Conn. Gen. Stat. § 20-341: Penalties for violations. Enforcement.

(a)(1) Any person who wilfully engages in or practices the work or occupation for which a license is required by this chapter or chapter 399b without having first obtained an apprentice permit or a certificate and license for such work, as applicable, or who wilfully employs or supplies for employment a person who does not have a certificate and license for such work, or who wilfully and falsely pretends to qualify to engage in or practice such work or occupation, including, but not limited to, offering to perform such work in any print, electronic, television or radio advertising or listing when such person does not hold a license for such work as required by this chapter, or who wilfully engages in or practices any of the work or occupations for which a license is required by this chapter after the expiration of such person's license, shall be guilty of a class B misdemeanor, except that no criminal charges shall be instituted against such person pursuant to this subdivision unless the work activity in question is reviewed by the Commissioner of Consumer Protection, or the commissioner's authorized agent, and the commissioner or such agent specifically determines, in writing, that such work activity requires a license and is not the subject of a bona fide dispute between persons engaged in any trade or craft, whether licensed or unlicensed. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (d) or (e) of section 53a-29 and subsection (d) of section 54-56e, if the court determines that such person cannot fully repay any victims of such person within the period of probation established in subsection (d) or (e) of section 53a-29 or subsection (d) of section 54-56e, the court may impose probation for a period of not more than five years. The penalty provided in this subdivision shall be in addition to any other penalties and remedies available under this chapter or chapter 416.

(2) The Commissioner of Consumer Protection may order any person who is not registered as an apprenticeship sponsor with the Labor Department and who advertises, offers, engages in or practices the work of a program of apprenticeship training for the purpose of providing the experience necessary to obtain a journeyperson's license under this chapter without first registering such program with the Labor Department pursuant to sections 31-22m to 31-22v, inclusive, to immediately cease and desist such advertising, offer, engagement or practice until such person and program are properly registered with the Labor Department pursuant to sections 31-22m to 31-22v, inclusive. The Commissioner of Consumer Protection may, after a hearing held in accordance with chapter 54, impose a fine in an amount not to exceed five thousand dollars for each violation of this subdivision.

(3) The Commissioner of Consumer Protection may order any person who is registered as an apprenticeship sponsor with the Labor Department to provide a program of apprenticeship training pursuant to sections 31-22m to 31-22v, inclusive, for the purpose of providing the experience necessary to obtain a journeyperson's license under this chapter and who employs an individual as an apprentice without first verifying that such individual is registered as an apprentice under this chapter to immediately cease and desist any conduct for which an apprenticeship registration is required under this chapter. The commissioner may, after a hearing held in accordance with chapter 54, impose a fine in an amount not to exceed five thousand dollars for each violation of this subdivision.

(4) The appropriate examining board or the Commissioner of Consumer Protection may, after notice and a hearing conducted in accordance with chapter 54, impose a civil penalty for each violation on any person who (A) engages in or practices the work or occupation for which a license or apprentice registration certificate is required by this chapter, chapter 394, chapter 399b or chapter 482 without having first obtained such a license or certificate, (B) wilfully employs or supplies for employment a person who does not have such a license or certificate or who wilfully and falsely pretends to qualify to engage in or practice such work or occupation, (C) engages in or practices any of the work or occupations for which a license or certificate is required by this chapter, chapter 394, chapter 399b or chapter 482 after the expiration of the license or certificate, or (D) violates any of the provisions of this chapter, chapter 394, chapter 399b or chapter 482 or the regulations adopted pursuant thereto. Such penalty shall be in an amount not to exceed three thousand dollars for each violation of this subdivision, except that any individual employed as an apprentice but improperly registered shall not be penalized for a first offense.

(5) If an examining board or the Commissioner of Consumer Protection imposes a civil penalty under the provisions of subdivision (4) of this subsection as a result of a violation initially reported by a municipal building official in accordance with subsection (c) of section 29-261, the commissioner shall, not less than sixty days after collecting such civil penalty, remit one-half of the amount collected to such municipality.

(6) A violation of any of the provisions of this chapter shall be deemed an unfair or deceptive trade practice under subsection (a) of section 42-110b.

(7) This section shall not apply to any person who (A) holds a license issued under this chapter, chapter 394, chapter 399b or chapter 482 and performs work that is incidentally, directly and immediately appropriate to the performance of such person's trade where such work commences at an outlet, receptacle or connection previously installed by a person holding the proper license, or (B) engages in work that does not require a license under this chapter, chapter 394, chapter 399b or chapter 482.

