§ 22-6-2.1. Subpoena power.
The standing committees of the house of representatives as established by the rules
of the house of representatives and the standing committees of the senate as established
by the rules of the senate shall in the performance of their duties have the power
upon majority vote of the committee members present and with the written approval
of the speaker for committees of the house and with the written approval of the president
of the senate for committees of the senate to issue witness subpoenas, subpoenas duces
tecum, and orders for the production of books, accounts, papers, records, and documents
which shall be
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§ 22-6-2.1. Subpoena power.
The standing committees of the house of representatives as established by the rules
of the house of representatives and the standing committees of the senate as established
by the rules of the senate shall in the performance of their duties have the power
upon majority vote of the committee members present and with the written approval
of the speaker for committees of the house and with the written approval of the president
of the senate for committees of the senate to issue witness subpoenas, subpoenas duces
tecum, and orders for the production of books, accounts, papers, records, and documents
which shall be signed and issued by the chairperson of the committee, or a person
serving in his or her capacity, and shall be returnable to the chairperson. All subpoenas
and orders shall be served as subpoenas in civil cases in the superior court are now
served, and witnesses so subpoenaed shall be entitled to the same fees for attendance
and travel as now provided for witnesses in civil cases in the superior court. If
the person subpoenaed to attend before the committee fails to obey the command of
the subpoena without reasonable cause, or refuses to be sworn, or to be examined,
or to answer a legal and pertinent question, or if any person shall refuse to produce
books, accounts, papers, records, and documents material to the issue, set forth in
an order duly served on that person, the committee by majority vote of the committee
members present may apply to any justice of the superior court, for any county, upon
proof by affidavit 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 the justice
who made the order or any other justice described above why he or she should not be
adjudged in contempt. Upon the return of the orders the justice before whom the matter
is brought on for hearing shall examine under oath that person, and the person shall
be given an opportunity to be heard, and if the justice shall determine that the person
has refused without reasonable cause or legal excuse to be examined or to answer a
legal and pertinent question, or to produce books, accounts, papers, records, and
documents material to the issue which he or she was ordered to bring or produce, the
justice may immediately commit the offender to the adult correctional institutions,
there to remain until he or she submits to do the act which he or she was required
to do, or is discharged according to law.