SB 426 Summary

• Expands Connecticut's false claims law to apply broadly to all state programs, removing previous restrictions limited to state-administered health and human services programs.

• Defines "knowing" to include actual knowledge, deliberate ignorance, or reckless disregard of information truthfulness, without requiring intent to defraud.

• Prohibits eight categories of conduct including presenting false claims, creating fraudulent records, delivering less property than certified, and concealing payment obligations to the state.

• Establishes civil penalties of $5,500 to $11,000 per violation (adjustable by federal inflation), plus treble damages and investigation costs; liability is joint and several for multiple violators.

• Allows reduction from treble to double damages if a violator discloses the violation within 30 days of discovery, fully cooperates with investigation, and no prior legal action has been commenced.

• Effective October 1, 2022.