2-10,103.02.

Administrative fine; collection; use.

(1) The director may issue an order imposing an administrative fine on any person who has violated any provision, requirement, condition, limitation, or duty imposed by the Plant Protection and Plant Pest Act or rules and regulations adopted and promulgated pursuant to the act in an amount which shall not exceed one thousand dollars for each violation. A violation means each action which violates any separate or distinct provision, requirement, condition, limitation, or duty imposed by the act or such rules and regulations. In determining whether to impose an administrative fine and, if a fine is imposed, the amount of the fine, the director shall take into consideration (a) the seriousness of the violation, (b) the extent to which the person derived financial gain as a result of his or her failure to comply, (c) the extent of intent, willfulness, or negligence by the person in the violation, (d) the likelihood of the violation reoccurring, (e) the history of the person's failure to comply, (f) the person's attempts to prevent or limit his or her failure to comply, (g) the person's willingness to correct violations, (h) the nature of the person's disclosure of violations, (i) the person's cooperation with investigations of his or her failure to comply, and (j) any factors which may be established by the rules and regulations.

(2) The department shall remit administrative fines collected under the act to the State Treasurer on a monthly basis for distribution in accordance with Article VII, section 5, of the Constitution of Nebraska.

(3) Any administrative fine imposed under the Plant Protection and Plant Pest Act and unpaid shall constitute a debt to the State of Nebraska which may be collected by lien foreclosure or sued for and recovered in any proper form of action in the name of the State of Nebraska in the district court of the county in which the violator resides or owns property. The lien shall attach to the real estate of the violator when notice of such lien is filed and indexed against the real estate in the office of the register of deeds or county clerk in the county where the real estate is located.