If an action is instituted against a retailer as defendant in any court of competent jurisdiction to enforce the liability provided in section 801 and service of process has not been effected in the manner provided for by law, and either the sheriff or constable to whom process has been delivered for service shall make return that he or she has not been able to serve the defendant for a period of 30 days, in which period he or she has made 3 or more attempts to serve the defendant at his or her residence or place of business, or the plaintiff or another person with knowledge of the facts files an affidavit in the cause stating that the defendant has ceased to be a resident of the state of Michigan or has been absent from the state for a continuous period of 6 months, then it shall be competent for the plaintiff to cause service of process to be made upon the defendant by service of the process upon the commission, the liability for which suit is brought arose during the period in which the defendant was a licensed retailer and was insured under the provisions of section 803. Such service of process shall be made in duplicate on the commission, and return showing such service shall be made to the court. The commission shall mail a copy of the process served upon it to the defendant at the address shown in the consent to service of process, and shall immediately transmit to the clerk of the court in which the action is pending an acknowledgment of the mailing of the copy of that process by the commission to the defendant. Whenever the foregoing provisions of this section have been complied with, the court may proceed to hear and determine the matter as fully and effectually as though the defendant retailer had been personally served with process within the jurisdiction of the court. The commission shall also notify the insurer under the liability policy of the defendant, on file with the commission, that the commission has received service of that process, stating the names of the parties to the action and the court in which the action is pending. If the defendant retailer is deceased, service of process may be made upon the executor or administrator of the deceased defendant by service on the commission, in an action in which that service would be authorized by this section upon the defendant if he or she were living, in the manner provided in this section.