AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning fraud.
federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990 (28 U.S.C.
2461 note, Public Law 101-410), and for up to three (3) times the
amount of damages sustained by the state. In addition, a person
who violates this section is liable to the state for the costs of a civil
action brought to recover a penalty or damages.
(c) If the factfinder determines that the person who violated this
section:
(1) furnished state officials with all information known to the
person about the violation not later than thirty (30) days after
the date on which the person obtained the information;
(2) fully cooperated with the investigation of the violation;
and
(3) did not have knowledge of the existence of an investigation,
a criminal prosecution, a civil action, or an administrative
action concerning the violation at the time the person
provided information to state officials;
the person is liable for a penalty of not less than two (2) times the
amount of damages that the state sustained because of the
violation. A person who violates this section is also liable to the
state for the costs of a civil action brought to recover a penalty or
damages.
Sec. 3. (a) The:
(1) attorney general; and
(2) inspector general;
have concurrent jurisdiction to investigate a violation of section 2
of this chapter.
(b) If the attorney general discovers a violation of section 2 of
this chapter, the attorney general may bring a civil action under
this chapter against a person who may be liable for the violation.
(c) If the inspector general discovers a violation of section 2 of
this chapter, the inspector general shall certify this finding to the
attorney general. The attorney general may bring a civil action
under this chapter against a person who may be liable for the
violation.
(d) If the attorney general or the inspector general is served by
a person who has filed a civil action under section 4 of this chapter,
the attorney general has the authority to intervene in that action as
set forth in section 4 of this chapter.
(e) If the attorney general:
(1) is disqualified from investigating a possible violation of
section 2 of this chapter;
(2) is disqualified from bringing a civil action concerning a
possible violation of section 2 of this chapter;
(3) is disqualified from intervening in a civil action brought
under section 4 of this chapter concerning a possible violation
of section 2 of this chapter;
(4) elects not to bring a civil action concerning a possible
violation of section 2 of this chapter; or
(5) elects not to intervene under section 4 of this chapter;
the attorney general shall certify the attorney general's
disqualification or election to the inspector general.
(f) If the attorney general has certified the attorney general's
disqualification or election not to bring a civil action or intervene
in a case under subsection (e), the inspector general has authority
to:
(1) bring a civil action concerning a possible violation of
section 2 of this chapter; or
(2) intervene in a case under section 4 of this chapter.
(g) The attorney general shall certify to the inspector general
the attorney general's disqualification or election under subsection
(e) in a timely fashion, and in any event not later than:
(1) sixty (60) days after being served, if the attorney general
has been served by a person who has filed a civil action under
section 4 of this chapter; or
(2) one hundred eighty (180) days before the expiration of the
statute of limitations, if the attorney general has not been
served by a person who has filed a civil action under section
4 of this chapter.
(h) A civil action brought under section 4 of this chapter may be
filed in:
(1) a circuit or superior court in Marion County; or
(2) a circuit or superior court in the county in which a
defendant or plaintiff resides.
(i) The state is not required to file a bond under this chapter.
Sec. 4. (a) A person may bring a civil action for a violation of
section 2 of this chapter on behalf of the person and on behalf of
the state. The action:
(1) must be brought in the name of the state; and
(2) may be filed in a circuit or superior court in:
(A) the county in which the person resides;
(B) the county in which a defendant resides; or
(C) Marion County.
(b) Except as provided in section 5 of this chapter, an action
brought under this section may be dismissed only if:
chapter; or
(2) has been convicted of a crime related to the person's
violation of section 2 of this chapter;
upon motion of the attorney general or the inspector general, the
court shall dismiss the person as a plaintiff.
Sec. 5. (a) If the attorney general or the inspector general
intervenes in an action under section 4 of this chapter, the attorney
general or the inspector general is responsible for prosecuting the
action and is not bound by an act of the person who initially filed
the complaint. The attorney general or the inspector general may
do the following:
(1) File a complaint.
