29 U.S.C. § 1853: Administrative sanctions

Summary

People who break this chapter or its rules can be fined up to $1,000 for each violation. When setting the fine, the Secretary must look at the person’s past compliance with this chapter and the Farm Labor Contractor Registration Act, and how serious the violation was. The person can ask for an agency hearing within 30 days of the notice. If no hearing is asked for, the penalty becomes final. If a hearing is held, an administrative law judge makes the first decision. The Secretary has 30 days after that decision to change or cancel it. A person can go to U.S. district court where they live or to the District of Columbia by filing notice within 30 days and sending a copy to the Secretary by registered mail. The Secretary must file the record, and a court can only overturn the Secretary’s findings if they lack substantial evidence. Court decisions can be appealed under federal law. If a person does not pay a final penalty, the Secretary sends the case to the Attorney General, who will sue to collect the money. All collected penalties go into the U.S. Treasury.

Title 29, §1853

Labor, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Civil money penalties for violations; criteria for assessment

(1)Subject to paragraph (2), any person who commits a violation of this chapter or any regulation under this chapter, may be assessed a civil money penalty of not more than $1,000 for each violation.

(2)In determining the amount of any penalty to be assessed under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall take into account (A) the previous record of the person in terms of compliance with this chapter and with comparable requirements of the Farm Labor Contractor Registration Act of 1963 [7 U.S.C. 2041 et seq.], and with regulations promulgated under this chapter and such Act, and (B) the gravity of the violation.

(b)Administrative review

(1)The person assessed shall be afforded an opportunity for agency hearing, upon request made within thirty days after the date of issuance of the notice of assessment. In such hearing, all issues shall be determined on the record pursuant to section 554 of title 5. If no hearing is requested as herein provided, the assessment shall constitute a final and unappealable order.

(2)If a hearing is requested, the initial agency decision shall be made by an administrative law judge, and such decision shall become the final order unless the Secretary modifies or vacates the decision. Notice of intent to modify or vacate the decision of the administrative law judge shall be issued to the parties within thirty days after the decision of the administrative law judge. A final order which takes effect under this paragraph shall be subject to review only as provided under subsection (c).

(c)Judicial review

Any person against whom an order imposing a civil money penalty has been entered after an agency hearing under this section may obtain review by the United States district court for any district in which he is located or the United States District Court for the District of Columbia by filing a notice of appeal in such court within thirty days from the date of such order, and simultaneously sending a copy of such notice by registered mail to the Secretary. The Secretary shall promptly certify and file in such court the record upon which the penalty was imposed. The findings of the Secretary shall be set aside only if found to be unsupported by substantial evidence as provided by section 706(2)(E) of title 5. Any final decision, order, or judgment of such District Court concerning such review shall be subject to appeal as provided in chapter 83 of title 28.

(d)Failure to pay assessment; maintenance of action

If any person fails to pay an assessment after it has become a final and unappealable order, or after the court has entered final judgment in favor of the agency, the Secretary shall refer the matter to the Attorney General, who shall recover the amount assessed by action in the appropriate United States district court. In such action the validity and appropriateness of the final order imposing the penalty shall not be subject to review.

(e)Payment of penalties into Treasury of United States

All penalties collected under authority of this section shall be paid into the Treasury of the United States.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Farm Labor Contractor Registration Act of 1963, referred to in subsec. (a)(2), is Pub. L. 88–582, Sept. 7, 1964, 78 Stat. 920, which was classified generally to chapter 52 (§ 2041 et seq.) of Title 7, Agriculture, and was repealed by Pub. L. 97–470, title V, § 523, Jan. 14, 1983, 96 Stat. 2600. See section 1801 et seq. of this title.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section effective 90 days from Jan. 14, 1983, see section 524 of Pub. L. 97–470, set out as a note under section 1801 of this title.

§1853 Administrative Sanctions