§37.  Operation without license; penalty

A.  A forensic supervised transitional residential and aftercare facility shall not operate without a license issued by the licensing agency.  Any such facility or provider operating without a license shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars for each day of operation without a license up to a maximum of one thousand dollars.  Each day of violation shall constitute a separate offense.  It shall be the responsibility of the department to inform the appropriate district attorney of the alleged violation to assure enforcement.

B.  If a forensic supervised transitional residential and aftercare facility is operating without a license issued by the licensing agency, the department shall have the authority to issue an immediate cease and desist order to that facility or provider.  Any such facility or provider receiving such a cease and desist order from the department shall immediately cease operations until such time as that provider is issued a license by the applicable licensing agency.

C.  The department shall seek an injunction in the Nineteenth Judicial District Court against any facility or provider who receives a cease and desist order from the department under Subsection B of this Section and who does not cease operations immediately.

Acts 2008, No. 332, §1, eff. upon the final adoption of the necessary rules and regulations promulgated by DHH.