(a) Subject to the requirements of Section 1097.1, the Commission may file a civil action for an alleged violation of Section 1090. A person held liable for such a violation shall be subject to a civil fine payable to the Commission for deposit in the General Fund of the state in an amount not to exceed the greater of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) or three times the value of the financial benefit received by the defendant for each violation.
(b) The Commission shall not commence a civil action pursuant to this section alleging a violation of Section 1090 if the Commission has commenced an administrative action pursuant to Section 1097.1 against the person for the same violation.
(c) A civil action brought by the Commission pursuant to this section shall not be filed more than four years after the date the violation occurred.