<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<section article="gsg" article_name="State Government" number="2-1608" title_number="2" title_name="General Assembly" subtitle_number="16" subtitle_name="Investigations">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>By a majority vote of all of the members of an investigating committee, the investigating committee may issue a subpoena that requires the appearance of a person, the production of relevant records, and the giving of relevant testimony.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A request to appear, appearance, or submission of evidence does not limit the subpoena power of the investigating committee.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>The subpoena shall be served:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>in the manner provided by law for service of a subpoena in a civil action;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>at least 7 days before the time that the subpoena sets for appearance or production of records; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>with the following documents:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>a copy of the resolution that establishes the investigating committee;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>a copy of the rules of the investigating committee;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>a statement of the subject of the investigation or inquiry of the investigating committee; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>if the subpoena requires the appearance of a person, notice that counsel may accompany the person.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>A person who is subpoenaed to appear at a hearing is entitled to receive the fees and allowances that are provided for a person who is subpoenaed by a circuit court.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <text>A person may be held in contempt if the person unjustifiably:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>fails or refuses to comply with a subpoena for appearance;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>appears but fails or refuses to testify under oath; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>unless the directive is overruled by a majority vote of the members of the investigating committee who are present at the hearing, disobeys a directive of the presiding officer at the hearing to answer a relevant question or to produce a relevant book, document, or paper that has been subpoenaed.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>If an investigating committee fails, in any material respect, to meet the requirements of this subtitle and the person who is subpoenaed is prejudiced by the failure:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>the person need not comply; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>the failure is a complete defense in a proceeding against the person for contempt or other punishment.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <level label="1">
      <text>By a majority vote of all of the members of an investigating committee, the investigating committee may apply for a contempt citation:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>when the General Assembly is not in session, to a circuit court; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>when the General Assembly is in session:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>to the General Assembly;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>to the Senate, if the Senate established the investigating committee; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>to the House, if the House established the investigating committee.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The General Assembly, the Senate, or the House:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>may consider the application as though the alleged contempt had been committed in or against that body; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>in addition to any penalty that a court imposes, may impose any other punishment that the body has the inherent power to impose.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
