§ 10-9a — Misuse of state funds or resources. Civil action by department.

(a) The Department of Education may institute a civil action in the Superior Court, or in the United States District Court, where applicable, against any person, firm, corporation, business or combination thereof, including a charter management organization, it believes, or has reason to believe, has misused state funds or has engaged in the misuse of state resources, to enjoin said parties from continuing such conduct within this state and to seek repayment of such funds, as well as damages, on behalf of the state. In such actions the department shall be represented by the Attorney General. (b) Upon the institution of such civil action, the Attorney General shall have the right to take the deposition of any witness the Attorney General believes, or has reason to believe, has information relative to the prosecution of such action, upon application made to the Superior Court, notwithstanding the provisions of other statutes limiting depositions. The Attorney General shall also have the right to take such depositions in other states and to utilize the laws of such other states relative to the taking of depositions where allowed by the laws of such states. (c) In any case where the misuse of state funds or resources or damages referred to in subsection (a) of this section shall be proven by a fair preponderance of the evidence, the court shall order repayment by any or all defendants of said damages through the Department of Education. (d) The court shall also have the right, in its discretion, to assess treble damages against said defendants.

Legislative History

(P.A. 21-144, S. 7.) History: P.A. 21-144 effective July 7, 2021.