12 - Violations of health laws or regulations; penalties and injunctions.
§ 12. Violations of health laws or regulations; penalties and injunctions. * 1. (a) Except as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this subdivision, any person who violates, disobeys or disregards any term or provision of this chapter or of any lawful notice, order or regulation pursuant thereto for which a civil penalty is not otherwise expressly prescribed by law, shall be liable to the people of the state for a civil penalty of not to exceed two thousand dollars for every such violation. (b) The penalty provided for in paragraph (a) of this subdivision may be increased to an amount not to exceed five thousand dollars for a subsequent violation if the person committed the same violation, with respect to the same or any other person or persons, within twelve months of the initial violation for which a penalty was assessed pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subdivision and said violations were a serious threat to the health and safety of an individual or individuals. (c) The penalty provided for in paragraph (a) of this subdivision may be increased to an amount not to exceed ten thousand dollars if the violation directly results in serious physical harm to any patient or patients. Effective on and after April first, two thousand eight the comptroller is hereby authorized and directed to deposit amounts collected in excess of two thousand dollars per violation to the patient safety center account to be used for purposes of the patient safety center created by title two of article twenty-nine-D of this chapter. * NB Effective until April 1, 2011 * 1. Any person who violates, disobeys or disregards any term or provision of this chapter or of any lawful notice, order or regulation pursuant thereto for which a civil penalty is not otherwise expressly prescribed by law, shall be liable to the people of the state for a civil penalty of not to exceed two thousand dollars for every such violation. * NB Effective April 1, 2011 2. The penalty provided for in subdivision one of this section may be recovered by an action brought by the commissioner in any court of competent jurisdiction. 3. Nothing in this section contained shall be construed to alter or repeal any existing provision of law declaring such violations or any of them to be misdemeanors or felonies or prescribing the penalty therefor. 4. Such civil penalty may be released or compromised by the commissioner before the matter has been referred to the attorney general, and where such matter has been referred to the attorney general, any such penalty may be released or compromised and any action commenced to recover the same may be settled and discontinued by the attorney general with the consent of the commissioner. 5. It shall be the duty of the attorney general upon the request of the commissioner to bring an action for an injunction against any person who violates, disobeys or disregards any term or provision of this chapter or of any lawful notice, order or regulation pursuant thereto; provided, however, that the commissioner shall furnish the attorney general with such material, evidentiary matter or proof as may be requested by the attorney general for the prosecution of such an action. 6. It is the purpose of this section to provide additional and cumulative remedies, and nothing herein contained shall abridge or alter rights of action or remedies now or hereafter existing, nor shall any provision of this section, nor any action done by virtue of this section, be construed as estopping the state, persons or municipalities in the exercising of their respective rights to suppress nuisances or to prevent or abate pollution.