HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2309

TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014

H.D. 2

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTIES.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  Section 321-20, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "[[]§321-20[]]  Remedies.  Notwithstanding other penalties, the director may enforce this chapter in either administrative or judicial proceedings:

     (1)  Administrative.  If the director determines that any person is violating any provision of this chapter, any rule adopted thereunder, or any variance or exemption or waiver issued pursuant thereto, the director may have that person served with a notice of violation and an order.  The notice shall specify the alleged violation.  The order may require that the alleged violator do any or all of the following: cease and desist from the violation, pay an administrative penalty not to exceed [$1,000] $3,000 for each day of violation, correct the violation at the alleged violator's own expense, or appear before the director at a time and place specified in the order and answer the charges complained of.  The order shall become final twenty days after service unless within those twenty days the alleged violator requests in writing a hearing before the director.  Upon such request the director shall specify a time and place for the alleged violator to appear.  When the director issues an order for immediate action to protect the public health from an imminent and substantial danger, the department shall provide an opportunity for a hearing within twenty-four hours after service of the order.  After a hearing pursuant to this subsection, the director may affirm, modify, or rescind the order as appropriate.  The director may institute a civil action in any court of appropriate jurisdiction for the enforcement of any order issued pursuant to this subsection.

              Factors to be considered in imposing the administrative penalty include the nature and history of the violation and any prior violation and the opportunity, difficulty, and history of corrective action.  It is presumed that the violator’s economic and financial conditions allow payment of the penalty and the burden of proof to the contrary is on the violator.  In any judicial proceeding to enforce the administrative penalty imposed pursuant to this chapter, the director need only show that notice was given, a hearing was held or the time granted for requesting a hearing had expired without such a request, the administrative penalty imposed, and that the penalty imposed remains unsatisfied.

              Beginning on July 1, 2014, and no later than July 1 in each year thereafter, the director shall adjust for inflation the maximum amount for administrative penalties under this paragraph.  The director shall use $3,000 as the base figure for the first year and apply the United States Department of Labor Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for the previous year to determine the new base figure, and use the resulting figure as the new base figure each year thereafter.

              This section does not supersede specific administrative penalties provided elsewhere.

     (2)  Judicial.  The director may institute a civil action in any court of appropriate jurisdiction for injunctive relief to prevent violation of any order issued or rule adopted pursuant to this chapter, in addition to any other remedy or penalty provided for under this chapter."

     SECTION 2.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.


 


 

Report Title:

Administrative Penalties; Department of Health

 

Description:

Annually increases the maximum amount of the daily administrative penalty for violations of Department of Health laws and rules.  Effective July 1, 2050.  (HB2309 HD2)

 

 

 

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