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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>61312</law_id><section_number>59.1-601</section_number><catch_line>Enforcement; civil penalty</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="59.1">Trade and Commerce</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="56">Genetic Data Privacy</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Attorney General</span> shall have exclusive authority to enforce the provisions of this chapter. <a id="paragraph-224006" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-601/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Whenever the <span class="dictionary">Attorney General</span> has reasonable cause to believe that any person has engaged in, is engaging in, or is about to engage in any violation of this chapter, the <span class="dictionary">Attorney General</span> is empowered to <span class="dictionary">issue</span> a civil investigative demand. The provisions of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Investigation by Attorney General of suspected violations; civil investigative demand to witnesses; access to business records, etc" href="/59.1-9.10/">59.1-9.10</a> shall apply <span class="dictionary">mutatis mutandis</span> to civil investigative demands issued pursuant to this subsection. <a id="paragraph-224007" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-601/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Notwithstanding any contrary provision of <span class="dictionary">law</span>, the <span class="dictionary">Attorney General</span> may cause an action to be brought in the appropriate <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> in the name of the Commonwealth to enjoin any violation of this chapter. The <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> having <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> may enjoin such violation notwithstanding the existence of an adequate remedy at <span class="dictionary">law</span>. In any action brought pursuant to this subsection, it shall not be necessary that <span class="dictionary">damages</span> be proved. <a id="paragraph-224008" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-601/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> Any person who violates the provisions of this chapter shall be subject to a civil <span class="dictionary">penalty</span> in an amount not to exceed $1,000 plus reasonable attorney fees, expenses, and <span class="dictionary">court</span> costs, as determined by the <span class="dictionary">court</span>. Any person who willfully violates the provisions of this chapter shall be subject to a civil <span class="dictionary">penalty</span> in an amount not less than $1,000 and not more than $10,000 plus reasonable attorney fees, expenses, and <span class="dictionary">court</span> costs, as determined by the <span class="dictionary">court</span>. Such civil penalties shall be paid into the Literary Fund. <a id="paragraph-224009" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-601/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> Each violation of this chapter shall constitute a separate violation and shall be subject to any civil penalties imposed under this section. <a id="paragraph-224010" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-601/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2023, c. 526.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
