Sec. 20-280b. Hearing. Order to discontinue violation. Civil penalty.

(a) The board may conduct hearings on any matter within its statutory jurisdiction. Such hearings shall be conducted in accordance with chapter 54 and the regulations established pursuant to subsection (g) of section 20-280. In connection with any hearing or investigation, the board may administer oaths, issue subpoenas, compel testimony and order the production of books, records and documents. If any person refuses to appear, testify or produce any book, record or document when so ordered, a judge of the Superior Court may make such order as may be appropriate to aid in the enforcement of this section. The final decision of the board shall be subject to judicial review as provided in section 4-183.

(b) The board may, in its discretion, issue an appropriate order to any person found to be in violation of an applicable statute or regulation, providing for the immediate discontinuance of the violation. The board may, through the Attorney General, petition the superior court for the judicial district in which the violation occurred, or in which the person committing the violation resides or does business, for the enforcement of any order issued by it and for appropriate temporary relief or a restraining order and shall certify and file in the court a transcript of the entire record of the hearing or hearings, including all testimony upon which such order was made and the findings and orders made by the board. The court may grant such relief by injunction or otherwise, including temporary relief, as it deems equitable and may make and enter a decree enforcing, modifying or enforcing as so modified, or setting aside, in whole or in part, any order of the board. The board, in its discretion, in lieu of or in addition to any other action authorized by law, may assess a civil penalty of up to fifty thousand dollars against any person found to have violated any provision of the general statutes or any regulations adopted thereunder relating to the profession of public accountancy.

(P.A. 85-504, S. 4, 15; P.A. 92-212, S. 9; P.A. 03-259, S. 41.)

History: P.A. 92-212 deleted former Subsec. (b) re board's authority to conduct investigations, Subsec. (c) re board's authority to suspend or revoke licenses, etc. and Subsec. (e) re grounds for suspension or revocation, relettering remaining Subsecs. as necessary and adding provision in relettered Subsec. (b) re assessment of civil penalties; P.A. 03-259 amended Subsec. (b) by increasing maximum civil penalty from $1,000 to $50,000.