Virginia Fraud Against Taxpayers Act; waiver of sovereign immunity. (HB1399)

Introduced By

Del. Bill Janis (R-Glen Allen)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

Virginia Fraud Against Taxpayers Act; waiver of sovereign immunity. Provides that the Virginia Fraud Against Taxpayers Act creates a cause of action for an employee of the Commonwealth, its agencies, or any political subdivision against such entity if an adverse employment action is taken against the employee by his employer because the employee has opposed any practice by his employer prohibited by the Act or participated in an investigation, action, or hearing under the Act. This bill is in response to the Virginia Supreme Court's decision in Ligon v. Goochland, 279 Va. 312 (2010). Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Passed

History

DateAction
07/22/2010Committee
07/22/2010Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/12/11 11100012D
07/22/2010Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
01/10/2011Assigned Courts sub: #2 Civil
01/12/2011Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (11-Y 0-N)
01/19/2011Reported from Courts of Justice with amendments (22-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
01/21/2011Read first time
01/24/2011Impact statement from DPB (HB1399)
01/24/2011Read second time
01/24/2011Committee amendments agreed to
01/24/2011Engrossed by House as amended HB1399E
01/24/2011Printed as engrossed 11100012D-E
01/25/2011Impact statement from DPB (HB1399E)
01/25/2011Read third time and passed House BLOCK VOTE (99-Y 0-N)
01/25/2011VOTE: BLOCK VOTE PASSAGE (99-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
01/26/2011Constitutional reading dispensed
01/26/2011Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
02/04/2011Assigned Courts sub: Civil
02/21/2011Reported from Courts of Justice with amendments (15-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/22/2011Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/23/2011Read third time
02/23/2011Reading of amendments waived
02/23/2011Committee amendments agreed to
02/23/2011Passed by for the day
02/24/2011Read third time
02/24/2011Engrossed by Senate as amended
02/24/2011Passed Senate with amendments (39-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/24/2011Placed on Calendar
02/24/2011Senate amendments agreed to by House (90-Y 0-N)
02/24/2011VOTE: ADOPTION (90-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
03/03/2011Enrolled
03/03/2011Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1399ER)
03/03/2011Signed by Speaker
03/04/2011Impact statement from DPB (HB1399ER)
03/06/2011Signed by President
03/26/2011G Approved by Governor-Chapter 651 (effective 7/1/11)
03/26/2011G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0651)

Video

This bill was discussed on the floor of the General Assembly. Below is all of the video that we have of that discussion, 2 clips in all, totaling 3 minutes.

Comments

Glenn Ogden writes:

Employees who expose fraud by any of our gov't agencies should be protected from firings or harassment from superiors and have the right to be restored wholly if such action occurs.

ZKitts writes:

Here's the issue Glenn--they already are protected. They have a 1st amendment right to free speech on matters like those covered by the VFATA anti-retaliation provisions. What HB 1399 really does is create exceptional remedies (i.e., double damages, attorney's fees, etc.) for run of the mill cases. You can check my blog (which is about the Virginia Fraud Against Taxpayers Act) for more. The VFATA is an important law with wide ramifications for the Commonwealth's budget. The OAG uses this law to return tens--and sometimes hundreds--of millions of dollars a year to the treasury.
HB 1399 is a silly bill that should die in the Senate.