52:9M-12. Commission's powers; witnesses

12. With respect to the performance of its functions, duties and powers and subject to the limitation contained in paragraph d. of this section, the commission shall be authorized as follows:

a. To conduct any investigation authorized by this act at any place within the State; and to maintain offices, hold meetings and function at any place within the State as it may deem necessary;

b. To conduct private and public hearings, and to designate a member of the commission to preside over any such hearing; no public hearing shall be held except after adoption of a resolution by majority vote, and no public hearing shall be held by the commission until after the Attorney General and the appropriate county prosecutor or prosecutors shall have been given at least seven days' written notice of the commission's intention to hold such a public hearing and afforded an opportunity to be heard in respect to any objections they or either of them may have to the commission's holding such a hearing;

c. To administer oaths or affirmations, subpena witnesses, compel their attendance, examine them under oath or affirmation, and require the production of any books, records, documents or other evidence it may deem relevant or material to an investigation; and the commission may designate any of its members or any member of its staff to exercise any such powers;

d. Unless otherwise instructed by a resolution adopted by a majority of the members of the commission, every witness attending before the commission shall be examined privately and the commission shall not make public the particulars of such examination. The commission shall not have the power to take testimony at a private hearing or at a public hearing unless at least two of its members are present at such hearing, except that the commission shall have the power to conduct private hearings, on an investigation previously undertaken by a majority of the members of the commission, with one commissioner present, when so designated by resolution;

e. Witnesses summoned to appear before the commission shall be entitled to receive the same fees and mileage as persons summoned to testify in the courts of the State.

If any person subpenaed pursuant to this section shall neglect or refuse to obey the command of the subpena, any judge of the Superior Court or any municipal court may, on proof by affidavit of service of the subpena, payment or tender of the fees required and of refusal or neglect by the person to obey the command of the subpena, issue a warrant for the arrest of said person to bring him before the judge, who is authorized to proceed against such person as for a contempt of court.

L.1968,c.266,s.12; amended 1969,c.67,s.1; 1979,c.254,s.11; 1991,c.91,s.494.