33-1-315. Witnesses -- production of records -- subpoena -- failure to respond. (1) With respect to the subject of any examination or investigation being conducted by the commissioner, or the commissioner's designee if general written authority has been given the designee by the commissioner, the commissioner or the designee may subpoena witnesses and administer oaths or affirmations and examine any individual under oath and may require and compel the production of records, books, papers, contracts, and other documents by attachments, if necessary. Subpoenas of witnesses must be served in the same manner as if issued from a district court.

(2) If in connection with an examination of an insurer the commissioner or the commissioner's designee desires to examine an officer, director, or manager who is outside this state, the commissioner or the commissioner's designee may conduct and enforce by all appropriate and available means any examination under oath in any other state or territory of the United States in which the officer, director, or manager is located, to the full extent permitted by the laws of that state or territory.

(3) If a witness fails to obey a subpoena to appear before the commissioner or the commissioner's designee or refuses to testify or answer any material question or to produce records, books, papers, contracts, or documents when required to do so, the commissioner or the commissioner's designee shall institute proceedings in the district court to compel obedience to the subpoena or other order or to punish the witness for neglect or refusal to obey the summons or other order.

(4) Witness fees and mileage, if claimed, must be allowed on the same basis as for testimony in a district court. Witness fees, mileage, and the actual expenses necessarily incurred in securing attendance of witnesses and their testimony must be itemized and paid by the person being examined if the person is found to have been in violation of the law as to the matter with respect to which the witnesses were subpoenaed.

(5) A person who knowingly fails to attend, answer, and produce records, documents, or other evidence requested by the commissioner or the commissioner's designee, who knowingly fails to give full and truthful information or to answer in writing to any material inquiry of the commissioner or the commissioner's designee relative to the subject of an examination, investigation, or hearing, or who knowingly fails to appear and testify under oath before the commissioner or the commissioner's designee is subject to the provisions of 33-1-317 and 33-1-318.

History: En. Sec. 37, Ch. 286, L. 1959; R.C.M. 1947, 40-2718; amd. Sec. 5, Ch. 198, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 17, Ch. 227, L. 2001; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 493, L. 2003.