(A) The director of agriculture may adopt reasonable rules necessary for the implementation of this chapter in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code. In addition, the director shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code that establish the portion of license fees collected under this chapter that are to be deposited into the auction recovery fund under section 4707.25 of the Revised Code. No person shall fail to comply with a rule adopted under this chapter.

(B) The director shall adopt rules that establish a schedule of civil penalties for violations of this chapter, rules adopted under it, or orders issued under it. The rules shall provide that the civil penalty for the first violation of this chapter, rule, or order shall not exceed five thousand dollars and the civil penalty for each subsequent offense shall not exceed ten thousand dollars. In addition, the director, in establishing the schedule of civil penalties in the rules, shall consider past violations of this chapter and rules adopted under it, the severity of a violation, and the amount of actual or potential damage to the public or the auction profession.

(C) The department of agriculture may hear testimony in matters relating to the duties imposed on it, and any person authorized by the director may administer oaths. The department may require other proof of the honesty, truthfulness, and good reputation of any person named in the application for an auction firm's, auctioneer's, apprentice auctioneer's, or special auctioneer's license before admitting the applicant to an examination or issuing a license.

Effective Date: 07-01-2003; 05-06-2005 .