It shall be the duty of the secretary to keep a full and true record of all proceedings of said commission, to preserve all its books, documents and papers, to prepare for service such notices and other papers as may be required of him or her by the commission and to perform such other duties as the commission may prescribe; and he or she may at the direction of the commission issue subpoenas for the attendance of witnesses before the commission with the same effect as if they were issued in an action in any circuit court of the state and may administer oaths in all matters pertaining to the duties of his or her office or connected with the administration of the affairs of the commission. The subpoenas shall be on forms prescribed by the commission and served by the sheriff's department of the county in which the individual being subpoenaed resides. Such subpoenas shall be signed by at least two members. Disobedience of such subpoena and false swearing before such secretary shall be attended by the same consequences and be subject to the same penalties as if such disobedience or false swearing occurred in an action in any circuit court of the state. The commission shall make to the Legislature biennial reports of their proceedings for the two years ending with the last day of the preceding December and may submit with such report such recommendations pertaining to its affairs, as to it shall seem advisable.