(a) If any person is found to have violated any provision of this chapter, and said violation is committed against an elder person or a person with a disability, in addition to any criminal or civil penalty otherwise set forth or imposed, the court may impose an additional civil penalty not to exceed $10,000 for each violation.
(b) The civil penalties imposed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall be deposited with the State Treasurer and placed into the Consumer Protection Fund as created by § 2527 of this title, shall be subject to appropriation by the General Assembly, and shall be used for the investigation and prosecution of deceptive acts against elder and disabled persons and for consumer education initiatives.