Sec. 1. (a) If the attorney general has reasonable cause to believe that a person has engaged or is about to engage in any act or practice constituting a violation of any provision of this article, or any order issued under this article, the attorney general may do any of the following:

(1) Issue a cease and desist order, with or without a prior hearing, against any person engaged in the prohibited activities, directing the person to cease and desist from further illegal activities.

(2) Bring an action in the circuit court of the county in which the violation is believed to have occurred to:

(A) enjoin the acts or practices constituting a violation of this article; or

(B) enforce compliance with this article or any order issued under this article.

(3) Impose by order and collect a civil penalty against any person found in an administrative action to have violated any provision of this article or any order issued under this article.

     (b) The maximum amount of a civil penalty that may be imposed upon a person under subsection (a) is ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for each violation committed by the person. The attorney general may bring an action in the circuit court of the county in which the violation occurred to recover a penalty imposed under this chapter. The attorney general shall transfer all civil penalties collected under this chapter to the treasurer of state for deposit in the state general fund.

As added by P.L.105-2017, SEC.3.