(a) The commissioner, or any agent authorized by the commissioner, may conduct investigations within or outside of this state as the commissioner deems necessary to determine whether any person has violated any provision regarding the registration, disclosure and escrow provisions relating to continuing-care contracts or any regulation adopted pursuant to § 17b-533 or to aid in the enforcement of sections 17b-520 to 17b-535, inclusive, or in the prescribing of regulations under said sections. The commissioner, or any agent authorized by the commissioner, shall have the power to conduct any inquiry, investigation or hearing pursuant to the provisions of this section relating to continuing-care contracts and shall have the power to administer oaths and take testimony under oath relative to the matter of inquiry or investigation. At any hearing ordered by the commissioner, the commissioner or such agent having authority by law to issue such process may subpoena witnesses and require the production of records, papers and documents pertinent to such inquiry. If any person disobeys such process or, having appeared in obedience thereto, refuses to answer any pertinent question put to such person by the commissioner or the commissioner’s authorized agent or to produce any records and papers pursuant thereto, the commissioner or the commissioner’s agent may apply to the superior court for the judicial district of Hartford or for the judicial district wherein the person resides or wherein the provider or the facility is located, or to any judge of said court if the same is not in session, setting forth such disobedience to process or refusal to answer, and said court or such judge shall cite such person to appear before said court or such judge, and upon appropriate order, to show cause why answer to such question or production of such records should not be made.

(b) If as the result of any investigation relating to continuing-care contracts, the commissioner determines that any provider has violated any provision of sections 17b-520 to 17b-535, inclusive, the commissioner may, notwithstanding the provisions of chapter 54, request the Attorney General to seek a temporary or permanent injunction and such other relief as may be appropriate to enjoin such provider from continuing such violation or violations. If the court determines that such violation or violations exist, it may grant such injunctive relief and such other relief as justice may require and may set a time period within which a provider shall comply with any such order. Any appeal taken from any permanent injunction granted under this section shall not stay the operation of such injunction unless the court is of the opinion that great and irreparable injury will be done by not staying the operation of such injunction. If the commissioner determines that any person has violated the provisions of sections 17b-520 to 17b-535, inclusive, the commissioner may request the Attorney General to seek restitution or damages and such other relief as may be appropriate on behalf of any person injured by such violation.