§16-2D-19. Injunctive relief; civil penalty.

(a) A person who acquires, offers or develops a proposed health service for which a certificate of need is required without first having a certificate of need therefore or violates any other provision of this article, or any legislative rule promulgated thereunder, the authority may maintain a civil action in the circuit court of the county where the violation has occurred, or where the person may be found, to enjoin, restrain or prevent the violation. An injunction bond is not required to be filed.

(b) The authority may assess a civil penalty for violation of this article.

(c) Upon the authority determining that there is probable cause to believe that a person is in violation of the provisions of this article, or any lawful rule promulgated thereunder, the authority shall provide the person with written notice which states the nature of the alleged violation and the time and place at which an administrative hearing shall take place.  The hearing shall be conducted in accordance with the administrative hearing provisions of article five, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code.

(d) If the authority determines that the person is in violation of the provisions of this article or legislative rule, the authority shall assess a civil penalty of not less than $500 nor more than $25,000.

(e) In determining the amount of the penalty, the authority shall consider the degree and extent of harm caused by the violation and the cost of rectifying the damage.

(f) A person assessed shall be notified of the assessment in writing, and the notice shall specify the reasons for the assessment. If the person assessed fails to pay the amount of the assessment to the authority within thirty days, the authority may institute a civil action in the circuit court of the county where the violation has occurred, or where the person may be found to recover the amount of the assessment. In the civil action, the scope of the court's review of the authority’s action, which shall include a review of the amount of the assessment, shall be as provided in article five, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code for the judicial review of contested administrative cases.