38-3331.

Civil penalty; recovery; lien.

(1) In addition to the remedies authorized in section 38-140 or 38-1,124, a person who engages in the practice of veterinary medicine and surgery without being licensed or otherwise authorized to do so under the Veterinary Medicine and Surgery Practice Act shall be subject to a civil penalty of not less than one thousand dollars nor more than five thousand dollars for the first offense and not less than five thousand dollars nor more than ten thousand dollars for the second or subsequent offense. If a violation continues after notification, this constitutes a separate offense.

(2) The civil penalties shall be assessed in a civil action brought for such purpose by the Attorney General in the district court of the county in which the violation occurred.

(3) Any civil penalty assessed and unpaid under this section shall constitute a debt to the State of Nebraska which may be collected in the manner of a 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 department may also collect in such action attorney's fees and costs incurred in the collection of the civil penalty. The department shall, within thirty days after receipt, transmit any collected civil penalty to the State Treasurer to be disposed of in accordance with Article VII, section 5, of the Constitution of Nebraska.