(a)
In addition to any other penalty or fine prescribed by law, a trainer or owner, or both the trainer and owner, of a horse found to have received a prohibited substance or NSAID in violation of this chapter, or determined to be in violation of Section 24009 shall be subject to a civil penalty of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) or more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for each violation, to be recovered by the secretary in any court of competent jurisdiction.
(b)
In addition to the penalty specified in subdivision (a) or any other penalty or fine prescribed by law, the secretary may suspend any trainer or owner, or both the trainer and owner, from all competitions at any public horse show or competition for a period of not less than 90 days or more than one year for each violation. It is unlawful for any person suspended from competition by the secretary to compete in any public horse show or competition during the period of suspension. Any person suspended from competition by the secretary who competes in any public horse show or competition during the period of suspension is subject to the civil penalty prescribed by subdivision (a) for each entry during the period of suspension.
(c)
The owner or owners of a horse found to have received a prohibited substance or NSAID in violation of this chapter or determined to be in violation of Section 24009 shall forfeit all prize money or sweepstakes and any trophies, ribbons, and points won at any public horse show or competition by the horse and the same shall be redistributed by the horse show or competition in accordance with its rules or bylaws. The owner shall pay a fee of fifty dollars ($50) to the public horse show or competition. The horse may be suspended for any period of time specified by the secretary. If the violation occurs at a horse sale, the contract of sale is voidable at the buyer’s discretion.
(d)
In lieu of civil prosecution by the secretary, the secretary may levy a civil penalty against a person violating any provision of this chapter.
(e)
Before a civil penalty is levied, the person charged with the violation shall receive notice of the nature of the violation and shall be given an opportunity to be heard, including the right to review the secretary’s evidence and a right to present evidence on his or her own behalf.
(f)
Review of the decision of the secretary may be sought by the person against whom the penalty was levied within 30 days of the date of the decision pursuant to Section 1094.5 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
(g)
After the exhaustion of the review procedure provided in this section, the secretary or his or her representative, may file a certified copy of a final decision of the secretary that directs the payment of a civil penalty and, if applicable, any order that denies a petition for a writ of administrative mandamus, with the clerk of the superior court of any county. Judgment shall be entered immediately by the clerk in conformity with the decision or order. No fees shall be charged by the clerk of the superior court for the performance of any official service required in connection with the entry of judgment pursuant to this section.