(a) It shall be unlawful for a person to do any of the following:

(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 small business or microbusiness enterprise for the purposes of this chapter.

(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 small business or microbusiness 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 small business or microbusiness 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 chapter.

(5) Knowingly and with intent to defraud, fraudulently represent certified small business or microbusiness participation 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 certified small business or microbusiness 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) Establish, or knowingly aid in the establishment of, or exercise control over, a firm found to have violated any provision of paragraphs (1) to (8), inclusive.

(b) (1) Any person who is found by the department to have violated any of the provisions of subdivision (a) is subject to 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.

(2) A person who 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 awarding state agency or the department related to hearings and court appearances. All payments to the state pursuant to this paragraph shall be deposited in the fund or funds out of which payments on the contract involved were made, except payments to the department shall be deposited in the Service Revolving Fund.

(c) The department shall revoke the small business or microbusiness certification, and the disabled veteran business enterprise certification if the business has both certifications, of any person that violates subdivision (a) for a period of not less than five years, and shall, in addition to the penalties provided for in subdivision (b), suspend the person from bidding on, or participating as a contractor, a subcontractor, or a supplier in, any state contract or project for a period of not less than three years nor more than 10 years. However, for an additional or subsequent violation, the period of certification revocation or suspension shall be extended for a period of up to three years. The certification revocation shall apply to the principals of the business and any subsequent businesses formed by one or more of those principals. Any business or person who fails to satisfy any of the penalties imposed pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (b) shall be prohibited from further contracting with the state until the penalties are satisfied.

(d) If a contractor, subcontractor, supplier, subsidiary, or affiliate thereof, has been found by the department to have violated subdivision (a) and that violation occurred within three years of another violation of subdivision (a) found by the department, the department shall prohibit that contractor, subcontractor, supplier, subsidiary, or affiliate thereof, from entering into a state project or state contract and from further bidding to a state entity, and from being a subcontractor to a contractor for a state entity, and from being a supplier to a state entity.

(e) (1) 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 state agency, 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.

(2) (A) 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 that 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.

(B) (i) For alleged violations of paragraph (6) of subdivision (a), a civil action may be brought by any city attorney, county attorney or county counsel, district attorney, or the Attorney General in the name of the people of the State of California and the penalty imposed shall be enforceable as a civil judgment. A person who violates paragraph (6) of subdivision (a) shall be subject to civil penalties provided for in subdivision (b), including all costs and attorney’s fees incurred by the city attorney, county attorney or county counsel, district attorney, or the Attorney General and the costs incurred by the awarding department and the Department of General Services.

(ii) A city attorney, county attorney or county counsel, or district attorney shall not bring an action for a civil penalty under this subparagraph if the Department of General Services has concluded an administrative action for the same violation. This clause does not apply to a civil action brought by the Attorney General.

(iii) In no event shall a monetary penalty be imposed through both an administrative action and a civil action for the same violation; however, the Department of General Services may impose any other penalty authorized by this section through an administrative action irrespective of the outcome of a civil action brought pursuant to this subparagraph.

(iv) A city attorney, county attorney or county counsel, district attorney, and the Attorney General shall notify the Department of General Services before commencing an action under this subparagraph.

(3) For purposes of this section:

(A) “Awarding state agency” means any state agency, department, governmental entity, or other officer or entity empowered by law to enter into contracts on behalf of the State of California.

(B) “Contractor” means any person or persons, firm, partnership, corporation, or combination thereof who submits a bid and enters into a contract with a representative of a state agency, department, governmental entity, or other officer empowered by law to enter into contracts on behalf of the State of California.

(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 756, Sec. 10. (AB 1574) Effective January 1, 2022.)