(a) The Commissioner of Agriculture, whenever he finds after investigation that (1) any person is causing, engaging in or maintaining, or is about to cause, engage in or maintain, any condition or activity which, in his judgment, will result in or is likely to result in imminent and substantial harm to any animal, or to public health within the jurisdiction of the commissioner under the provisions of this title, (2) there is a violation of the terms and conditions of a permit issued by him that is in his judgment substantial and continuous and it appears prejudicial to the interests of the people of the state to delay action until an opportunity for a hearing can be provided, or (3) any person is conducting, has conducted, or is about to conduct an activity which will result in or is likely to result in imminent and substantial harm to the animal, or to public health within the jurisdiction of the commissioner under the provisions of this title for which a license is required under the provisions of this title without obtaining such license, may, without prior hearing, issue a cease and desist order in writing to such person to discontinue, abate or alleviate such condition or activity.

(b) The commissioner shall serve any cease and desist order issued pursuant to this section in accordance with the provisions of sections 33-296, 33-297, 33-1050, 33-1051 and 52-57, as applicable. The commissioner may also cause a copy of the order to be posted upon property which is the subject of the order, and no action for trespass shall lie for such posting. Such cease and desist order shall be binding upon all persons against whom it is issued, their agents and any independent contractor engaged by such persons.

(c) Upon receipt of such order such person shall immediately comply with such order. The commissioner shall hold a hearing within ten days of the date of receipt of such order by all persons served with such order to provide any such person an opportunity to be heard and show that such condition does not exist or such violation has not occurred or a license was not required or all required licenses were obtained. All briefs or legal memoranda to be presented in connection with such hearing shall be filed not later than ten days after such hearing. Such order shall remain in effect until fifteen days after the hearing within which time a new decision based on the hearing shall be made.

(d) The Attorney General, upon the request of the commissioner, may institute an action in the superior court for the judicial district of Hartford to enjoin any person from violating a cease and desist order issued pursuant to this section and to compel compliance with such order.

(P.A. 88-230, S. 1, 12; P.A. 90-98, S. 1, 2; P.A. 93-142, S. 4, 7, 8; P.A. 95-141, S. 5; 95-220, S. 4–6; P.A. 96-256, S. 207, 209; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, S. 146(e); P.A. 04-189, S. 1.)

History: (Revisor's note: P.A. 88-230, 90-98, 93-142 and 95-220 authorized substitution of “judicial district of Hartford” for “judicial district of Hartford-New Britain” in 1995 public and special acts, effective September 1, 1998); P.A. 96-256 amended Subsec. (b) to replace reference to Sec. 33-433 with Secs. 33-1050 and 33-1051, effective January 1, 1997; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6 replaced Commissioner of Agriculture with Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, effective July 1, 2004; P.A. 04-189 repealed Sec. 146 of June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, thereby reversing the merger of the Departments of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, effective June 1, 2004.