Section 32-7-100 - Penalties; revocation of license; request for contested case hearing(A) A person wilfully violating the provisions of this chapter is guilty of a: (1) misdemeanor, if the value of money obtained or sought to be obtained is ten thousand dollars or less and, upon conviction or plea, the person may be fined up to twenty-five thousand dollars, or imprisoned for not more than six months, or both;(2) felony, if the value of money obtained or sought to be obtained is more than ten thousand dollars, and, upon conviction or plea, the person must be fined in the discretion of the court in an amount not less than twenty-five thousand dollars, or imprisoned for not more than ten years, or both;(3) in addition, a person convicted of a misdemeanor pursuant to this section may be prohibited from entering into further preneed funeral contracts, if the department, in its discretion, finds that the offense is sufficiently grievous. A person convicted of a felony pursuant to this chapter is subject to the following additional penalties when the value of the money obtained or sought to be obtained is:(a) twenty-five thousand dollars or less, upon conviction or plea, the person is subject to a two-year suspension from conducting preneed funeral contract sales, and restitution as may be ordered by the court;(b) greater than twenty-five thousand dollars, but less than one hundred thousand dollars, upon conviction or plea, the person is subject to a five-year suspension from conducting preneed funeral contract sales, and restitution as may be ordered by the court;(c) greater than one hundred thousand dollars, upon conviction or plea, the person is subject to a ten-year suspension from conducting preneed funeral contract sales, and restitution as may be ordered by the court.(B) The determination of the degree of an offense under subsection (A) must be measured by the total value of all money obtained or sought to be obtained by the unlawful conduct.(C)(1) Before the suspension, revocation, or other action by the department involving a license to sell preneed funeral contracts becomes final, a licensee is entitled to request a contested case hearing before the Administrative Law Court, in accordance with the Administrative Procedures Act.(2) Other action by the department may include a warning notice of deficiency, additional education requirements concerning the provisions of this chapter, a fine, or a cease and desist order for violation of a provision in this chapter.Amended by 2024 S.C. Acts, Act No. 223 (HB 4116),s 2, eff. 7/1/2024.Amended by 2012 S.C. Acts, Act No. 261 (HB 4763), s 5, eff. 6/18/2012.Amended by 2009 S.C. Acts, Act No. 70 (HB 3615), s 1, eff. 7/1/2009.1989 Act No. 89, Section 1; 1973 (58) 339; 1962 Code Section 11-181.