2. Any person who violates any of the provisions of the "Law Against Discrimination," P.L.1945, c.169 (C.10:5-1 et seq.), shall, in addition to any other relief or affirmative action provided by law, be liable for the following penalties:
a. In an amount not exceeding $10,000 if the respondent has not been adjudged to have committed any prior violation within the five-year period ending on the date of the filing of this charge;
b. In an amount not exceeding $25,000 if the respondent has been adjudged to have committed one other violation within the five-year period ending on the date of the filing of this charge; and
c. In an amount not exceeding $50,000 if the respondent has been adjudged to have committed two or more violations within the seven-year period ending on the date of the filing of this charge.
The penalties shall be determined by the director in such amounts as the director deems proper under the circumstances and included in an order following a finding of an unlawful discrimination or an unlawful employment practice pursuant to section 16 of P.L.1945, c.169 (C.10:5-17) or determined by the court in cases brought under subsection b. of section 9 of P.L.2019, c.436 (C.10:5-8.2). Any such amounts collected by the director shall be paid forthwith into the State Treasury for the general purposes of the State.