(2) Amend the complaint of a person who has brought an
action under section 4 of this chapter, to:
(A) clarify or add detail to the claims in which the state is
intervening; or
(B) add additional claims to which the state contends the
state is entitled to relief.
(3) Move for a change of venue to Marion County if the
attorney general or the inspector general files a motion for
change of venue not later than ten (10) days after the attorney
general or the inspector general intervenes.
For statute of limitation purposes, a pleading filed by the attorney
general or the inspector general relates back to the filing date of
the complaint of the person who originally brought the action, to
the extent that the claim of the state arises out of the conduct,
transactions, or occurrences set forth, or attempted to be set forth,
in the original filed complaint. Except as provided in this section,
the person who initially filed the complaint may continue as a party
to the action.
(b) With the approval of the court, the attorney general or the
inspector general may dismiss the action after:
(1) notifying the person who initially filed the complaint; and
(2) the court has conducted a hearing at which the person who
initially filed the complaint was provided the opportunity to
be heard on the motion.
The court may consider a request by the attorney general or the
inspector general to dismiss the action but is not bound by the
request. Additionally, the court may permit the attorney general
or inspector general to be dismissed from the case and may permit
the person who initially filed the complaint to continue to prosecute
the action.
inspector general may move to intervene. If the attorney general or
the inspector general intervenes under this subsection, the attorney
general or the inspector general is responsible for prosecuting the
action as if the attorney general or the inspector general had
intervened in accordance with section 4 of this chapter.
(g) If the attorney general or inspector general shows that a
specific discovery action by the person who initially filed the
complaint will interfere with the investigation or prosecution of a
civil or criminal matter arising out of the same facts, the court
may, following a hearing in camera, stay discovery for not more
than sixty (60) days. After the court has granted a sixty (60) day
stay, the court may extend the stay, following a hearing in camera,
if it determines that the state has pursued the civil or criminal
investigation with reasonable diligence and that a specific
discovery action by the person who initially filed the complaint will
interfere with the state's investigation or prosecution of the civil or
criminal matter.
(h) A court may dismiss an action brought under this chapter to
permit the attorney general or the inspector general to pursue its
claim through an alternative proceeding, including an
administrative proceeding or a proceeding brought in another
jurisdiction. The person who initially filed the complaint has the
same rights in the alternative proceedings as the person would
have had in the original proceedings. A finding of fact or
conclusion of law made in the alternative proceeding is binding on
all parties to an action under this section once the determination
made in the alternative proceeding is final under the rules,
regulations, statutes, or law governing the alternative proceeding,
or if the time for seeking an appeal or review of the determination
made in the alternative proceeding has elapsed.
Sec. 6. (a) The person who initially filed the complaint is entitled
to the following amounts if the state prevails in the action:
(1) Except as provided in subdivision (2), if the attorney
general or the inspector general intervened in the action, the
person is entitled to receive at least fifteen percent (15%) and
not more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the proceeds of
the action or settlement, plus reasonable attorney's fees and
an amount to cover the expenses and costs of bringing the
action.
(2) If the attorney general or the inspector general intervened
in the action and the court finds that the evidence used to
prosecute the action consisted primarily of specific
information, other than information provided by the person
bringing the action, contained in:
(A) a transcript of a criminal, a civil, or an administrative
hearing;
(B) a legislative, an administrative, or another public
report, hearing, audit, or investigation; or
(C) a news media report;
the person is entitled to receive not more than ten percent
(10%) of the proceeds of the action or settlement, taking into
account the significance of the information and the role of the
person bringing the action in advancing the case to litigation,
plus reasonable attorney's fees and an amount to cover the
expenses and costs of bringing the action.
(3) If the attorney general or the inspector general did not
intervene in the action, the person is entitled to receive at least
twenty-five percent (25%) and not more than thirty percent
(30%) of the proceeds of the action or settlement, plus
reasonable attorney's fees and an amount to cover the
expenses and costs of bringing the action.
