45-19-44. Unlawful practices punishable by civil fine.

It shall be an unlawful practice for a person willfully to:#

1. (1)

   Make public with respect to a particular employer or person without the employer’s or person’s consent information obtained by the administrator or the administrator’s representatives or employees pursuant to their authority under Code Section 45-19-41, except as shall reasonably be necessary to carry out the provisions of this article;#

2. (2)

   Retaliate or discriminate in any manner against a person because the person has opposed a practice declared unlawful by this article or because the person has made a charge, filed a complaint, testified, assisted, or participated in any manner in any investigation, proceeding, or hearing concerning an unlawful practice under this article;#

3. (3)

   Aid, abet, incite, compel, or coerce a person to engage in any of the acts or practices declared unlawful by this article;#

4. (4)

   Obstruct or prevent a person from complying with this article or with any order issued under this article;#

5. (5)

   Resist, prevent, impede, or interfere with the administrator, or any of the administrator’s representatives or employees, or with a hearing officer in the lawful performance of a duty under this article. Such unlawful practice may include, but shall not be limited to, willfully neglecting or failing to comply or to fully comply with a subpoena or other lawful order to:#

   1. (A)

      Attend and testify at any hearing or deposition;#

   2. (B)

      Answer any lawful inquiry; or#

   3. (C)

      Produce records, documents, or other requested evidence;#

   4. provided, however, that it shall not be a violation of this article for anyone to challenge or resist any action by the administrator, or any of the administrator’s representatives or employees, or by a hearing officer when there is a good faith belief that the administrator is, the administrator’s representatives or employees are, or the hearing officer is acting unlawfully or acting in excess of statutory authority; or

6. (6)

   Initiate frivolous and unwarranted charges of discrimination against a public employer.#

A violation of this Code section shall not be deemed a crime; but any person who willfully violates this Code section may be punished by a civil fine not to exceed $1,000.00.#