California Legal Codes and Statutes

§ 72

Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 15, Sec. 237. (AB 109) Effective April 4, 2011. Operative October 1, 2011, by Sec. 636 of Ch. 15, as amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 39, Sec. 68.

Every person who, with intent to defraud, presents for allowance or for payment to any state board or officer, or to any county, city, or district board or officer, authorized to allow or pay the same if genuine, any false or fraudulent claim, bill, account, voucher, or writing, is punishable either by imprisonment in the county jail for a period of not more than one year, by a fine of not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both that imprisonment and fine, or by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170, by a fine of not exceeding ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or by both such imprisonment and fine.

As used in this section “officer” includes a “carrier,” as defined in subdivision (a) of Section

14124.70 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, authorized to act as an agent for a state board or officer or a county, city, or district board or officer, as the case may be.

Cite this section

Cal. Pen. Code § 72 (2026)
https://ca.codecond.com/codes/pen/part-1-of-crimes-and-punishments/title-5-of-crimes-by-and-against-the-executive-power-of-the-state/section-72

Other sections in Title 5 - OF CRIMES BY AND AGAINST THE EXECUTIVE POWER OF THE STATE

§ 67§ 67.5§ 68§ 69§ 70§ 70.5§ 71§ 72§ 72.5§ 73§ 74§ 76§ 76.5§ 77

This content is for reference, learning, and study purposes only. All legal text should be verified against the official California Legislative Information website, which is the authoritative source for California law. Data last processed: February 14, 2026.