Section 34-9-181. Administrative fines, probation, or additional penalties

   (a) The Commissioner may, after a hearing, impose upon a fund an administrative fine if he finds that the fund, through the acts of its officers, employees, agents, or representatives, has with such frequency as to indicate its general business practice within this state:

   (1) Refused, without just cause, to pay proper claims arising under workers' compensation coverage provided by the fund; or

   (2) Compelled, without just cause, employee claimants of members or other persons entitled to the proceeds of the workers' compensation coverage provided by the fund to accept less than the amount due them or to bring an action against the fund to secure full payment or settlement thereof.

(b) The administrative fine imposed for violations set forth in subsection (a) of this Code section shall not exceed $1,000.00 for each act of misconduct constituting a violation of this Code section; provided, however, that a fine of not more than $5,000.00 may be imposed for each act of willful misconduct constituting a violation of this Code section.

(c) In addition to all other penalties provided for under this article, the Commissioner shall have the authority to place any fund on probation for a period of time not to exceed one year for each and every act or violation of this article or of the rules and regulations or orders of the Commissioner issued pursuant hereto and may subject such fund to a monetary penalty of up to $1,000.00 for each and every act in violation of this article or of the rules, regulations, or orders of the Commissioner issued pursuant hereto. If the fund or its administrator knew or reasonably should have known that the fund was in violation of this article or of the rules and regulations or orders of the Commissioner, the monetary penalty provided for in this Code section may be increased to an amount up to $5,000.00 for each and every act or violation.

Code 1933, § 114-617a, enacted by Ga. L. 1980, p. 1686, § 1; Ga. L. 1981, p. 1759, § 1.