(225 ILCS 411/25-25)
    (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2021)
    Sec. 25-25. Investigations, notice, hearings.
    (a) The Department may at any time investigate the actions of any applicant or of any person or persons rendering or offering to render services as a cemetery authority, cemetery manager, or customer service employee of or any person holding or claiming to hold a license as a licensed cemetery authority, cemetery manager, or customer service employee. If it appears to the Department that a person has engaged in, is engaging in, or is about to engage in any practice declared to be unlawful by this Act, then the Department may: (1) require that person to file on such terms as the Department prescribes a statement or report in writing, under oath or otherwise, containing all information the Department may consider necessary to ascertain whether a licensee is in compliance with this Act, or whether an unlicensed person is engaging in activities for which a license is required; (2) examine under oath any individual in connection with the books and records pertaining to or having an impact upon the operation of a cemetery; (3) examine any books and records of the licensee that the Department may consider necessary to ascertain compliance with this Act; and (4) require the production of a copy of any record, book, document, account, or paper that is produced in accordance with this Act and retain it in his or her possession until the completion of all proceedings in connection with which it is produced.
    (b) The Secretary may, after 10 days notice by certified mail with return receipt requested to the licensee at the address of record or to the last known address of any other person stating the contemplated action and in general the grounds therefor, fine such licensee an amount not exceeding $10,000 per violation or revoke, suspend, refuse to renew, place on probation, or reprimand any license issued under this Act if he or she finds that:
        (1) the licensee has failed to comply with any
    
provision of this Act or any order, decision, finding, rule, regulation, or direction of the Secretary lawfully made pursuant to the authority of this Act; or
        (2) any fact or condition exists which, if it had
    
existed at the time of the original application for the license, clearly would have warranted the Secretary in refusing to issue the license.
    (c) The Secretary may fine, revoke, suspend, refuse to renew, place on probation, reprimand, or take any other disciplinary action as to the particular license with respect to which grounds for the fine, revocation, suspension, refuse to renew, probation, or reprimand, or other disciplinary action occur or exist, but if the Secretary finds that grounds for revocation are of general application to all offices or to more than one office of the licensee, the Secretary shall fine, revoke, suspend, refuse to renew, place on probation, reprimand, or otherwise discipline every license to which such grounds apply.
    (d) In every case in which a license is revoked, suspended, placed on probation, reprimanded, or otherwise disciplined, the Secretary shall serve the licensee with notice of his or her action, including a statement of the reasons for his or her actions, either personally or by certified mail, return receipt requested. Service by certified mail shall be deemed completed when the notice is deposited in the United States mail and sent to the address of record.
    (e) An order assessing a fine, an order revoking, suspending, placing on probation, or reprimanding a license or, an order denying renewal of a license shall take effect upon service of the order unless the licensee requests, in writing, within 20 days after the date of service, a hearing. In the event a hearing is requested, an order issued under this Section shall be stayed until a final administrative order is entered.
    (f) If the licensee requests a hearing, then the Secretary shall schedule a hearing within 30 days after the request for a hearing unless otherwise agreed to by the parties. The Secretary shall have the authority to appoint an attorney duly licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois to serve as the hearing officer in any disciplinary action with regard to a license. The hearing officer shall have full authority to conduct the hearing.
    (g) The hearing shall be held at the time and place designated by the Secretary.
    (h) The Secretary shall have the authority to prescribe rules for the administration of this Section.
    (i) Fines imposed and any costs assessed shall be paid within 60 days.
(Source: P.A. 96-863, eff. 3-1-10; 97-679, eff. 2-6-12.)