§4-5-3 Executive sessions; hearings; subpoena power; enforcement provisions. - West Virginia Statutes

§4-5-3. Executive sessions; hearings; subpoena power; enforcement provisions.
The commission shall have the power and authority to hold executive sessions for the purpose of establishing business, policy, an agenda and the interrogation of a witness or witnesses: Provided, That if a witness desires a public or open hearing he shall have the right to demand the same and shall not be heard otherwise: Provided, however, That if a witness desires a hearing in an executive session, he shall have the right to demand the same and shall not be heard otherwise. However, members of the staff of the commission may be permitted to attend executive sessions with permission of the commission.

The commission is hereby empowered and authorized to examine witnesses and to subpoena such persons and books, records, documents, papers or any other tangible things as it believes should be examined to make a complete investigation. All witnesses appearing before the commission shall testify under oath or affirmation, and any member of the commission may administer oaths or affirmations to such witnesses. To compel the attendance of witnesses at such hearings or the production of any books, records, documents, papers or any other tangible thing, the commission is hereby empowered and authorized to issue subpoenas, signed by one of the cochairmen, in accordance with section five, article one, chapter four of this code. Such subpoenas shall be served by any person authorized by law to serve and execute legal process and service shall be made without charge. Witnesses subpoenaed to attend hearings shall be allowed the same mileage and per diem as is allowed witnesses before any petit jury in this state.

If any person subpoenaed to appear at any hearing shall refuse to appear or to answer inquiries there propounded, or shall fail or refuse to produce books, records, documents, papers or any other tangible thing within his control when the same are demanded, the commission shall report the facts to the circuit court of Kanawha county or any other court of competent jurisdiction and such court may compel obedience to the subpoena as though such subpoena had been issued by such court in the first instance.