§ 16a-5 — Secretary's investigatory and subpoena powers.

(a) The Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, with the assistance of any other state agency, if needed, shall investigate violations of chapter 296 and, in connection with the performance of his duties under this chapter and chapter 296, shall have the power to hold hearings, issue subpoenas and summon and examine witnesses under oath and issue subpoenas duces tecum for the production of books, records, vouchers, memoranda, documents, letters, tapes or other recordings or other papers or items. If any person refuses to obey a subpoena, the superior court for the judicial district of Hartford, or any judge of the court if it is not in session, shall, upon application of the secretary, have jurisdiction to issue to the person an order requiring him to appear before the secretary or to produce the books, records, vouchers, memoranda, documents, letters, tapes or other recordings or other papers or items requested. (b) The secretary may, in connection with the performance of his duties under any other statute or act, apply to the superior court for the judicial district of Hartford, or to a judge of the court if the court is not in session, for a subpoena to compel the attendance and testimony under oath of witnesses or the production of books, records, vouchers, memoranda, documents, letters, tapes or other recordings or other papers or items. The court or judge shall, before issuing the subpoena, provide adequate opportunity for the secretary and the party against whom the subpoena is requested to be heard. No such subpoena shall be issued unless the court or judge finds that the attendance and testimony of the witness or the production of the requested material is reasonably necessary to carry out the purposes of such other statute or act and that the secretary has made reasonable efforts to secure the attendance, testimony and requested material without recourse to compulsory process. Such subpoena shall be served by a proper officer or indifferent person.

Legislative History

(P.A. 74-285, S. 6, 20; P.A. 75-537, S. 4, 55; P.A. 77-614, S. 19, 610; P.A. 78-268, S. 2, 5; 78-280, S. 6, 127; 78-303, S. 90, 136; P.A. 81-330, S. 1, 13; 81-457, S. 11; P.A. 88-230, S. 1, 12; P.A. 90-98, S. 1, 2; P.A. 93-142, S. 4, 7, 8; P.A. 95-220, S. 4–6.) History: P.A. 75-537 replaced “administrator”, i.e. of energy agency, with “commissioner”, i.e. of planning and energy policy; P.A. 77-614 replaced commissioner of planning and energy policy with secretary of the office of policy and management; P.A. 78-268 deleted reference to repealed Sec. 4-91 and replaced “his” with “said secretary's” for clarity; P.A. 78-280 replaced Hartford county with judicial district of Hartford-New Britain; P.A. 78-303 deleted reference to repealed Secs. 4-60a, 4-60b and 4-70a; P.A. 81-330 terminated board's subpoena power, gave secretary subpoena powers in connection with his duties under chapters 295 and 296 and divided section into two subsections; P.A. 81-457 removed the reference to Sec. 5-211, which was repealed by the same public act; P.A. 88-230 replaced “judicial district of Hartford-New Britain” with “judicial district of Hartford”, effective September 1, 1991; P.A. 90-98 changed effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1991, to September 1, 1993; P.A. 93-142 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1993, to September 1, 1996, effective June 14, 1993; P.A. 95-220 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1996, to September 1, 1998, effective July 1, 1995.