2006 Louisiana Laws - RS 3:551.12 — Penalties; offenses; hearings; costs

§551.12.  Penalties; offenses; hearings; costs

A.  Any person who violates any of the provisions of this Part or the regulations adopted under the provisions of this Part; or who alters, forges, or counterfeits, or uses without authority any certificate or permit or other document provided for in this Part or in the regulations adopted under the provisions of this Part; or who fails to collect or to timely pay the assessments, fees, and penalties due or assessed under this Part, shall be subject, in addition to any unpaid assessments, late fees, or collection costs, to a civil penalty of not more than five hundred dollars for each act of violation and for each day of violation.  Each day on which a violation occurs shall be a separate offense.

B.  Any licensee who violates any of the provisions of this Part or the regulations adopted pursuant to this Part shall be subject to having his license suspended, revoked, or placed on probation, in addition to any other penalties authorized by this Part.

C.  Penalties may be assessed only by a ruling of the commissioner based upon an adjudicatory hearing held in accordance with the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act and this Part.

(1)  The commission shall be convened by the commissioner for the purpose of hearing any alleged violation of this Part or any rule and regulation adopted pursuant to this Part.

(2)  The commissioner shall appoint a hearing officer to preside over the hearing.

(3)  The commission shall make an initial determination on the matter.  This determination shall be submitted to the commissioner in writing.

(4)  The commissioner shall make the final determination on the matter.  If the determination of the commissioner differs from the determination of the commission, the commissioner shall issue a written opinion based on the record of the hearing.

D.  In addition to civil penalties, the commissioner may assess the cost of the adjudicatory hearing against any person found to be in violation of this Part or the regulations adopted pursuant to this Part.  The commissioner shall, by regulation, determine the amount of costs to be assessed in adjudicatory hearings.

Acts 2003, No. 523, §1, eff. June 20, 2003.