (5) (hq) in that
9fiscal year.
AB43,575 10Section 575. 23.0917 (3) (bw) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB43,589,1511 23.0917 (3) (bw) 2. In obligating moneys under the subprogram for land
12acquisition, for each fiscal year beginning with fiscal year 2022-23 and ending with
13fiscal year 2025-26, the department shall set aside the amount transferred to the
14capital improvement fund
amounts in the schedule under s. 20.370 (5) (hr) in that
15fiscal year to be obligated only to provide grants to counties under s. 23.0953.
AB43,576 16Section 576. 23.0917 (6m) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB43,589,1917 23.0917 (6m) (c) The procedures under par. (a) apply only to an amount for a
18project or activity that exceeds $250,000 $500,000, except as provided in pars. (d),
19(dg), and (dm), and (dr).
AB43,577 20Section 577. 23.0917 (6m) (dm) (intro.) and 1. of the statutes are amended to
21read:
AB43,589,2422 23.0917 (6m) (dm) (intro.) The procedures under par. (a) apply to an amount
23for a project or activity that is less than or equal to $250,000 $500,000 if all of the
24following apply:
AB43,590,4
11. The project or activity is so closely related to one or more other department
2projects or activities for which the department has proposed to obligate or has
3obligated moneys under s. 20.866 (2) (ta) that the projects or activities, if combined,
4would constitute a larger project or activity that exceeds $250,000 $500,000.
AB43,578 5Section 578. 23.0917 (6m) (dr) of the statutes is repealed.
AB43,579 6Section 579. 23.1991 of the statutes is created to read:
AB43,590,11 723.1991 Great Lakes erosion control revolving loan program. (1) The
8department shall administer a revolving loan program to assist municipalities and
9owners of homes located on the shore of Lake Michigan or Lake Superior where the
10structural integrity of municipal buildings or homes is threatened by erosion of the
11shoreline.
AB43,590,13 12(2) The department shall make loans under this section from the appropriation
13under s. 20.370 (9) (pq).
AB43,590,16 14(3) The department shall promulgate rules to administer this section,
15including rules establishing eligibility criteria and income limitations for loans
16under this section.
AB43,580 17Section 580 . 23.1993 of the statutes is created to read:
AB43,590,22 1823.1993 Mississippi River erosion control revolving loan program. (1)
19The department shall administer a revolving loan program to assist municipalities
20and owners of homes located on the shore of the Mississippi River where the
21structural integrity of municipal buildings or homes is threatened by erosion of the
22shoreline.
AB43,590,24 23(2) The department shall make loans under this section from the appropriation
24under s. 20.370 (9) (pq).
AB43,591,3
1(3) The department shall promulgate rules to administer this section,
2including rules establishing eligibility criteria and income limitations for loans
3under this section.
AB43,581 4Section 581 . 23.41 (6) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB43,591,75 23.41 (6) (b) The department shall attempt to ensure that at least 1 percent of
6the total amount expended under this section in each fiscal year is paid to disabled
7veteran-owned businesses, as defined in s. 16.75 (3m) (a) 1. 5.
AB43,582 8Section 582 . 23.41 (6) (c) of the statutes is created to read:
AB43,591,129 23.41 (6) (c) The department shall attempt to ensure that at least 1 percent of
10the total amount expended under this section in each fiscal year is paid to lesbian,
11gay, bisexual, or transgender-owned businesses certified by the department of
12administration under s. 16.288 (3).
AB43,583 13Section 583 . 23.41 (6) (d) of the statutes is created to read:
AB43,591,1714 23.41 (6) (d) The department shall attempt to ensure that at least 1 percent of
15the total amount expended under this section in each fiscal year is paid to
16disability-owned businesses certified by the department of administration under s.
1716.289 (3).
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