HB-4432, As Passed House, May 24, 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE BILL No. 4432

 

 

March 29, 2017, Introduced by Rep. Graves and referred to the Committee on Oversight.

 

     A bill to amend 1931 PA 118, entitled

 

"An act to provide for the administration of oaths, subpoena of

witnesses and/or examination of certain books and records by

committees and commissions of the legislature,"

 

by amending section 1 (MCL 4.101).

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

     Sec. 1. (1) Committees and commissions of or appointed by Each

 

house of the legislature may, by resolution of the legislature be

 

authorized that house, authorize committees and commissions of or

 

appointed by that house of the legislature to administer oaths,

 

subpoena witnesses, and/or to or examine the books and records of

 

any persons, partnerships or corporations a person or entity

 

involved in a matter properly before any of such committees or

 

commissions. Any that committee or commission.

 

     (2) The legislature may, by resolution of the legislature,

 

authorize committees and commissions of or appointed by the


legislature to administer oaths, subpoena witnesses, or examine the

 

books and records of a person or entity involved in a matter

 

properly before that committee or commission.

 

     (3) Service of a subpoena authorized by this section must be

 

made at least 7 days before the date fixed in the subpoena for

 

production of records unless a shorter period is authorized by a

 

majority vote of all the members of the committee or commission.

 

The subpoena must also be served with a copy of the resolution or

 

statute establishing the committee or commission and a general

 

statement of the subject matter of the committee's or commission's

 

investigation or inquiry.

 

     (4) A person served with a subpoena may choose to be

 

accompanied by counsel if a personal appearance is required and

 

must be served with a notice to that effect.

 

     (5) A witness who neglects or refuses to obey a subpoena of

 

any of such the authorized committees or commissions, or who

 

refuses to be sworn or testify, or who fails on demand to produce

 

any papers, books, or documents touching any a matter under

 

investigation, or any a witness or attorney who is guilty of any

 

contempt while in attendance at any a hearing before any of such

 

the authorized committees or commissions, may be punished as for

 

contempt of the legislature.

 

     (6) Providing records and files to a committee or commission

 

under this section does not constitute public disclosure of the

 

records or files. In the course of inspecting and using any records

 

or files provided under this section, the committee or commission

 

may not disregard the confidential nature of the records or files


and may meet in a closed session pursuant to section 8(h) of the

 

open meetings act, 1976 PA 267, MCL 15.268. In a closed session,

 

only members and clerks of the committee or commission, legal

 

counsel for the minority and majority parties, and persons

 

necessary for the production of any record or file may be present.