65-5314. Same; civil penalties; appeal and review; disposition of moneys recovered. (a) Any business entity which violates any provision of this act or any rules and regulations adopted under this act, in addition to any other penalty provided by law, may incur a civil penalty imposed under subsection (b) in an amount not to exceed $5,000 for each violation and, in the case of a continuing violation, every day such violation continues shall be deemed a separate violation.

(b) The secretary, upon a finding that a business entity has violated any provision of this act or any rules and regulations adopted under this act, may impose a civil penalty within the limits provided in this section upon such business entity, which civil penalty shall be in an amount to constitute an actual and substantial economic deterrent to the violation for which the civil penalty is assessed.

(c) No civil penalty shall be imposed under this section except upon the written order of the secretary after notification and hearing, if a hearing is requested, in accordance with the provisions of the Kansas administrative procedure act.

(d) Any business entity aggrieved by an order of the secretary made under this section may appeal such order to the district court in the manner provided by the Kansas judicial review act. An appeal to the district court or to an appellate court shall not stay the payment of the civil penalty. If the court sustains the appeal, the secretary shall refund forthwith the payment of any civil penalty to the business entity with interest at the rate established by K.S.A. 16-204, and amendments thereto, from the date of payment of the penalty.

(e) Any penalty recovered pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be remitted to the state treasurer, deposited in the state treasury and credited to the state general fund.

History: L. 1985, ch. 203, § 14; L. 2010, ch. 17, § 162; L. 2016, ch. 20, § 8; July 1.