§ 75-5157 — Issuance of subpoenas by secretary of revenue; law enforcement agents; authority

(a) The secretary of revenue or the secretary's designee may issue subpoenas to require the attendance of any witnesses and the production of any records, books, papers and documents that is considered necessary for the investigation of driver's license fraud and to: (1) Ascertain the eligibility of an applicant for a Kansas driver's license or identification for such license or identification card; (2) ascertain the eligibility of a holder of a Kansas driver's license or identification card for such license or identification card; (3) determine whether a person's identity has been stolen by a person in Kansas; (4) facilitate the investigation of suspected fraudulent activity with regard to obtaining a Kansas driver's license or identification card; (5) facilitate the investigation of violations of the licensure of vehicle sales and manufacturing statutes in article 24 of chapter 8 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated; or (6) facilitate the investigation of vehicle title and registration fraud. Subpoenas so issued may be served by any law enforcement officer, in the same manner as similar process in the district court. Any person who testifies falsely, fails to appear when subpoenaed or fails or refuses to produce material pursuant to the subpoena shall be subject to the same orders and penalties to which a person before a court is subject. Any district court of this state, upon application of the secretary of revenue, may in its discretion compel the attendance of witnesses, the production of material and the giving of testimony before the secretary of revenue, by an attachment for contempt or otherwise in the same manner as production of evidence may be compelled before the district court. Agents designated by the secretary of revenue are hereby vested with the power and authority of peace and police officers, in the execution of the duties imposed upon the secretary of revenue in chapters 8 and 79 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated.
(b) Each agent designated by the secretary under subsection (a), shall have the authority to make arrests, conduct searches and seizures and carry firearms while investigating violations of laws administered by the secretary of revenue, director of vehicles and director of taxation and generally to enforce all the criminal laws of the state as violations of those laws are encountered by such agents during the routine performance of their duties. No agent of the secretary shall be certified to carry firearms under the provisions of this section without having first successfully completed the training course or courses prescribed for law enforcement officers under subsection (a) of K.S.A. 74-5604a, and amendments thereto. The secretary may adopt rules and regulations prescribing other training required for such agents or employees.
(c) Each agent designated by the secretary shall: (1) Be vested with law enforcement authority; (2) be in the classified service under the Kansas civil service act; (3) not have been convicted of a felony under the laws of any state or of the United States prior to or during employment as law enforcement officer under the authority of the secretary of revenue; (4) be a certified law enforcement officer or have one year of investigative experience or, in lieu thereof, a bachelor's degree from an accredited university or college.

Legislative History

L. 2007, ch. 160, § 2; July 1.