C.R.S. Section 24-31-1203
False claims

  • civil liability for certain acts
  • penalty
  • exception

(1)

Subject to subsection (2) of this section and except as otherwise provided in subsection (5) of this section, a person is liable to the state for a civil penalty of not less than eleven thousand eight hundred dollars and not more than twenty-three thousand six hundred dollars per violation, plus three times the amount of damages that the state sustains because of the act of that person, if that person:

(a)

Knowingly presents, or causes to be presented, a false or fraudulent claim for payment or approval;

(b)

Knowingly makes, uses, or causes to be made or used a false record or statement material to a false or fraudulent claim;

(c)

Has possession, custody, or control of property or money used, or to be used, by the state or political subdivision and knowingly delivers, or causes to be delivered, less than all of the money or property;

(d)

Authorizes the making or delivery of a document certifying receipt of property used, or to be used, by the state or political subdivision and, with the intent to defraud the state or political subdivision, makes or delivers the receipt without completely knowing that the information on the receipt is true;

(e)

Knowingly buys, or receives as a pledge of an obligation or debt, public property from an officer or employee of the state or political subdivision who lawfully may not sell or pledge the property;

(f)

Knowingly makes, uses, or causes to be made or used a false record or statement material to an obligation to pay or transmit money or property to the state or political subdivision, or knowingly conceals or knowingly and improperly avoids or decreases an obligation to pay or transmit money or property to the state or political subdivision;

(g)

Knowingly makes, uses, or causes to be made or used, a false record or statement resulting in the underpayment of premiums owed to the unemployment compensation fund established in section 8-77-101 or in the payment of unemployment insurance benefits of more than fifteen thousand dollars in a calendar year; or

(h)

Conspires to commit a violation of subsections (1)(a) to (1)(g) of this section.

(2)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

Notwithstanding the amount of damages authorized in subsection (1) of this section, for a person who violates subsection (1) of this section, the court may assess reduced damages and penalties as described in subsection (2)(b) or (2)(c) of this section if the court finds that:

(I)

The person who committed the violation furnished to the officials of the state or political subdivision responsible for investigating false claims violations all information about the violation known to the person and furnished said information within thirty days after the date on which the person first learned of a potential violation;

(II)

At the time the person furnished the information about the violation to the officials of the state or political subdivision, the person did not have actual or constructive knowledge of the existence of an investigation into the violation; and

(III)

The person fully cooperated with any investigation of the violation by the state.

(b)

If a person described in subsection (2)(a) of this section furnished information about the violation to the officials of the state or political subdivision before a criminal prosecution, civil action, or administrative action was commenced with respect to the violation, the court shall assess one and one-half the amount of actual damages resulting from the false claim, including interest from the date of the fraud to the date of full repayment of all damages, that the state or political subdivision sustains because of the violation and a civil penalty of not less than five thousand nine hundred dollars and not more than eleven thousand eight hundred dollars per violation.

(c)

If a person described in subsection (2)(a) of this section furnished information about the violation to the officials of the state while a criminal prosecution, civil action, or administrative action concerning the violation was under seal pursuant to section 24-31-1204 (3)(b), the court shall assess double the amount of actual damages resulting from the false claim, including interest from the date of the fraud to the date of full repayment of all damages, that the state or political subdivision sustains because of the violation and a civil penalty of not less than seven thousand eight hundred dollars and not more than fifteen thousand seven hundred dollars per violation.

(d)

The attorney general may determine whether a person meets the criteria described in subsection (2)(a) of this section and submit the determination and reasoning to the court, which the court may consider when making a finding as to whether the person satisfies the criteria described in subsection (2)(a) of this section.

(3)

Any information furnished pursuant to subsection (2) of this section is exempt from disclosure pursuant to the “Colorado Open Records Act”, part 2 of article 72 of this title 24.

(4)

A person who violates this section is also liable to the state for reasonable attorney fees and the costs incurred during the enforcement of this part 12.

(5)

This section does not apply to claims, records, or statements made pursuant to title 39.

