71-1938.

Emergency; department; powers; order; contents; hearing; order; petition for injunction; other enforcement measures.

(1) Whenever the department finds that an emergency exists requiring immediate action to protect the health, safety, or welfare of a child in a residential child-caring agency or child-placing agency, the department may, without notice or hearing, issue an order declaring the existence of such an emergency and requiring that such action be taken as the department deems necessary to meet the emergency. The order may include an immediate prohibition on the care or placement of children by the licensee. An order under this subsection shall be effective immediately. Any person to whom the order is directed shall comply immediately, and upon application to the department, the person shall be afforded a hearing as soon as possible and not later than ten days after his or her application for the hearing. On the basis of such hearing, the department shall continue to enforce such order or rescind or modify it.

(2) A copy of the order shall also be mailed to the holder of the license if the holder is not actually involved in the daily operation of the residential child-caring agency or child-placing agency. If the holder of the license is a corporation, a copy of the order shall be sent to the corporation's registered agent.

(3) The department may petition the appropriate district court for an injunction whenever there is the belief that any person is violating the Children's Residential Facilities and Placing Licensure Act, an order issued under the act, or any rule or regulation adopted and promulgated under the act. It shall be the duty of each county attorney or the Attorney General to whom the department reports a violation to cause appropriate proceedings to be instituted without delay to ensure compliance with the act, rules, regulations, and orders. In charging any defendant in a complaint in such action, it shall be sufficient to charge that such defendant did, upon a certain day and in a certain county, establish, operate, or maintain a residential child-caring agency or a child-placing agency without obtaining a license to do so, without alleging any further or more particular facts concerning the charge.