Sec. 12-445. Oaths and subpoenas.
Sec. 12-445. Oaths and subpoenas. The commissioner, and any agent of the commissioner authorized to conduct any inquiry, investigation or hearing under this chapter,
shall have 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 his agent authorized to conduct such hearing and having authority by law to
issue such process may subpoena witnesses and require the production of books, papers
and documents pertinent to such inquiry. No witness under subpoena authorized to be
issued by the provisions of this chapter shall be excused from testifying or from producing books or papers on the ground that such testimony or the production of such books
or other documentary evidence would tend to incriminate him, but such evidence or the
books or papers so produced shall not be used in any criminal proceeding against him.
If any person disobeys such process or, having appeared in obedience thereto, refuses
to answer any pertinent question put to him by the commissioner or his authorized agent
or to produce any books and papers pursuant thereto, the commissioner or such agent
may apply to the superior court for the judicial district wherein the taxpayer resides or
wherein the business has been conducted, 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 to
answer such question or to produce such books and papers and, upon his refusal so to
do, shall commit such person to community correctional center until he testifies, but
not for a longer period than sixty days. Notwithstanding the serving of the term of such
commitment by any person, the commissioner may proceed in all respects with such
inquiry and examination as if the witness had not previously been called upon to testify.
Officers who serve subpoenas issued by the commissioner or under his authority and
witnesses attending hearings conducted by him under this chapter shall receive like fees
and compensation as officers and witnesses in the courts of this state, to be paid on
vouchers of the commissioner on order of the Comptroller from the proper appropriation
for the administration of this chapter.
(1949 Rev., S. 4335; 1969, P.A. 297; P.A. 84-492, S. 4, 8.)
History: 1969 act substituted "community correctional center" for "jail"; P.A. 84-492 made a technical change, substituting reference to judicial district for reference to county.
See Sec. 52-260 re witness fees.
See Sec. 52-261 re fees and expenses of officers and persons serving process.
See note to Sec. 12-433.