(A) Upon the finding that an action of a licensee may be in violation of this chapter, or of a law or regulation of this State or of the federal government or an agency of them, the department, after reasonable notice to the licensee and an opportunity for the licensee to be heard, shall order it to cease and desist from the action.

(B) If the licensee fails to appeal the cease and desist order of the department in accordance with Section 37-7-120 and continues to engage in the action in violation of the department's order, he is subject to a penalty of not less than one thousand nor more than two thousand five hundred dollars, in the discretion of the department, for each action he takes in violation of the department's order. The penalty provision of this section is in addition to and not instead of other provisions of law applicable to a licensee for the licensee's failure to comply with an order of the department.

(C) The department, upon the finding that a credit counseling organization has engaged intentionally or repeatedly in a course of conduct in violation of this chapter, may revoke the license temporarily or permanently, in its discretion, after reasonable notice to the organization and an opportunity for it to be heard and may increase a credit counseling organization's bond by a maximum of twenty-five thousand dollars to ensure that the public is protected adequately. The department also may impose upon persons violating the provisions of this chapter administrative fines of not more than five hundred dollars for each offense or not more than five thousand dollars for the same set of transactions or occurrences. Each violation constitutes a separate offense. The department, if it determines that the required bond must be increased, shall state in writing the reasons for the increase and immediately serve it upon the licensee. The credit counseling organization shall provide the new bond within thirty days or the department shall revoke the license of the credit counseling organization.

HISTORY: 2005 Act No. 111, Section 1, eff 6 month after approval by the Governor (became law without the Governor's signature on June 2, 2005).