Sec. 33927.

The department shall ascertain and decide upon the rights of persons claiming the benefit of this part, and it may hear and decide in a summary manner all matters respecting such applications or claims, except as otherwise provided in this part, and to that end may compel the attendance of witnesses and receive testimony by deposition or otherwise as may be produced, and determine thereon, according to equity and justice, the validity and just extent of the claim and respective rights of conflicting claimants making application for a lease. It shall cause minutes of the filing of such claims and all its proceedings to be entered in a book kept for that purpose and keep a record of the evidence from which its decisions are made, and it is authorized when it considers it necessary, or upon request of any of the claimants, to employ a stenographer to assist the department. The department may administer oaths, issue subpoenas, and compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of papers upon any hearing before the department under this part. In case of disobedience on the part of any person or persons, or willful failure to appear pursuant to any subpoena issued by the department, or upon refusal of any witnesses to testify regarding any matter pending before the department or to produce books and papers which he or she is required by the department to produce, the circuit court of any county in this state, upon the application of the department, shall compel obedience by attachment proceedings for contempt as in the case of disobedience of the requirements of a subpoena issued from such court or a refusal to testify therein, and in addition the department shall have the powers vested in the circuit court to compel witnesses to testify to any matter pending before the department, and each witness who appears before the department by its order or subpoena shall receive for his or her attendance the fees and mileage provided witnesses in civil cases in circuit courts, said fees to be paid by the party calling such witnesses.

History: Add. 1995, Act 59, Imd. Eff. May 24, 1995 Popular Name: Act 451Popular Name: NREPA