(b) (1) The Department of Consumer Protection may issue a notice of violation against a person following an inspection of any place or premises, performed in accordance with section 21a-11, where the department discovers one or more of the following violations: (A) Offering or performing work that requires a credential under this chapter without the appropriate credential, in violation of section 20-334, (B) failure to comply with the allowable hiring ratios set forth in section 20-332b, (C) failure to obtain an apprentice registration certificate for one or more persons as required by applicable law, or (D) failure to obtain a permit as required by applicable law.

(2) (A) If the Department of Consumer Protection determines that a person has failed to correct all violations for which a notice of violation was issued pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection, the department may issue a stop work order against such person requiring the cessation of the practice of the trade or occupation for which a credential is required under this chapter, at the place or premises where the violation was found, as set forth in the notice of violation. Such stop work order shall be effective, and such notice sufficient, when served upon such person by (i) personal service, (ii) delivery by United States mail with delivery tracking, (iii) delivery by electronic mail sent with tracking and delivery confirmation, or (iv) posting notice of the stop work order in a conspicuous location at the place or premises subject to such stop work order.

(B) A stop work order served in the manner set forth in subparagraph (A) of this subdivision shall remain in effect until the department (i) determines that the person against whom the department issued the stop work order has come into compliance with the requirements set forth in the notice of violation issued pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection, and (ii) issues an order releasing such stop work order (I) after a hearing decision rendered in accordance with subdivision (4) of this subsection, or (II) after a decision rendered by the commissioner or the commissioner's authorized representative pursuant to subdivision (5) of this subsection.

(3) If a person fails to comply with a stop work order following service made in accordance with the provisions of subdivision (2) of this subsection, the Department of Consumer Protection may impose on such person a fine in an amount not to exceed five hundred dollars per violation per day after such stop work order was served. Such fine shall be effective upon written notice to the person who failed to comply with the stop work order and payment of such fine shall be due to the department not later than fifteen days after such person receives such written notice. Any fine for failure to comply with a stop work order shall be deposited in the consumer protection enforcement account established in section 21a-8a.

(4) Any person who holds a credential issued by the Department of Consumer Protection pursuant to this chapter and has been served with a stop work order pursuant to subdivision (2) of this subsection may request an administrative hearing to contest such stop work order and any associated fine imposed on such person pursuant to subdivision (3) of this subsection. Such request shall be made in writing to the commissioner not more than fifteen days after such person was served with such stop work order. Such hearing shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54. No request for an administrative hearing made pursuant to this subdivision shall operate to toll the stop work order or any fine associated with such stop work order unless so ordered by the commissioner or the commissioner's authorized representative.

(5) (A) Any person who does not hold a credential issued by the Department of Consumer Protection pursuant to this chapter and has been served with a stop work order pursuant to subdivision (2) of this subsection may submit a petition to the commissioner to lift the stop work order on the ground that (i) an error of fact or law should be corrected, (ii) new evidence has been discovered (I) which materially affects the merits of such stop work order, and (II) which for good reasons was not presented to the department upon such person's receipt of the notice of violation, or (iii) other good cause has been shown.

(B) A petition submitted pursuant to subparagraph (A) of this subdivision shall be submitted in writing not later than fifteen days after the person was served with a stop work order pursuant to subdivision (2) of this subsection. Such petition shall not operate to toll such stop work order or any associated fine imposed on such person pursuant to subdivision (3) of this subsection unless so ordered by the commissioner or the commissioner's authorized representative. The decision of the commissioner or the commissioner's authorized representative on such petition, or the failure by the commissioner or the commissioner's authorized representative to render a decision within the fifteen-day period beginning on the date on which the commissioner or the commissioner's authorized representative received such petition, shall constitute a final decision for purposes of chapter 54 and the person may appeal therefrom in accordance with section 4-183.

(6) The commissioner or the commissioner's authorized representative may apply to the Superior Court, which court, after a hearing thereon, may issue a temporary restraining order, temporary injunction or permanent injunction (A) ordering compliance with a stop work order issued and served pursuant to subdivision (2) of this subsection, and (B) granting such other relief as may be required until the person obeys the stop work order. Any disobedience of an order issued by a court under this subdivision shall be punishable as a contempt thereof. The application for the temporary restraining order, temporary injunction, permanent injunction and for such other relief shall be brought, and the proceedings thereon conducted, by the Attorney General.