Section 20-341 - Penalties for violations(a) Any person who wilfully engages in or practices the work or occupation for which a license is required by this chapter or chapter 399b without having first obtained an apprentice permit or a certificate and license for such work, as applicable, or who wilfully employs or supplies for employment a person who does not have a certificate and license for such work, or who wilfully and falsely pretends to qualify to engage in or practice such work or occupation, including, but not limited to, offering to perform such work in any print, electronic, television or radio advertising or listing when such person does not hold a license for such work as required by this chapter, or who wilfully engages in or practices any of the work or occupations for which a license is required by this chapter after the expiration of such person's license, shall be guilty of a class B misdemeanor, except that no criminal charges shall be instituted against such person pursuant to this subsection unless the work activity in question is reviewed by the Commissioner of Consumer Protection, or the commissioner's authorized agent, and the commissioner or such agent specifically determines, in writing, that such work activity requires a license and is not the subject of a bona fide dispute between persons engaged in any trade or craft, whether licensed or unlicensed. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (d) or (e) of section 53a-29 and subsection (d) of section 54-56e, if the court determines that such person cannot fully repay any victims of such person within the period of probation established in subsection (d) or (e) of section 53a-29 or subsection (d) of section 54-56e, the court may impose probation for a period of not more than five years. The penalty provided in this subsection shall be in addition to any other penalties and remedies available under this chapter or chapter 416.(b) The Commissioner of Consumer Protection may order any person who is not registered as an apprenticeship sponsor with the Labor Department and who advertises, offers, engages in or practices the work of a program of apprenticeship training for the purpose of providing the experience necessary to obtain a journeyperson's license under this chapter without first registering such program with the Labor Department pursuant to sections 31-22m to 31-22v, inclusive, to immediately cease and desist such advertising, offer, engagement or practice until such person and program are properly registered with the Labor Department pursuant to sections 31-22m to 31-22v, inclusive. The Commissioner of Consumer Protection may, after a hearing held in accordance with chapter 54, impose a fine in an amount not to exceed five thousand dollars for each violation of this subsection.(c) The Commissioner of Consumer Protection may order any person who is registered as an apprenticeship sponsor with the Labor Department to provide a program of apprenticeship training pursuant to sections 31-22m to 31-22v, inclusive, for the purpose of providing the experience necessary to obtain a journeyperson's license under this chapter and who employs an individual as an apprentice without first verifying that such individual is registered as an apprentice under this chapter to immediately cease and desist any conduct for which an apprenticeship registration is required under this chapter. The commissioner may, after a hearing held in accordance with chapter 54, impose a fine in an amount not to exceed five thousand dollars for each violation of this subsection.(d) The appropriate examining board or the Commissioner of Consumer Protection may, after notice and a hearing conducted in accordance with chapter 54, impose a civil penalty for each violation on any person who (1) engages in or practices the work or occupation for which a license or apprentice registration certificate is required by this chapter, chapter 394, chapter 399b or chapter 482 without having first obtained such a license or certificate, or (2) wilfully employs or supplies for employment a person who does not have such a license or certificate or who wilfully and falsely pretends to qualify to engage in or practice such work or occupation, or (3) engages in or practices any of the work or occupations for which a license or certificate is required by this chapter, chapter 394, chapter 399b or chapter 482 after the expiration of the license or certificate, or (4) violates any of the provisions of this chapter, chapter 394, chapter 399b or chapter 482 or the regulations adopted pursuant thereto. Such penalty shall be in an amount not to exceed three thousand dollars for each violation of this subsection, except that any individual employed as an apprentice but improperly registered shall not be penalized for a first offense.(e) If an examining board or the Commissioner of Consumer Protection imposes a civil penalty under the provisions of subsection (d) of this section as a result of a violation initially reported by a municipal building official in accordance with subsection (c) of section 29-261, the commissioner shall, not less than sixty days after collecting such civil penalty, remit one-half of the amount collected to such municipality.(f) A violation of any of the provisions of this chapter shall be deemed an unfair or deceptive trade practice under subsection (a) of section 42-110b.(g) This section shall not apply to any person who (1) holds a license issued under this chapter, chapter 394, chapter 399b or chapter 482 and performs work that is incidentally, directly and immediately appropriate to the performance of such person's trade where such work commences at an outlet, receptacle or connection previously installed by a person holding the proper license, or (2) engages in work that does not require a license under this chapter, chapter 394, chapter 399b or chapter 482.Conn. Gen. Stat. § 20-341
(February, 1965, P.A. 493, S. 10; 1967, P.A. 789, S. 13; P.A. 80-420, S. 3; P.A. 83-487, S. 16; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-22, S. 2, 4; P.A. 86-146; P.A. 89-309; P.A. 91-407 , S. 24 , 42 ; P.A. 97-263 , S. 6 ; P.A. 99-73 , S. 3 ; P.A. 07-188 , S. 2 ; 07-206 , S. 1 ; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4 , S. 122 ; P.A. 08-102 , S. 2 ; P.A. 09-153 , S. 2 ; P.A. 11-81 , S. 2 ; 11-117 , S. 3 ; P.A. 14-210 , S. 2 .)
Amended by P.A. 23-0099,S. 7 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2023 Regular Session, eff. 6/29/2023.Amended by P.A. 14-0210, S. 2 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2014 Regular Session, eff. 10/1/2014.Amended by P.A. 11-0081, S. 2 of the the 2011 Regular Session, eff. 7/1/2012.Amended by P.A. 11-0117, S. 3 of the the 2011 Regular Session, eff. 10/1/2011.Amended by P.A. 09-0153, S. 2 of the the 2009 Regular Session, eff. 7/1/2009. Cited. 3 Conn.App. 707 . Cited. 26 Conn.Supp. 329 .