AB 259 — Wealth Tax: False Claims Act.

Summary

Existing law imposes taxes upon income and real property, as well as taxes upon certain transactions and excise taxes. This bill would, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2024, and before January 1, 2026, impose an annual tax at a rate of 1.5% of a resident of this state's worldwide net worth in excess of $1,000,000,000, or in excess of $500,000,000 in the case of a married taxpayer filing separately. The bill would, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2026, impose an annual tax at a rate of 1% of a resident's worldwide net worth in excess of $50,000,000, or in excess of $25,000,000 in the case of a married taxpayer filing separately. The bill would also impose, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2026, an additional tax at a rate of 0.5% of a resident's worldwide net worth in excess of $1,000,000,000, or in excess of $500,000,000 in the case of a married taxpayer filing separately. The bill would describe worldwide net worth with reference to specific federal provisions and would provide that worldwide net worth does not include specific assets, including personal property situated out of state, directly held real property, or liabilities related to directly held real property. The bill would also authorize the Franchise Tax Board to adopt regulations to carry out these provisions, including regulations regarding the valuation of certain assets that are not publicly traded. The bill would require new certifications by taxpayers, made under penalty of perjury. By expanding the crime of perjury, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would establish the Wealth Tax Advisory Council. The bill would require the council to determine an adequate level of annual funding and staffing for the administration and collection of the wealth tax imposed by this bill. The bill would provide specific guidelines for what constitutes adequate levels of annual funding and staffing for the administration and collection of a wealth tax. The bill would establish 2 continuously appropriated funds in the State Treasury to cover the expenses of the administration and collection of the wealth tax. Under the bill, the funds would be funded by the greater of either a specified amount or a certain percentage of revenues estimated to be generated by the wealth tax. By establishing new continuously appropriated funds, this bill would make an appropriation. Existing law, the False Claims Act, provides that any person who commits specified acts, including, but not limited to, knowingly presenting a false or fraudulent claim for payment or approval or knowingly making or using a false record or statement material to a false or fraudulent claim, is liable to the state or to the political subdivision for 3 times the amount of damages that the state or political subdivision sustained because of the act and for the costs of a civil action brought to recover any penalties or damages, and is subject to a civil penalty. That act requires the Attorney General or the prosecuting authority of a political subdivision to diligently investigate violations of those specific acts involving state funds or political subdivision funds, respectively, and authorizes the Attorney General, the prosecuting authority, or a qui tam plaintiff to bring a civil action against a person who commits those acts. That act does not apply to claims, records, or statements made under the Revenue and Taxation Code. This bill would apply the provisions of the False Claims Act to claims, records, or statements made in relation to the wealth tax imposed by the bill, as specified. Existing law generally makes it a misdemeanor for specified persons, including, among others, officers or employees of the state or its political subdivisions, to disclose information set forth or disclosed in returns, reports, or documents required to be filed under the franchise and income tax laws. This bill would create an exception to these rules in the case of information related to the Wealth Tax, as requested by the University of California or the Wealth Tax Advisory Council, so long as specified information privacy protections are in place, and the request is for a specified purpose. This bill would specify that the tax imposed by the bill shall only become operative if a specified constitutional amendment is approved by the voters and takes effect. This bill would include a change in state statute that would result in a taxpayer paying a higher tax within the meaning of Section 3 of Article XIIIA of the California Constitution, and thus would require for passage the approval of 23 of the membership of each house of the Legislature. Existing constitutional provisions require that a statute that limits the right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies be adopted with findings demonstrating the interest protected by the limitation and the need for protecting that interest. This bill would make legislative findings to that effect. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Bill Text

Action History

1. February 01, 2024

   From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.

2. January 31, 2024

   Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution.

3. January 10, 2024

   In committee: Held under submission.

4. January 10, 2024

   In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to REV. & TAX. suspense file.

5. March 30, 2023

   Referred to Coms. on REV. & TAX. and JUD.

6. January 20, 2023

   From printer. May be heard in committee February 19.

7. January 19, 2023

   Read first time. To print.

Sponsors

• Corey A. Jackson · Cosponsor
• Liz Ortega · Cosponsor
• Santiago · Cosponsor
• Maria Elena Durazo · Cosponsor
• Lena A. Gonzalez · Cosponsor
• Alex Lee · Primary
• Ash Kalra · Cosponsor
• Matt Haney · Cosponsor
• Lola Smallwood-Cuevas · Cosponsor
• Juan Carrillo · Cosponsor

Subjects