Section 4781.121 | Investigation of violations; hearings; penalties.
(A) The division of industrial compliance, pursuant to section 4781.04 of the Revised Code, may investigate any person who allegedly has committed a violation. If, after an investigation the division determines that reasonable evidence exists that a person has committed a violation, within seven days after that determination, the division shall send a written notice to that person in the same manner as prescribed in section 119.07 of the Revised Code for licensees, except that the notice shall specify that a hearing will be held and specify the date, time, and place of the hearing.
(B) The division of industrial compliance 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 division, after the hearing, determines that a violation has occurred, the division may impose a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars per violation per day. The division's determination is an order that the person may appeal in accordance with section 119.12 of the Revised Code.
(C) If the person who allegedly committed a violation fails to appear for a hearing, the division of industrial compliance may request the court of common pleas of the county where the alleged violation occurred to compel the person to appear before the division for a hearing.
(D) If the division assesses a person a civil penalty for a violation and the person fails to pay that civil penalty within the time period prescribed by the division pursuant to section 131.02 of the Revised Code, the division 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.
(E) The authority provided to the division of industrial compliance pursuant to this section, and any fine imposed under this section, shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, all penalties and other remedies provided in this chapter. Any fines collected pursuant to this section shall be used solely to administer and enforce this chapter and rules adopted under it. Any fees collected pursuant to this section shall be transmitted to the treasurer of state and shall be credited to the industrial compliance operating fund created in section 121.084 of the Revised Code and the rules adopted thereunder. The fees shall be used only for the purpose of administering and enforcing sections 4781.26 to 4781.35 of the Revised Code and the rules adopted thereunder.
(F) As used in this section, "violation" means a violation of section 4781.11, 4781.16, 4781.27, or 4781.57 or any rule adopted pursuant to section 4781.04 of the Revised Code.
Available Versions of this Section
- September 10, 2012 – House Bill 487 - 129th General Assembly [ View September 10, 2012 Version ]
- September 29, 2017 – Amended by House Bill 49 - 132nd General Assembly [ View September 29, 2017 Version ]
- October 3, 2023 – Amended by House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly [ View October 3, 2023 Version ]