(4) If the person who initially filed the complaint:
(A) planned and initiated the violation of section 2 of this
chapter; or
(B) has been convicted of a crime related to the person's
violation of section 2 of this chapter;
the person is not entitled to an amount under this section.
After conducting a hearing at which the attorney general or the
inspector general and the person who initially filed the complaint
may be heard, the court shall determine the specific amount to be
awarded under this section to the person who initially filed the
complaint. The award of reasonable attorney's fees plus an amount
to cover the expenses and costs of bringing the action is an
additional cost assessed against the defendant and may not be paid
from the proceeds of the civil action.
(b) If:
(1) the attorney general or the inspector general did not
intervene in the action; and
(2) the defendant prevails;
the court may award the defendant reasonable attorney's fees plus
an amount to cover the expenses and costs of defending the action,
if the court finds that the action is frivolous, vexatious, or brought
primarily for purposes of harassment.
(c) The state is not liable for the expenses, costs, or attorney's
fees of a party to an action brought under this chapter.
Sec. 7. (a) This section does not apply to an action brought by:
(1) the attorney general;
(2) the inspector general;
(3) a prosecuting attorney; or
(4) a state employee in the employee's official capacity.
(b) A court does not have jurisdiction over an action brought
under section 4 of this chapter if the action is brought by an
incarcerated offender, including an offender incarcerated in
another jurisdiction.
(c) A court does not have jurisdiction over an action brought
under section 4 of this chapter against the state, a state officer, a
judge (as defined in IC 33-23-11-7), a justice, a member of the
general assembly, a state employee, or an employee of a political
subdivision, if the action is based on information known to the state
at the time the action was brought.
(d) A court does not have jurisdiction over an action brought
under section 4 of this chapter if the action is based upon an act
that is the subject of a civil suit, a criminal prosecution, or an
administrative proceeding in which the state is a party.
(e) A court does not have jurisdiction over an action brought
under section 4 of this chapter if the action is based upon
information contained in:
(1) a transcript of a criminal, a civil, or an administrative
hearing in which the state or the state's agent is a party;
(2) a legislative, an administrative, or another public state
report, hearing, audit, or investigation; or
(3) a news media report;
unless the person bringing the action either, before a public
disclosure under this section voluntarily discloses to the state the
information on which the allegations or transactions in a claim are
based, or has knowledge that is independent of and materially adds
to the publicly disclosed allegations or transactions, and the person
bringing the action has voluntarily provided this information to the
state before an action is filed under section 4 of this chapter.
(f) In determining whether a prior public disclosure bars a court
from exercising jurisdiction over an action brought under section
4 of this chapter, the court shall consider, but is not bound by, any
objection brought by the attorney general or the inspector general.
Sec. 8. (a) An employee, contractor, or agent who has been
discharged, demoted, suspended, threatened, harassed, or
otherwise discriminated against in the terms and conditions of
employment because of lawful acts done by the employee,
contractor, agent, or associated others to:
(1) object to or otherwise stop an act or omission described in
section 2 of this chapter; or
(2) initiate, testify, assist, or participate in an investigation, an
action, or a hearing under this chapter;
is entitled to all relief necessary to make the employee, contractor,
or agent whole.
(b) Relief under this section must include:
(1) reinstatement with the same seniority status the employee,
contractor, or agent would have had but for the act described
in subsection (a);
(2) two (2) times the amount of back pay;
(3) interest on the back pay; and
(4) compensation for any special damages sustained as a
result of the act described in subsection (a), including costs
and expenses of litigation and reasonable attorney's fees.
(c) An employee may bring an action for the relief provided in
this section in any court with jurisdiction.
(d) A civil action under this section may not be brought more
than three (3) years after the date the retaliation occurred.
Sec. 9. (a) A subpoena requiring the attendance of a witness at
a trial or hearing conducted under this chapter may be served at
any place in Indiana.
