§ 22-6-2.1 - Subpoena power.
SECTION 22-6-2.1
§ 22-6-2.1 Subpoena power. – The standing committees of the house of representatives as established by therules of the house of representatives and the standing committees of the senateas established by the rules of the senate shall in the performance of theirduties have the power upon majority vote of the committee members present andwith the written approval of the speaker for committees of the house and withthe written approval of the president of the senate for committees of thesenate to issue witness subpoenas, subpoenas duces tecum, and orders for theproduction of books, accounts, papers, records, and documents which shall besigned and issued by the chairperson of the committee, or a person serving inhis or her capacity, and shall be returnable to the chairperson. All subpoenasand orders shall be served as subpoenas in civil cases in the superior courtare now served, and witnesses so subpoenaed shall be entitled to the same feesfor attendance and travel as now provided for witnesses in civil cases in thesuperior court. If the person subpoenaed to attend before the committee failsto obey the command of the subpoena without reasonable cause, or refuses to besworn, or to be examined, or to answer a legal and pertinent question, or ifany person shall refuse to produce books, accounts, papers, records, anddocuments material to the issue, set forth in an order duly served on thatperson, the committee by majority vote of the committee members present mayapply to any justice of the superior court, for any county, upon proof byaffidavit of the fact, for a rule or order returnable in not less than two (2)nor more than five (5) days, directing the person to show cause before thejustice who made the order or any other justice described above why he or sheshould not be adjudged in contempt. Upon the return of the orders the justicebefore whom the matter is brought on for hearing shall examine under oath thatperson, and the person shall be given an opportunity to be heard, and if thejustice shall determine that the person has refused without reasonable cause orlegal excuse to be examined or to answer a legal and pertinent question, or toproduce books, accounts, papers, records, and documents material to the issuewhich he or she was ordered to bring or produce, the justice may immediatelycommit the offender to the adult correctional institutions, there to remainuntil he or she submits to do the act which he or she was required to do, or isdischarged according to law.