(1) Whenever the division has reason to believe that any person has violated any of the provisions of this part 5 or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the division may issue a notice of violation and cease-and-desist order. The notice of violation shall set forth the provision, rule, or regulation alleged to have been violated and the facts constituting such violation. The cease-and-desist order shall set forth the measures which the person shall take to eliminate the violation and the time within which these measures shall be performed. The order may require that the person stop work at the asbestos abatement project until the violation has been eliminated or may require a school to submit and implement an asbestos management plan by a date specified by the division.

(2) If the recipient of a cease-and-desist order issued pursuant to subsection (1) of this section fails to comply with the terms of the order within the time specified, the division may file an action in the district court of the county where the violation is alleged to have occurred requesting that the court order the person to comply with the cease-and-desist order. When the division alleges that the violation poses a significant danger to the health of any person, the court shall grant such action priority.

(3) Unless the division has filed an action in the district court pursuant to subsection (2) of this section, a recipient of a cease-and-desist order may request a hearing before the commission to contest the cease-and-desist order. Such request shall be filed within thirty days after the cease-and-desist order has been issued. A hearing on the cease-and-desist order shall be held pursuant to section 25-7-119.

(4) Upon a finding by the division that a person is in violation of any of the provisions of this part 5 or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the division may assess a penalty of up to twenty-five thousand dollars per day of violation or such lesser amount as may be required by applicable federal law or regulation. In determining the amount of the penalty to be assessed, the division shall consider the seriousness of the danger to the public's health caused by the violation, whether or not the violation was willful, the duration of the violation, and the record of the person committing such violation.

(5) A person subject to a penalty assessed pursuant to subsection (4) of this section may appeal the penalty to the commission by requesting a hearing before the commission. Such request shall be filed within thirty days after the penalty assessment is issued. A hearing pursuant to this subsection (5) shall be conducted pursuant to section 25-7-119.

(6) All penalties collected pursuant to this section shall be transmitted to the state treasurer, who shall credit the same to the general fund.