1. (a) A person may not bring an action under this subchapter that is based on allegations or transactions that are the subject of a civil suit or an administrative penalty proceeding in which the state is already a party.

2. (b) The court shall dismiss an action or claim under this subchapter, unless opposed by the attorney general, if substantially the same allegations or transactions as alleged in the action or claim were publicly disclosed in a Texas or federal criminal or civil hearing in which the state or an agent of the state is a party, in a Texas legislative or administrative report, or other Texas hearing, audit, or investigation, or from the news media, unless the person bringing the action is an original source of the information. In this subsection, "original source" means an individual who:

   1. (1) prior to a public disclosure under this subsection, has voluntarily disclosed to the state the information on which allegations or transactions in a claim are based; or
   2. (2) has knowledge that is independent of and materially adds to the publicly disclosed allegation or transactions and who has voluntarily provided the information to the state before filing an action under this subchapter.
3. (c) Repealed by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 572, Sec. 6, eff. September 1, 2013.

Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1153, Sec. 4.08, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.

Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 398 (S.B. 544), Sec. 5, eff. September 1, 2011.

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 572 (S.B. 746), Sec. 4, eff. September 1, 2013.

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 572 (S.B. 746), Sec. 6, eff. September 1, 2013.