(6)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

The maximum and minimum amounts for the civil penalties described in this section must be adjusted for inflation on July 1, 2023, and each July 1 thereafter. The adjustment made pursuant to this subsection (6) must be rounded upward or downward to the nearest ten-dollar increment. The secretary of state shall certify the adjusted maximum and minimum amounts for civil penalties within fourteen days after the appropriate information is available.

(b)

For each action brought pursuant to this part 12, the applicable minimum and maximum amounts for a civil penalty are the amounts in effect on the date the cause of action accrues.

(c)

As used in this section, “inflation” means the annual percentage change in the Denver-Aurora-Lakewood consumer price index, or its applicable successor index, published by the United States department of labor bureau of labor statistics.

(7)

For accounting purposes, a fine or penalty received by the state pursuant to this part 12 is a damage award.

(8)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

Subject to section 24-31-1204 (4)(e), if the attorney general has authority to bring or intervene in a civil action pursuant to this part 12, the attorney general may accept from a person alleged to have violated subsection (1) of this section, in lieu of or as a part of a civil action, an assurance of discontinuance or a consent order approved by a court of competent jurisdiction of the alleged violation of this part 12. The assurance or consent order may include a stipulation for the voluntary payment by the alleged violator of any relief authorized by this part 12, including payment for investigation and litigation costs incurred by the attorney general or private person who brought an action pursuant to section 24-31-1204 (3), and actual damages resulting from the false claim plus any authorized multiplier, interest, and civil money penalty.

(b)

An assurance of discontinuance or consent order accepted by the attorney general precludes a separate action pursuant to section 24-31-1204 (3) by any person based on the same factual circumstances, except for an action based on a violation of the assurance of discontinuance or consent order.

(c)

An assurance of discontinuance accepted by the attorney general and any consent order filed with the court as a part of an action is a matter of public record unless the attorney general determines, at the attorney general’s discretion, that it is confidential to the parties to the action or proceeding and to the court and its employees. Upon the filing of a civil action or a motion or petition in a pending civil action by the attorney general alleging that a person has violated a confidential assurance of discontinuance or consent order accepted pursuant to this subsection (8), the assurance of discontinuance or consent order is a public record and open to inspection by any person.

(d)

Proof by a preponderance of the evidence of a violation of an assurance or stipulation or consent order is prima facie evidence of a violation for the purposes of any civil action or proceeding brought by the attorney general after the alleged violation of the assurance or stipulation or consent order, whether a new action or a motion or petition in a pending action or proceeding.

Source: Section 24-31-1203 — False claims - civil liability for certain acts - penalty - exception, https://leg.­colorado.­gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/crs2023-title-24.­pdf (accessed Oct. 20, 2023).