(b) A civil action under section 4 of this chapter is barred unless
it is commenced:
(1) not later than six (6) years after the date on which the
violation is committed; or
(2) not later than three (3) years after the date when facts
material to the cause of action are known or reasonably
should have been known by a state officer or employee who is
responsible for addressing the false claim. However, an action
is barred unless it is commenced not later than ten (10) years
after the date on which the violation is committed.
(c) In a civil action brought under this chapter, the state is
required to establish:
(1) the essential elements of the offense; and
(2) damages;
by a preponderance of the evidence.
(d) If a defendant has been convicted (including a plea of guilty
or nolo contendere) of a crime involving fraud or a false statement,
the defendant is estopped from denying the elements of the offense
in a civil action brought under section 4 of this chapter that
involves the same transaction as the criminal prosecution.
Sec. 10. (a) Whenever the attorney general, the inspector
general, or the designee of the attorney general or the inspector
general has reason to believe that a person may be in possession,
custody, or control of documentary material or information
relevant to an investigation under this chapter involving a false
claim, the attorney general, the inspector general, or the designee
of the attorney general or inspector general may, before
commencing a civil proceeding under this chapter, issue and serve
a civil investigative demand requiring the person to do one (1) or
more of the following:
(1) Produce the documentary material for inspection and
copying.
(2) Answer an interrogatory in writing concerning the
documentary material or information.
(3) Give oral testimony concerning the documentary material
or information.
(b) If a civil investigative demand is a specific demand for a
product of discovery, the official issuing the civil investigative
demand shall:
(1) serve a copy of the civil investigative demand on the
person from whom the discovery was obtained; and
(2) notify the person to whom the civil investigative demand
is issued of the date of service.
Sec. 11. (a) A civil investigative demand issued under this
chapter must describe the conduct constituting a violation
involving a false claim that is under investigation and the statute
or rule that has been violated.
(b) If a civil investigative demand is for the production of
documentary material, the civil investigative demand must:
(1) describe each class of documentary material to be
produced with sufficient specificity to permit the material to
be fairly identified;
(2) prescribe a return date for each class of documentary
material that provides a reasonable period of time to assemble
and make the material available for inspection and copying;
and
(3) identify the official to whom the material must be made
available.
(c) If a civil investigative demand is for answers to written
interrogatories, the civil investigative demand must:
or the giving of any oral testimony if the material, answers, or
testimony would be protected from disclosure under the standards
applicable:
(1) to a subpoena or subpoena duces tecum issued by a court
to aid in a grand jury investigation; or
(2) to a discovery request under the rules of trial procedure;
to the extent that the application of these standards to a civil
investigative demand is consistent with the purposes of this
chapter.
(b) A civil investigative demand that is a specific demand for a
product of discovery supersedes any contrary order, rule, or
statutory provision, other than this section, that prevents or
restricts disclosure of the product of discovery. Disclosure of a
product of discovery under a specific demand does not constitute
a waiver of a right or privilege that the person making the
disclosure may be otherwise entitled to invoke to object to
discovery of trial preparation materials.
Sec. 13. (a) A civil investigative demand issued under this
chapter may be served by an investigator or by any other person
authorized to serve process.
(b) A civil investigative demand shall be served in accordance
with the rules of trial procedure. A court having jurisdiction over
a person not located in Indiana has the same authority to enforce
compliance with this chapter as the court has over a person located
in Indiana.
Sec. 14. (a) The production of documentary material in response
to a civil investigative demand served under this chapter shall be
made in accordance with Trial Rule 34.
(b) Each interrogatory in a civil investigative demand served
under this chapter shall be answered in accordance with Trial Rule
33.
(c) The examination of a person under a civil investigative
demand for oral testimony served under this chapter shall be
conducted in accordance with Trial Rule 30.
Sec. 15. (a) The official who issued the civil investigative demand
is the custodian of the documentary material, answers to
interrogatories, and transcripts of oral testimony received under
this chapter.
