(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 attorneyâs 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 bi
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