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<section article="gag" article_name="Agriculture" number="2-313.2" title_number="2" title_name="Department of Agriculture" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners">
  <level label="a">
    <text>Subject to subsection (b) of this section and on review and approval of the Secretary or the Secretary’s designee, the Board may issue a cease and desist order against a person who:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Practices, attempts to practice, or offers to practice veterinary medicine in violation of § 2–313(a) of this subtitle; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Takes an action:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>For which the Board determines there is a preponderance of evidence of grounds for discipline under § 2–310 or § 2–313 of this subtitle; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>That poses a serious risk to the health, safety, and welfare of an animal patient.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In lieu of a cease and desist order under subsection (a) of this section, the Board may impose a civil penalty not exceeding:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>$5,000 for a first offense; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>$10,000 for a second or subsequent offense.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>In setting the amount of a civil penalty, the Board shall consider:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>The seriousness of the violation;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The harm caused by the violation;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>The good faith of the violator;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>Any history of previous violations by the violator; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>Any other relevant factors.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Before a civil penalty is imposed under this subsection, the Board shall provide to the person on whom the civil penalty will be imposed notice of the alleged violation and an opportunity for a hearing.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>A person against whom a cease and desist order is issued or a civil penalty is imposed under this section may seek review of the order or penalty under the Administrative Procedure Act.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>An action for a cease and desist order or a civil penalty imposed under this section is in addition to, and not instead of, disciplinary actions authorized under § 2–310 of this subtitle or an action for injunctive relief under § 2–315 of this subtitle.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Board shall adopt regulations to carry out the provisions of this section, including hearing procedures and sanctions for violations of a cease and desist order.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The sanctions established by regulations adopted under paragraph (1) of this subsection may include a civil penalty consistent with subsection (b) of this section.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>The Board shall pay any penalty collected under this section into the General Fund of the State.</text>
  </level>
</section>
