(a) A surety company that issues a bond to secure the payment of wages under this chapter and that wilfully fails to pay a verified claim for wages found to be due and payable is subject to a civil penalty in the amount of $1,000 for each failure to pay each employee.
(b) A subsequent violation is subject to a civil penalty in the amount of $1,000 for each failure to pay each employee plus 25 percent of the amount unlawfully withheld.
(c) The attorney general shall recover a penalty imposed by this section in an action brought in the name of the state.