24‑31‑101
Powers and duties of attorney general
24‑31‑102
Offices, boards, and divisions
24‑31‑103
Chief deputy attorney general - powers
24‑31‑103.5
Solicitor general - creation - powers
24‑31‑104.5
Funding for insurance fraud investigations and prosecutions - creation of fund
24‑31‑106
Rights of crime victims - victims’ services coordinator
24‑31‑107
Applications for licenses - authority to suspend licenses - rules
24‑31‑108
Receipt of money - subject to appropriation - exception for custodial money - legal services cash fund - creation - definition
24‑31‑108.5
Use of funds for unanticipated legal needs
24‑31‑111
Legal services to state agencies - definitions
24‑31‑112
No limitations on common law authority
24‑31‑113
Public integrity - patterns and practices
24‑31‑115
Housing unit - powers of attorney general or district attorney - subpoenas - document production - remedies - injunctive relief - penalties
24‑31‑301
Definitions
24‑31‑302
Creation of board
24‑31‑303
board - definition
24‑31‑304
Applicant for training - fingerprint-based criminal history record check
24‑31‑305
Certification - issuance - renewal - revocation - rules - definition
24‑31‑307
Enforcement
24‑31‑308
Reciprocity - provisional certificate
24‑31‑309
Profiling - officer identification - training - definition
24‑31‑310
Resources for the training of peace officers - peace officers in rural jurisdictions - legislative declaration
24‑31‑311
DNA evidence - collection - retention
24‑31‑312
School resource officer training
24‑31‑313
Training concerning abuse and exploitation of at-risk elders
24‑31‑313.5
Training concerning abuse and exploitation of at-risk adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities
24‑31‑314
Advanced roadside impaired driving enforcement training
24‑31‑315
Annual in-service training requirements
24‑31‑316
Attorney general to provide identification cards to retired peace officers upon request - definitions
24‑31‑317
Training requirements concerning peace officer interactions with persons with disabilities
24‑31‑318
Administrative law judge appointment
24‑31‑319
Training related to missing indigenous persons - development - basic and in-service training required
24‑31‑320
Persons with deferred action for childhood arrivals status - rules - definition
24‑31‑401
Definitions
24‑31‑402
Enforcement by attorney general
24‑31‑403
Funding
24‑31‑601
Short title
24‑31‑602
Legislative declaration
24‑31‑603
Definitions
24‑31‑604
Administration of article
24‑31‑605
Delegation of duties
24‑31‑606
Safe2tell program - creation - duties
24‑31‑607
In camera review - confidentiality of materials - criminal penalty
24‑31‑608
Transfer of property
24‑31‑609
License of intellectual property
24‑31‑610
Safe2tell cash fund - creation
24‑31‑611
Annual report
24‑31‑701
Definitions
24‑31‑702
Colorado domestic violence fatality review board - creation - membership - purpose - duties
24‑31‑703
Local and regional domestic violence fatality review teams - creation - membership - purpose - duties
24‑31‑704
Access to records - confidentiality - public access - immunity
24‑31‑706
Repeal of part
24‑31‑801
Definitions
24‑31‑802
Medicaid fraud control unit - creation - duties
24‑31‑803
Medicaid fraud reporting
24‑31‑804
Medicaid fraud control unit - displayed information
24‑31‑805
Medicaid fraud control unit authority and responsibilities
24‑31‑806
Civil investigative demands and subpoenas
24‑31‑807
Provider applications - false statements - penalties
24‑31‑808
Medicaid fraud and waste - penalties - definition
24‑31‑809
Unlawful remuneration - penalties
24‑31‑810
Other remedies available
24‑31‑811
Limitation of action - three years
24‑31‑901
Definitions
24‑31‑902
Incident recordings - release - tampering - fine
24‑31‑903
Division of criminal justice report
24‑31‑904
Peace officer certification discipline
24‑31‑905
Prohibited law enforcement action in response to protests
24‑31‑906
Retaliation against whistleblower officers prohibited
24‑31‑1001
Definitions
24‑31‑1002
Commission - membership - duties
24‑31‑1003
Study of training concerning interactions with persons with disabilities - report
24‑31‑1004
Recommend training curriculum for peace officers
24‑31‑1005
Report
24‑31‑1006
Funding
24‑31‑1007
Repeal of part
24‑31‑1101
Financial empowerment office - creation - director
24‑31‑1102
Financial empowerment office - purpose - duties
24‑31‑1201
Short title
24‑31‑1202
Definitions
24‑31‑1203
False claims - civil liability for certain acts - penalty - exception
24‑31‑1204
Civil actions for false claims - claims for retaliation - definitions
24‑31‑1205
False claims action procedures - limitation on action - standard of proof
24‑31‑1206
Jurisdiction
24‑31‑1207
False claims civil investigation demands
24‑31‑1208
Rule-making
24‑31‑1209
Use of recoveries - false claims recovery cash fund - creation
24‑31‑1210
No limitations on common law authority - medicaid fraud control
24‑31‑1211
False claims act report
24‑31‑1301
Definitions
24‑31‑1302
Worker and employee protection unit - creation - duties
24‑31‑1303
Worker misclassification - wage determinations - investigation and enforcement by the unit - coordination with department of labor and employment
Green check means up to date. Up to date

Current through Fall 2024

§ 24-31-1203’s source at colorado​.gov