(b) An investigator who receives documentary material, answers
to interrogatories, or transcripts of oral testimony under this
section shall transmit them to the official who issued the civil
investigative demand. The official shall take physical possession of
the material, answers, or transcripts and is responsible for the use
made of them and for the return of documentary material.
(c) The official who issued the civil investigative demand may
make copies of documentary material, answers to interrogatories,
or transcripts of oral testimony as required for official use by the
attorney general, the inspector general, or the state police. The
material, answers, or transcripts may be used in connection with
the taking of oral testimony under this chapter.
(d) Except as provided in subsection (e), documentary material,
answers to interrogatories, or transcripts of oral testimony, while
in the possession of the official who issued the civil investigative
demand, may not be made available for examination to any person
other than:
(1) the attorney general or designated personnel of the
attorney general's office;
(2) the inspector general or designated personnel of the
inspector general's office; or
(3) an officer of the state police who has been authorized by
the official who issued the civil investigative demand.
(e) The restricted availability of documentary material, answers
to interrogatories, or transcripts of oral testimony does not apply:
(1) if the person who provided:
(A) the documentary material, answers to interrogatories,
or oral testimony; or
(B) a product of discovery that includes documentary
material, answers to interrogatories, or oral testimony;
consents to disclosure;
(2) to the general assembly or a committee or subcommittee
of the general assembly; or
(3) to a state agency that requires the information to carry out
its statutory responsibility.
Documentary material, answers to interrogatories, or transcripts
of oral testimony requested by a state agency may be disclosed only
under a court order finding that the state agency has a substantial
need for the use of the information in carrying out its statutory
responsibility.
(f) While in the possession of the official who issued the civil
investigative demand, documentary material, answers to
interrogatories, or transcripts of oral testimony shall be made
available to the person, or to the representative of the person who
produced the material, answered the interrogatories, or gave oral
testimony. The official who issued the civil investigative demand
may impose reasonable conditions upon the examination or use of
the documentary material, answers to interrogatories, or
transcripts of oral testimony.
(g) The official who issued the civil investigative demand and
any attorney employed in the same office as the official who issued
the civil investigative demand may use the documentary material,
answers to interrogatories, or transcripts of oral testimony in
connection with a proceeding before a grand jury, a court, or an
agency. Upon the completion of the proceeding, the attorney shall
return to the official who issued the civil investigative demand any
documentary material, answers to interrogatories, or transcripts
of oral testimony that are not under the control of the grand jury,
court, or agency.
(h) Upon written request of a person who produced
documentary material in response to a civil investigative demand,
the official who issued the civil investigative demand shall return
any documentary material in the official's possession to the person
who produced documentary material, if:
(1) a proceeding before a grand jury, a court, or an agency
involving the documentary material has been completed; or
(2) a proceeding before a grand jury, a court, or an agency
involving the documentary material has not been commenced
within a reasonable time after the completion of the
investigation.
The official who issued the civil investigative demand is not
required to return documentary material that is in the custody of
a grand jury, a court, or an agency.
Sec. 16. (a) A person who has failed to comply with a civil
investigative demand is subject to sanctions under Trial Rule 37 to
the same extent as a person who has failed to cooperate in
discovery.
(b) A person who objects to a civil investigative demand issued
under this chapter may seek a protective order in accordance with
Trial Rule 26(C).
Sec. 17. Documentary material, answers to written
interrogatories, or oral testimony provided in response to a civil
investigative demand issued under this chapter is confidential.
Sec. 18. Proceedings under this chapter are governed by the
Indiana Rules of Trial Procedure, unless the Indiana Rules of Trial
Procedure are inconsistent with this chapter.
may enter into reciprocal agreements with the taxing officials of the
United States government or with the taxing officials of other state
governments to furnish and receive information relevant to the
administration and enforcement of the listed taxes. However, the
department may not furnish information obtained from federal returns
or schedules to officials of other state governments.
