(1) The board or its authorized representative may issue and serve upon a cemetery authority a notice of charges if in the opinion of the board or its authorized representative the cemetery authority:

     (a) Is engaging in or has engaged in practices likely to endanger the future delivery of cemetery merchandise or services, unconstructed crypts or niches, or undeveloped graves;

     (b) Is violating or has violated any statute of the state of Washington or any rule of the board; or

     (c) Is about to do an act prohibited in (a) or (b) of this subsection when the opinion is based upon reasonable cause.

     (2) The notice shall contain a statement of the facts constituting the alleged violation or practice and shall fix a time and place at which a hearing will be held to determine whether an order to cease and desist should issue against the cemetery authority. The hearing shall be set not earlier than ten nor later than thirty days after service of the notice unless a later date is set by the board or its authorized representative at the request of the cemetery authority.

     Unless the cemetery authority appears at the hearing by a duly authorized representative it shall be deemed to have consented to the issuance of a cease and desist order. In the event of this consent or if upon the record made at the hearing the board finds that any violation or practice specified in the notice of charges has been established, the board may issue and serve upon the cemetery authority an order to cease and desist from the violation or practice. The order may require the cemetery authority and its directors, officers, employees, and agents to cease and desist from the violation or practice and may require the cemetery authority to take affirmative action to correct the conditions resulting from the violation or practice.

     (3) A cease and desist order shall become effective at the expiration of ten days after service of the order upon the cemetery authority except that a cease and desist order issued upon consent shall become effective as provided in the order unless it is stayed, modified, terminated, or set aside by action of the board or a reviewing court.

     (4) The powers of the board under this section are in addition to the power of the board to take disciplinary action against a cemetery authority's prearrangement sales license.

[2002 c 86 § 322; 1979 c 21 § 32. Formerly RCW 68.46.220.]

NOTES:

     Effective dates -- 2002 c 86: See note following RCW 18.08.340.

     Part headings not law -- Severability -- 2002 c 86: See RCW 18.235.902 and 18.235.903.