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<section article="gsg" article_name="State Government" number="2-1609" title_number="2" title_name="General Assembly" subtitle_number="16" subtitle_name="Investigations">
  <level label="a">
    <text>An investigating committee may hold any hearing that the investigating committee considers appropriate, at the times and places that it determines.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The rules of an investigating committee shall provide for written notice of a hearing to be given to the members:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>at least 3 days before the hearing, if it is held when the General Assembly is in session; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>at least 7 days before the hearing, if it is held when the General Assembly is not in session.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Notice of a hearing shall include a statement of the subject matter.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>A hearing and action that is taken at a hearing are not invalid only because notice is not given as provided in this subsection.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>A hearing shall be public unless, by a majority vote of all of the members of the investigating committee, the investigating committee determines otherwise.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <text>With the consent of a majority of the members of an investigating committee who are present at a hearing, a witness or counsel for the witness may submit to the investigating committee a sworn statement that is relevant to the purpose, subject, and scope of the investigation or inquiry.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>If an investigating committee believes that a person may be affected adversely because the person is named or otherwise identified at a hearing, the person may:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>on request of the person or a member of the investigating committee, testify in the person’s behalf; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>with the consent of the investigating committee, submit a sworn statement or other documentary evidence.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>With the consent of a majority of the members of the investigating committee, any other person may testify or submit a sworn statement or other documentary evidence.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <level label="1">
      <text>At a hearing, a person shall testify under oath unless, by a majority vote of the members who are present at the hearing, the investigating committee waives the requirement for the person.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Any member of the investigating committee may administer an oath.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Counsel may accompany a witness at a hearing and advise the witness of the rights of the witness.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>An investigating committee may set limits to prevent obstruction of or interference with the orderly conduct of the hearing.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <level label="1">
      <text>A witness at a hearing or counsel for the witness may submit to the investigating committee a proposed question, for the witness or any other witness.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The investigating committee shall ask the question if the investigating committee considers the question appropriate to the subject matter of the hearing.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="h">
    <level label="1">
      <text>An investigating committee shall have a record made of each hearing.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The record shall include:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>each ruling of the presiding officer;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>each question of the investigating committee and its staff;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>the testimony and responses of each witness;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>each sworn statement or other documentary evidence that the investigating committee permits a person to submit; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>any other matter that the investigating committee or its chair directs.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The investigating committee shall provide to a witness a certified transcript of the witness’ testimony, if the witness asks in advance and pays for the transcript.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="i">
    <level label="1">
      <text>This subsection does not:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>prevent the disclosure of evidence by the person who gives evidence, if only that person could claim a privilege against disclosure; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>limit any power of the General Assembly, the Senate, or the House to discipline a member or employee or to impose a penalty if a State’s Attorney or court does not act under this subsection.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>If a hearing of an investigating committee is closed to the public, testimony and other evidence that is given at the hearing may not be made public unless, by a majority vote of all of the members of the investigating committee, the investigating committee permits disclosure and specifies the form and manner of disclosure.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>On application of a person who claims to have been injured or prejudiced by an unauthorized disclosure or on motion of a State’s Attorney, the State’s Attorney may begin proceedings for imposition of penalties under this subsection.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>A person who violates any provision of this subsection is subject to a fine not exceeding $1,000 or imprisonment not exceeding 30 days or both.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