(b) All agencies of the state of Indiana shall cooperate with the
department in the administration of the listed taxes and shall, upon
request and at no charge to the department, furnish to the
department any information relevant to the administration and
collection of the listed taxes that the department requests. In addition,
a state agency that encounters the use of a fraudulent identity shall
notify the department and provide in electronic format identifying
information as specified by the department for the department's
use in preventing tax fraud. If a state agency encounters the use of
fraudulent identities on a regular basis, the state agency shall
provide to the department a monthly electronic report furnishing
the identifying information specified by the department.
(c) Before December 1 each year:
(1) the department of correction shall provide to the
department an electronic file listing the name and Social
Security number of each individual under the jurisdiction of
the department of correction as of November 1 of that year;
and
(2) the state department of health shall provide to the
department an electronic file listing the name of each
individual for whom an Indiana death certificate was issued
during the immediately preceding twelve (12) months.
individual, or a partnership.
(b) "Person", for purposes of IC 12-13-14, has the meaning set forth
in IC 12-13-14-1.
(c) "Person", for purposes of IC 12-17.2, means an individual who
is at least twenty-one (21) years of age, a corporation, a partnership, a
voluntary association, or other entity.
(d) "Person", for purposes of IC 12-15-2-20, means an
individual who is:
(1) at least twenty-one (21) years of age; and
(2) applying for or receiving Medicaid assistance.
this section.
agreement with the office, submit to the office a surety bond that
meets the requirements of subsection (d) and is issued by a surety
that is authorized by the office of the secretary.
(d) The following apply to a surety bond filed with the office
under this section:
(1) The surety bond must be continuously in effect for at least
three (3) years after the application is made as described in
subsection (c).
(2) The surety bond must provide coverage for liability of at
least fifty thousand dollars ($50,000).
(3) The surety bond must name the:
(A) transportation provider as the principal;
(B) office as the obligee; and
(C) person that issues the surety bond, including the
person's heirs, executors, administrators, successors, and
assignees, jointly and severally, as surety.
(4) The surety bond must provide the surety's name, street
address or post office box number, city, state, and ZIP code.
(5) The surety bond must provide that the surety is liable
under the surety bond for a duplicate, erroneous, or false
Medicaid claim paid by the office or its fiscal agent to the
transportation provider during the term of the surety bond.
(6) The surety bond must provide that the bond may not be
void on a first recovery, but that suits may be instituted until
the penalty is exhausted.
(7) The surety bond must guarantee that the surety will, not
later than thirty (30) days after the surety receives written
notice from the office containing sufficient evidence to
establish the surety's liability under the surety bond as
described in subdivision (5), pay to the office the following
amounts, not to exceed the full amount of the surety bond:
(A) The amount of the duplicate, erroneous, or false claim
that was previously paid by the office or its fiscal agent to
the transportation provider, plus accrued interest.
(B) An assessment imposed under IC 12-15-22 by the office
on the transportation provider.
(8) The surety bond must provide that if the transportation
provider's provider agreement is not renewed or is
terminated, the surety bond submitted by the transportation
provider remains in effect until the last day of the surety bond
coverage period and the surety remains liable for a duplicate,
erroneous, or false claim paid by the office or its fiscal agent
to the transportation provider during the term of the surety
bond.
(9) The surety bond must provide that actions under the
surety bond may be brought by the office or the attorney
general.
(e) The office may revoke or deny a provider agreement for a
transportation provider's failure to comply with this section.
(f) The office may revoke a provider agreement if a
transportation provider cancels a surety bond required by this
section.
(g) The office or its designee may, at any time, require a
transportation provider to demonstrate compliance with this
section.
(h) If:
(1) a surety has paid the office for a liability incurred under
a surety bond under this section; and
(2) the transportation provider is subsequently successful in
appealing the determination of liability;
the office shall, upon completion of the appellate process, refund
the surety or the transportation provider the full amount paid for
the liability.