(a) The department or any board or commission attached to the department may, in a lawful proceeding respecting licensing, as defined in the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act, compiled in chapter 5 of this title, in addition to or in lieu of any other lawful disciplinary action, assess a civil penalty of not more than five hundred dollars ($500) for each violation of statute, rule or order enforceable by the department or board or commission attached to the department.

(b) The department and any board or commission attached to the department shall by rule establish a schedule designating the minimum and maximum civil penalty that may be assessed under this section for violation of each statute, rule or order over which it has regulatory control.

(c) In the event of nonpayment of any civil penalty lawfully assessed pursuant to subsection (a), such penalty shall be recoverable in the name of the state by the attorney general and reporter in the chancery court of Davidson County, or by the district attorney general in the chancery court of the county in which all or part of the violation occurred.

(d) All sums recovered under this section shall be paid into the state treasury, except that in those counties where a contract exists between the department and the county health department pursuant to § 53-8-205(7), such sums may be retained by the county health department in accordance with the contract between the department and such county health department; provided, that all such funds so retained by the county health department shall be paid into the county's general fund.

(e) In the event of nonpayment of any civil penalty lawfully assessed by the department or any board or commission attached thereto, the commissioner of agriculture may revoke a current license or permit or deny renewal of a license or permit until the respective civil penalties have been paid in full. Payment of the civil penalty does not necessarily obligate the commissioner to issue any license or permit; provided, no such action affecting licenses or permits shall be taken without a hearing as provided in the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act.