Sec. 17b-531. (Formerly Sec. 17a-371). Investigations. Hearings. Injunctions. Action by Attorney General. - Connecticut Statutes

      Sec. 17b-531. (Formerly Sec. 17a-371). Investigations. Hearings. Injunctions. Action by Attorney General. (a) The commissioner, or any agent authorized by the commissioner, may conduct investigations within or outside of this state as the commissioner deems necessary to determine whether any person has violated any provision regarding the registration, disclosure and escrow provisions relating to continuing-care contracts or any regulation adopted pursuant to section 17b-533 or to aid in the enforcement of sections 17b-520 to 17b-535, inclusive, or in the prescribing of regulations under said sections. The commissioner, or any agent authorized by the commissioner, shall have the power to conduct any inquiry, investigation or hearing pursuant to the provisions of this section relating to continuing-care contracts and shall have the power to administer oaths and take testimony under oath relative to the matter of inquiry or investigation. At any hearing ordered by the commissioner, the commissioner or such agent having authority by law to issue such process may subpoena witnesses and require the production of records, papers and documents pertinent to such inquiry. If any person disobeys such process or, having appeared in obedience thereto, refuses to answer any pertinent question put to him by the commissioner or his authorized agent or to produce any records and papers pursuant thereto, the commissioner or his agent may apply to the superior court for the judicial district of Hartford or for the judicial district wherein the person resides or wherein the provider or the facility is located, or to any judge of said court if the same is not in session, setting forth such disobedience to process or refusal to answer, and said court or such judge shall cite such person to appear before said court or such judge, and upon appropriate order, to show cause why answer to such question or production of such records should not be made.

      (b) If as the result of any investigation relating to continuing-care contracts, the commissioner determines that any provider has violated any provision of sections 17b-520 to 17b-535, inclusive, the commissioner may, notwithstanding the provisions of chapter 54, request the Attorney General to seek a temporary or permanent injunction and such other relief as may be appropriate to enjoin such provider from continuing such violation or violations. If the court determines that such violation or violations exist, it may grant such injunctive relief and such other relief as justice may require and may set a time period within which a provider shall comply with any such order. Any appeal taken from any permanent injunction granted under this section shall not stay the operation of such injunction unless the court is of the opinion that great and irreparable injury will be done by not staying the operation of such injunction. If the commissioner determines that any person has violated the provisions of sections 17b-520 to 17b-535, inclusive, the commissioner may request the Attorney General to seek restitution or damages and such other relief as may be appropriate on behalf of any person injured by such violation.

      (P.A. 86-252, S. 12, 17; P.A. 88-230, S. 1, 12; P.A. 90-98, S. 1, 2; P.A. 93-142, S. 4, 7, 8; P.A. 95-220, S. 4-6; P.A. 99-282, S. 3, 4.)

      History: P.A. 88-230 replaced "judicial district of Hartford-New Britain" with "judicial district of Hartford", effective September 1, 1991; P.A. 90-98 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1991, to September 1, 1993; Sec. 17-546 transferred to Sec. 17a-371 in 1991; P.A. 93-142 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1993, to September 1, 1996, effective June 14, 1993; Sec. 17a-371 transferred to Sec. 17b-531 in 1995; P.A. 95-220 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1996, to September 1, 1998, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 99-282 amended Subsec. (b) to allow the Attorney General to seek restitution, damages or other relief on behalf of any person injured by a violation of any provision of sections 17b-520 to 17b-535, inclusive, if the commissioner finds that any person has violated said provisions, effective July 1, 1999, and applicable to violations occurring on or after that date.