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