Section 4740.16 | Investigation of RC 4740.13 violations - civil penalty.
(A) An investigator appointed by the director of commerce, on behalf of the appropriate specialty section of the Ohio construction industry licensing board may investigate any person who allegedly has violated section 4740.13 of the Revised Code. If, after an investigation pursuant to section 4740.05 of the Revised Code, the appropriate specialty section determines that reasonable evidence exists that a person has violated section 4740.13 of the Revised Code, the appropriate specialty section shall send a written notice to that person in the same manner as prescribed in section 119.07 of the Revised Code for licensees.
(B) The appropriate specialty section shall hold a hearing regarding the alleged violation in the same manner prescribed for an adjudication hearing under section 119.09 of the Revised Code. If the appropriate specialty section, after the hearing, determines a violation has occurred, the appropriate specialty section, upon an affirmative vote of a majority of its members, may impose a fine on the person, not exceeding one thousand dollars per violation per day and may file a complaint against the person with the appropriate local prosecutor for criminal prosecution. The appropriate specialty section's determination is an order that the person may appeal in accordance with section 119.12 of the Revised Code.
(C) If the appropriate specialty section assesses a person a civil penalty for a violation of section 4740.13 of the Revised Code and the person fails to pay that civil penalty within the time period prescribed by the appropriate specialty section, the appropriate specialty section shall forward to the attorney general the name of the person and the amount of the civil penalty for the purpose of collecting that civil penalty. In addition to the civil penalty assessed pursuant to this section, the person also shall pay any fee assessed by the attorney general for collection of the civil penalty.
(D) If a person fails to request a hearing within thirty days after the date the appropriate specialty section, in accordance with section 119.07 of the Revised Code, notifies the person of the section's intent to act against the person under division (A) of this section, the section, by majority vote of a quorum of the section members, may take the action against a person without holding an adjudication hearing.
Available Versions of this Section
- September 17, 2014 – Senate Bill 78 - 130th General Assembly [ View September 17, 2014 Version ]
- October 3, 2023 – Amended by House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly [ View October 3, 2023 Version ]