(a) It shall be unlawful for a person to:

(1) Knowingly and with intent to defraud, fraudulently obtain, retain, attempt to obtain or retain, or aid another in fraudulently obtaining or retaining or attempting to obtain or retain, certification as a disabled veteran business enterprise for the purpose of this article.

(2) Willfully and knowingly make a false statement with the intent to defraud, whether by affidavit, report, or other representation, to a state official or employee for the purpose of influencing the certification or denial of certification of any entity as a disabled veteran business enterprise.

(3) Willfully and knowingly obstruct, impede, or attempt to obstruct or impede, any state official or employee who is investigating the qualifications of a business entity that has requested certification as a disabled veteran business enterprise.

(4) Knowingly and with intent to defraud, fraudulently obtain, attempt to obtain, or aid another person in fraudulently obtaining or attempting to obtain, public moneys, contracts, or funds expended under a contract, that are awarded by any state agency, department, officer, or other state governmental agency, to which the person is not entitled under this article.

(5) Knowingly and with intent to defraud, fraudulently represent participation of a disabled veteran business enterprise in order to obtain or retain a bid preference or a state contract.

(6) Knowingly and with intent to defraud, fraudulently represent that a commercially useful function is being performed by a disabled veteran business enterprise in order to obtain or retain a bid preference or a state contract.

(7) Willfully and knowingly make or subscribe to any statement, declaration, or other document that is fraudulent or false as to any material matter, whether or not that falsity or fraud is committed with the knowledge or consent of the person authorized or required to present the declaration, statement, or document.

(8) Willfully and knowingly aid or assist in, or procure, counsel, or advise, the preparation or presentation of a declaration, statement, or other document that is fraudulent or false as to any material matter, regardless of whether that falsity or fraud is committed with the knowledge or consent of the person authorized or required to present the declaration, statement, or document.

(9) Willfully and knowingly fail to file any declaration or notice with the awarding agency that is required by Section 999.2.

(10) Establish, or knowingly aid in the establishment of, or exercise control over, a firm found to have violated any of paragraphs (1) to (9), inclusive.

(b) Any person who violates any of the provisions of subdivision (a) shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding six months or by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both. In addition, the person shall be liable for a civil penalty of not less than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) nor more than thirty thousand dollars ($30,000) for the first violation, and a civil penalty of not less than thirty thousand dollars ($30,000) nor more than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) for each additional or subsequent violation. A defendant who violates any of the provisions of subdivision (a) shall pay all costs and attorney’s fees incurred by the plaintiff in a civil action brought pursuant to this section, including costs incurred by the awarding department or the Department of General Services.

(c) (1) The Department of General Services shall suspend any person who violates subdivision (a) from bidding on, or participating as either a contractor, subcontractor, or supplier in, any state contract or project for a period of not less than three years and not more than 10 years, and if certified as a disabled veteran business enterprise, the department shall revoke the business’s certification, and the small business or microbusiness enterprise certification if the business has both certifications, for a period of not less than five years. An additional or subsequent violation shall extend the periods of suspension and revocation for a period of not less than 10 years. The suspension and revocation of certification shall apply to the principals of the business and any subsequent business formed or financed by, or affiliated with, one or more of those principals.

(2) A person that violates any of the provisions of subdivision (a) shall pay all costs incurred by the awarding department and the Department of General Services for any investigations that led to the finding of the violation. Costs incurred shall include, but are not limited to, costs and attorney’s fees paid by the department or the Department of General Services related to hearings and court appearances.

(3)  The Department of General Services shall prohibit any business or person who fails to satisfy any of the penalties, costs, and attorney’s fees imposed pursuant to subdivisions (b) and (c) from further contracting with the state until all of the penalties, costs, and attorney’s fees are satisfied.

(d) In addition to the penalties imposed by this section, if a contractor is found to be in violation of paragraph (6) of subdivision (a), any existing contract between that contractor and any awarding department may be terminated at the discretion of the awarding department, and, where payment to the contractor is made directly by the state agency, the agency shall set off penalties and costs due to the state against any payments due to that contractor. In the event that the contracting state agency has forwarded the contract and invoices to the Controller for payment, the state agency shall reduce the amount due to the contractor as reflected in the claim schedule submitted to the Controller by the amount of the penalties and costs due the state. In addition, with regard to any penalties and costs due to the state that the state agency has not accounted for by either a set off against payments due to the contractor or a reduction reflected in the claim schedule submitted to the Controller, to the extent that the Controller is making payments to the contractor on behalf of any state agency, the Controller shall set off penalties and costs due against any invoices due to the contractor from any other contract awarded to the contractor.

(e) The awarding department shall report all alleged violations of this section to the Department of General Services. After any review and investigation it deems necessary, the Department of General Services shall subsequently report all allegations which have sufficient grounds to the Attorney General who shall determine whether to bring a civil action against any person or firm for a violation of this section. However, the Department of General Services may pursue administrative action and administrative penalties irrespective of whether the Attorney General chooses to bring a civil action.

(f) The Department of General Services shall monitor the status of all reported violations and shall maintain and make available to all state departments a central listing of all firms and persons who have been determined to have committed violations resulting in suspension.

(g) No awarding department shall enter into any contract with any person suspended for violating this section during the period of the person’s suspension. No awarding department shall award a contract to any contractor utilizing the services of any person as a subcontractor suspended for violating this section during the period of the person’s suspension.

(h) The awarding department shall check the central listing provided by the Department of General Services to verify that the person or contractor to whom the contract is being awarded, or any person being utilized as a subcontractor or supplier by that person or contractor, is not under suspension for violating this section.

(Amended by Stats. 2010, Ch. 342, Sec. 3. (AB 177) Effective January 1, 2011.)