(a)If the Attorney General has reasonable cause to believe that there is or has been a violation of Section 8 or 9 or subsection (a), (b), or (c) of Section 10, then the Attorney General may commence a civil action in the name of the People of the State to enforce the provisions of this Act in any appropriate circuit court. The court, in its discretion, may exercise all powers necessary, including, but not limited to: injunction; mandamus; revocation; forfeiture or suspension of any funding, rights, privileges, responsibilities, or support, as deemed necessary to ensure compliance; and any other action the court may deem appropriate.
(b)Prior to initiating a civil action, the Attorney General shall conduct a preliminary investigation to determine whether there is reasonable cause to beli
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(a) If the Attorney General has reasonable cause to believe that there is or has been a violation of Section 8 or 9 or subsection (a), (b), or (c) of Section 10, then the Attorney General may commence a civil action in the name of the People of the State to enforce the provisions of this Act in any appropriate circuit court. The court, in its discretion, may exercise all powers necessary, including, but not limited to: injunction; mandamus; revocation; forfeiture or suspension of any funding, rights, privileges, responsibilities, or support, as deemed necessary to ensure compliance; and any other action the court may deem appropriate. (b) Prior to initiating a civil action, the Attorney General shall conduct a preliminary investigation to determine whether there is reasonable cause to believe that a violation is being or has been committed and whether the dispute can be resolved without litigation. In conducting this investigation, the Attorney General may: (1) require the individual, group, or entity to file a statement or report in writing under oath or otherwise, as to all information the Attorney General may consider necessary; (2) examine under oath any person alleged to have participated in or with knowledge of the alleged violation; (3) issue subpoenas or conduct hearings in aid of any investigation; or (4) examine any record, book, document, account, or paper as the Attorney General may consider necessary. (c) Service by the Attorney General of any notice requiring a person to file a statement or report, or of a subpoena upon any person, shall be made: (1) personally by delivery of a duly executed copy thereof to the person to be served or, if a person is not a natural person, in the manner provided by the Code of Civil Procedure when a complaint is filed; or (2) by mailing by certified mail a duly executed copy thereof to the person to be served at the person's last known abode or principal place of business within this State. (d) Whenever any person fails to comply with any subpoena issued under this Section or whenever satisfactory copying or reproduction of any material requested in an investigation cannot be done and the person refuses to surrender the material, the Attorney General may file in any appropriate circuit court, and serve upon the person, a petition for a court order for the enforcement of the subpoena or other request. Any person who has received a subpoena issued under subsection (b) may file in the appropriate circuit court, and serve upon the Attorney General, a petition for a court order to modify or set aside the subpoena or other request. The petition must be filed either: (1) within 20 days after the date of service of the subpoena or at any time before the return date specified in the subpoena, whichever date is earlier, or (2) within a longer period as may be prescribed in writing by the Attorney General. The petition shall specify each ground upon which the petitioner relies in seeking relief under this subsection and may be based upon any failure of the subpoena to comply with the provisions of this Section or upon any constitutional or other legal right or privilege of the petitioner. During the pendency of the petition in the court, the court may stay, as it deems proper, the running of the time allowed for compliance with the subpoena or other request, in whole or in part, except that the petitioner shall comply with any portion of the subpoena or other request not sought to be modified or set aside. (e) In the administration of this Act, the Attorney General may accept an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance with respect to any violation of the Act from any person or entity who has engaged in, is engaging in, or was about to engage in such violation. Evidence of a violation of an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance shall be prima facie evidence of a violation of this Act in any subsequent proceeding brought by the Attorney General against the alleged violator.