In a statement, AG Becerra said, “When companies cheat our government, hard-working taxpayers are left holding the bag. AB 2570 would give my office and local prosecutors improved legal tools to protect our state’s programs and services against fraudulent actors, including those committing egregious cases of tax fraud.”
“The California False Claims Act has been an effective tool at revealing, deterring, and punishing those who defraud the government of public funds AB 2570 will expand and improve upon this law, allowing California to better protect public dollars and combat fraud against the state and local governments,” said Assembly Member Stone.
AG Becerra sued BP Energy and its affiliates for allegedly violating the California False Claims Act by intentionally overcharging the state for natural gas purchased between 2003 and 2012. The defendants agreed to pay $102 million to settle the case in January 2018.
