(815 ILCS 390/23) (from Ch. 21, par. 223)
Sec. 23.
(a) Any person who fails to deposit the required amount into a
trust provided for in this Act, improperly withdraws or uses trust funds for
his
or her own benefit, or otherwise violates any provision of this
Act is
guilty of a Class 4 felony.
(b) If any person violates this Act or fails or refuses to comply with
any order of the Comptroller or any part thereof which to such person has
become final and is still in effect, the Comptroller may, after notice and
hearing at which it is determined that a violation of this Act or such order
has been committed, further order that such person shall forfeit and pay to the
State of Illinois a sum not to exceed $5,000 for each violation. Such
liability shall be enforced in an action brought in any court of competent
jurisdiction by the Comptroller in the name of the people of the State of
Illinois.
(c) Whenever a license is revoked by the Comptroller, or the Comptroller
determines that any person is engaged in pre-need sales without a license,
he shall apply to the circuit court of the county where such person is
located for a receiver to administer the business of such person.
(d) Whenever a licensee fails or refuses to make a required report or
whenever it appears to the Comptroller from any report or examination that
such licensee has committed a violation of law or that the trust funds have
not been administered properly or that it is unsafe or inexpedient for such
licensee or the trustee of the trust funds of such licensee to continue to
administer such funds or that any officer of such licensee or of the trustee
of the trust funds of such licensee has abused his trust or has been guilty
of misconduct or breach of trust in his official position injurious to such
licensee or that such licensee has suffered as to its trust funds a serious
loss by larceny, embezzlement, burglary, repudiation or otherwise, the
Comptroller shall, by order, direct the discontinuance of such illegal,
unsafe or unauthorized practices and shall direct strict conformity with the
requirements of the law and safety and security in its transactions and may
apply to the circuit court of the county where such licensee is located to
prevent any disbursements or expenditures by such licensee until the trust
funds are in such condition that it would not be jeopardized thereby and
the Comptroller shall communicate the facts to the Attorney General of the
State of Illinois who shall thereupon institute such proceedings against the
licensee or its trustee or the officers of either or both as the nature of
the case may require.
(e) In addition to the other penalties and remedies provided in this
Act, the Comptroller may bring a civil action in the county of residence of
the licensee or any person engaging in pre-need sales, to enjoin any
violation or threatened violation of this Act.
(f) The powers vested in the Comptroller by this Section are additional
to any and all other powers and remedies vested in the Comptroller by law,
and nothing herein contained shall be construed as requiring that the
Comptroller shall employ the powers conferred herein instead of or as a
condition precedent to the exercise of any other power or remedy vested in
the Comptroller.
(Source: P.A. 92-419, eff. 1-1-02.)
|