41-2705. Violation; classification; liability; enforcement authority

A. A person who violates this chapter is personally liable for the recovery of all public monies paid plus twenty per cent of the amount and legal interest from the date of payment and all costs and damages arising out of the violation.

B. A person who intentionally or knowingly participates in the award of a grant pursuant to a scheme or artifice to avoid the requirements of this chapter is guilty of a class 4 felony.

C. A person who serves as an evaluator of grant applications pursuant to this chapter shall sign a statement before reviewing applications that the person has no interest in any application other than that disclosed and shall not have contact with any representative of an applicant during the evaluation of applications, except those contacts specifically authorized by this chapter. The person shall disclose on the statement any contact unrelated to the review of the grant applications that the person may need to have with a representative of an applicant and any contact with a representative of an applicant during evaluation of applications except those specifically authorized by this chapter. A person who serves as an evaluator and who fails to disclose contact with a representative of an applicant or who fails to provide accurate information on the statement is subject to a civil penalty of at least one thousand dollars but no more than ten thousand dollars.

D. The attorney general on behalf of this state shall enforce the provisions of this chapter.