Sec. 17. The commissioner of labor and any officer or employee
of the department of labor designated by the commissioner, in the
performance of any duty, or the execution of any power prescribed
by law, may administer oaths, certify to official acts and records,
and, where specifically ordered by the governor, take and cause to be
taken depositions of witnesses, issue subpoenas, and compel the
attendance of witnesses and the production of papers, books,
accounts, payrolls relating to the employment of workers, documents,
records, and testimony. In case of the failure of any person to comply
with any subpoena lawfully issued, or on the refusal of any witness
to produce evidence or to testify to any matter regarding which he
may be lawfully interrogated, it shall be the duty of any circuit or
superior court upon application of the commissioner or any officer
or employee of the department of labor and a showing of the
probable materiality of books, records, and papers, or, in the case of
a witness, that he is believed to be possessed of information material
to the examination, to compel obedience by attachment proceedings
for contempt, as in the case of disobedience of the requirements, of
a subpoena issued from a court or a refusal to testify therein.
(Formerly: Acts 1945, c.334, s.17.) As amended by P.L.37-1985,
SEC.26.

Last modified: May 27, 2006